Grants & Programs Operations Specialist with 15+ Years
Resume:
Resume
Muhammad Junaid Sahibzada
Ashburn, Virginia 20147 U.S. Citizen
***.******@*****.***
www.linkedin.com/in/muhammadsahib
Summery:
Grants, Contracts, and Program Operations Specialist with 15+ years of experience supporting large-scale donor-funded, nonprofit, and private-sector programs. Proven expertise in budget review and tracking, compliance, audit readiness, procurement support, financial oversight, and cross-functional coordination. Highly detail-oriented professional with a strong record of improving processes, strengthening financial controls, and supporting data-driven decision-making.
Fluent in English, Dari, Pashto, and Urdu, with a master’s degree.
Core Competencies:
Grants & Contracts Administration Budget Review & Tracking Financial Compliance Audit Support Procurement & Vendor Coordination Risk Management Data Analysis & Reporting (Excel) Cross Functional Coordination Document Control & Recordkeeping Process Improvement
Professional Experience:
Acquisition & Assistance Specialist / ZemiTek LLC May 2024 – October 2025
Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)/BHA Support Contract- Washington DC
Supported the full lifecycle of grants and contracts, from pre-award planning through post-award compliance and closeout.
Reviewed applications, detailed budgets, and compliance documentation for accuracy, completeness, and regulatory adherence.
Tracked approved budgets, funding levels, expenditures, burn rates, and invoices during implementation to support financial control and prevent overruns.
Coordinated with legal, procurement, finance, and technical teams on acquisition planning, evaluations, and award processing.
Supported proposal evaluations, award documentation, and vendor communications.
Conducted cost analyses, financial risk reviews, and audit support.
Supported post-award approvals, partner monitoring, and project closeouts.
Provided technical and compliance guidance to staff and partners.
Senior Advisor and Compliance Programs Officer January 2024 – May 2024
Women for Afghan Women (WAW), Virginia
Led compliance and risk management across multi-site programs, ensuring adherence to contractual, regulatory, and donor requirements.
Advised executive leadership on policy, award decisions, and program strategy, supporting informed planning and organizational governance.
Managed financial oversight, including contract records, pricing documentation, staffing structures, and budget burn-rate tracking to ensure fiscal accountability.
Reviewed and approved procurement and vendor documentation, ensuring cost control, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
Delivered performance, compliance, and risk reports to senior leadership and the Board to support data-driven decision-making.
Coordinated with independent monitoring partners to assess program performance, strengthen internal controls, and proactively address compliance gaps.
Quality Assurance Analyst May 2021 – May 2023
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC)/Virginia
Successfully oversaw quality assurance processes for project initiatives, ensuring adherence to project timelines, goal attainment.
Collaborated closely with project lead to develop comprehensive quality assurance plans tailored to project's specific requirements.
Created and compiled comprehensive documentation, including standard procedures and protocols, ensuring accuracy and compliance with specific PWC quality assurance requirements.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to track project progress, and resource allocation.
Maintained complete and up-to-date records of all quality assurance related activities to ensure transparency and accountability.
Implemented automation processes to reduce report generation time and improve efficiency.
Maintained detailed project documentation, including project plans, status reports, and project specific metrics.
Participated in regular meetings to discuss progress, strategies, and process improvements.
Fostered effective communication with internal and client team addressing inquiries, resolving issues, and cultivating positive relationships.
Project Management Specialist Dec 2008-April 2019 United States Agency of International Development (USAID)
Managed a $500M+ portfolio of projects, grants, and contracts, ensuring strong governance, risk control, and alignment with organizational objectives.
Led financial oversight and funding management for complex programs, including budget planning, funding modifications, approvals, and audit-ready financial documentation.
Chaired and supported high-value proposal evaluations and award decisions, ensuring transparency, competitiveness, and compliance with internal and external requirements.
Reviewed and approved multi-million-dollar project and grant applications, supporting private-sector partners, nonprofits, and public institutions.
Conducted economic assessments, market research, and value-chain analyses to inform investment decisions, program design, and growth strategies.
Designed and implemented contract, grant, and project management systems, improving efficiency, documentation quality, cost controls, and reporting.
Built and led cross-sector partnerships with donors, corporations, government entities, and small-to-medium enterprises to strengthen enterprise development and market growth.
Full time job with other Organizations: 2001 - 2008
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) / Program Coordinator
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) / National Officer
Central Bank of Afghanistan/ Operation Analyst
ACTED / Project Manager
Education:
Bachelor of Science (BSc – Honors), 1993-97 University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Master of Science (MSc – Honors), 1997–99University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Professional Certifications and Trainings:
US Federal Contract Management. FAC-C Level II (COR/AOR) by FAI (Federal Acquisition Institute) to manage acquisition and assistance awards.
Public- Private Partnership and Global Development Alliances
Environmental compliance (22 CFR 216 Agency Environmental Procedures)
Monitoring and Evaluation Certificates
Acquisition and Assistance Compliances
Financial Management
Enhance Project Management
Enhance Project Management
Project formulation Workshop
Data Analysis and Reporting
Project Cycle Management
Skills:
Federal Acquisition Lifecycle Management
Indirect Cost Rate Analysis & Negotiations
Cooperative Agreement & Contract Oversight
Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA)
Grants & Cooperative Agreement Administration
Award Closeout & Financial Reconciliation
Federal Assistance Agreement Reviews
OMB Circulars & Cost Principles Indirect Cost Rate Proposal (ICRP) Evaluations
Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) Coordination
Proposal Scoring & Merit Review
Funds Obligation & De-obligation
Financial Forecasting & Pipeline Analysis
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA)
Due Diligence & Risk-Based Monitoring
Financial Compliance Reviews & Fraud Prevention
Cash Flow & Burn Rate Monitoring
FAR, DFARS, & AIDAR Compliance
Contract Terms & Condition Negotiations
Cost-Reimbursement & Fixed-Price Contracts
Vendor & Subcontractor Due Diligence
ERP & Cost point, Oracle, SAP
Federal Procurement Systems (SAM.gov) and OFAC compliance
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