Project Manager
Resume:
Mira Topciu
PROFILE
Experienced in monitoring and coordinating EU-funded projects with many years of expertise in ensuring the legality and regularity of activities, evaluating projects, and providing crucial assistance to Programme structures. Proven track record in financial management and supporting grant beneficiaries, along with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and project visibility. Skilled in monitoring procurement procedures, and maintaining trusting stakeholders relationships. A detail-oriented professional with strong communication and leadership skills, adept at working under pressure and excelling in strategic planning. Adept at project planning and management, with proficiency in Ghantt charts and a flexible approach to achieving targets.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Project manager, Head of the First Level Control Office Interreg Programmes, State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination, Albania, Tirana
FEBRUARY 2024 — PRESENT
●First-Level Control & Risk Management: Ensured accuracy in financial claims, conducted internal verifications, and mitigated risks related to project execution.
●Stakeholder Coordination: Engaged with grant beneficiaries and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project execution.
●Grant Management & Compliance: Ensured strict adherence to EU regulations, procurement rules, and financial reporting requirements.
●Communication & Visibility: Developed communication plans, coordinated events, and managed dissemination activities to enhance project impact and stakeholder engagement.
●Assisted program structures, providing training sessions and guidance for beneficiaries.
●Conducted evaluations and monitoring visits, ensuring program compliance and quality assurance.
●Assisting the National Authority and other Programme structures in providing training sessions for grant beneficiaries in the Albanian territory, in compliance with the plan approved by the Programme structures;
●Cooperating with the Joint Secretariat, the National Authority and the National Contact Point with the scope of assisting and advising Albanian beneficiaries/partners, including for the preparation of guidance documents, and participates, if requested, in information sessions for potential partners organized in Albania;
●Monitoring & Reporting the projects progress, prepared reports, and presented updates to senior management and.
●Supervising the implementation of quality assurance procedures of the Programme and reports to the Programme authorities on this;
●Acting as a contact point for the stakeholders in the framework of the EU-funded Programmes;
Project Officer of EU-funded strategic project*Service contract, National Civil Protection Agency
OCTOBER 2023 — PRESENT
Provide strategic oversight and day to day management of the EUfunded project, ensuring alignment with the Programme's objective, regulations and timelines;
Coordinate project activities, including financial planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting, while ensuring compliance with EU regulations and financial guidelines;
Develop and maintain detailed project plans, budget and risk management strategies;
Act as the primary liason between the project stakeholders, including managing authorities, beneficiaries and partner organizations;
Prepare and submit highquality technical and financial reports in line with EUreporting requirements;
Monitor project performance, evaluate results and propose corrective actions as necessary to achieve project goals.
Project manager, Joint Technical Secretariat of IPA CBC Albania - Kosovo Programme, Tirana
JUNE 2020 — DECEMBER 2023
●Supported the grant beneficiaries on the implementation of the projects, on different technical and administrative challenges;
●Organized various activities such as training, technical meetings, Evaluation Committee meetings and visibility events;
●Prepared the Joint Technical Secretariat annual work-plan aiming to achieve the targeted objectives;
●Designed and monitored the visibility activities, among different stakeholders;
●Created strong relationships with the grant beneficiaries in order to collaborate with them for efficient projects implementation;
●Prepared annual and final reports on the implementation of the cross-border programme;
●Supported the implementation of the cross-border programme at the project level in terms of reporting and financial planning and management also on administrative matters and procurement;
●Assisted in the preparation and follow-up of payment requests;
●Created and maintained strong collaboration with key stakeholders, civil society and national authorities;
Project Officer*Part time, Organization “Civic Resistance”, Tirana
MARCH 2018 — JANUARY 2020
●Monitored public university contracts and financial transparency, preparing reports and investigative articles.
●Organized conferences on transparency and accountability with key stakeholders.
●Assisted in the preparation and follow-up of reports and payment requests related with the project.
●Contributed to the drafting of monthly and annual reports on the implementation of project.
Sales Supervisor, Ansig s.c., Tirana
JULY 2016 — APRIL 2020
●Oversaw sales network operations, maintained client relations, and achieved income objectives.
●Managed procurement procedures, prepared offers, and executed risk assessments for insurance contracts.
●Underwrote different insurance contracts (properties, liabilities, personal accidents etc), starting from the first contact with the clients until signing the contract.
●Evaluated the risk of the clients and maintaining trusting relations with them up to the cooperation.
●Ensured continuously follow-up of budget and sales target execution
Sales supervisor and Underwriter*Tasks performed at the same time, Insig s.c, Tirana
MAY 2014 — JULY 2016
●Underwrote different insurance contracts (life and non-life insurances), starting from the first contact with the clients until releasing the policies.
●Supervised sales network all over the Albania regarding the income objectives and Customer service and also supporting them with their daily work problems.
●Ensuring continuously follow-up of budget and sales target execution and reporting them to the Board of Directors.
●Built business relationships with current and potential clients.
Economist, Ansig s.c., Tirana
FEBRUARY 2013 — APRIL 2014
●Handled financial reporting, VAT filings, and administrative tasks, ensuring interdepartmental coordination.
●Assisted in administrative and budgetary matters;
EDUCATION
Master of Science Degree in Finance - Banking European University of Tirana, Tirana
OCTOBER 2012 — JULY 2014
Bachelor Degree in Finance, European University of Tirana, tirana
SEPTEMBER 2009 — JULY 2012
TRAININGS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Certificate in Economic Diplomacy in Albania, Harvard Kennedy School
APRIL 2018 — OCTOBER 2018
Certificate on Project Planning and Management, University of Virginia
MARCH 2020 — MAY 2020
Certificate on Contract award procedures under CBC grant contracts (PRAG 2020), Cross-Border Institution Building CBIB+
DECEMBER 2021
Professional Certificate on Project Management, Google Academy
DECEMBER 2024
Interreg management verification, INTERACT
OCTOBER 2024 — DECEMBER 2024
PRINCE 2
DETAILS
Tirana, Albania
**********@*****.***
SKILLS
LANGUAGES
●EU-funded project monitoring and compliance
●Financial management and grant support
●Stakeholders engagement
●Strategic project planning and management
●Strong expertise in PRAG guidelines and procurement
●Leadership skills
●Effective time management
●Detail oriented
●Flexibility
●Team-working
●Ability to adapt
ENGLISH - C1
ITALIAN - B2
SPANISH - A2
FRENCH - A1
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