Simra Naz

Management of the end-to-end research administration process, overseeing grant applications and post-award compliance, while also directing key functions in research publications, ethical review, and institutional policy development.

• Directed the research publication process from journal submission to final dissemination, including the prescreening of all relevant documents and research articles.
• Prepared and submitted grant proposals for new research projects, maintaining a comprehensive record of all upcoming and past funding opportunities, applied for more than 25 national and international grants, at least 12 had matured during my working journey.
• Facilitated institutional compliance by assisting with due diligence, drafting policy documents (e.g., Conflict of Interest, Intellectual Property), and preparing MOUs.
• Provided critical support to faculty for the initiation of new research projects, which included writing research protocols, designing RedCap forms, and creating research questionnaires.
• Guided faculty through the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process, analyzing research papers, and ensuring all necessary ethics clearance documentation was prepared for timely submission.
• Coordinated with multiple departments (Finance, HR, IT) to process requests and payments, ensuring seamless operational support for all research-related activities.

Skills Utilized: Grant Proposal Development, Research Publication Management, Ethical Review & IRB Process, Policy Drafting, Project Lifecycle Management, Due Diligence, RedCap, Research Protocol Writing, Stakeholder Relations, Compliance, Data Management.

Assistant Manager Duties:

• Strategic Program Management:
• Involve in the planning, execution, and evaluation of the project in collaboration with national and international partners or donors to achieve the significant outcomes.
• Successful management of program budgets, resources, and staff to optimize efficiency, and achieve project goals.
• Contributing to grant writing and fundraising efforts to secure funding for program expansion.
• Writing proposals, grants, MOUs, MOCs, abstracts, and concept notes for initiatives, and submitting grants through portals.
• Assisting the Programs Manager in the accomplishment of day-to-day tasks and activities.
• Operational Excellence:
• Implementing and maintaining a robust EMR system for mental health to enhance data management and clinical decision-making.
• Collect, analyze, and report on program execution and challenges to inform evidence-based decision-making.
• Planning and conducting training and awareness sessions in communities, schools, corporate sectors, and online for disease prevention and knowledge purposes.
• Oversee and maintain comprehensive file records to ensure data integrity and program efficiency.
• Active participation in team meetings and decision-making processes.
• Team Leadership and Development:
• Leading and mentoring a team of counselors, ensuring their professional development and performance.
• Playing a key role in the recruitment and onboarding of new staff for projects.
• Demonstrating effective leadership and team management skills to foster a positive work environment.
• Collaborating with stakeholders, including donors, academic institutions, and community organizations.
• Focal person for community involvement activities as a CEI member of NIHR-funded studies for successful grant implementation.
• Research and Innovation:
• Grant application and execution for research and evaluation studies to assess program impact, and identify areas for improvement in primary health settings.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of innovative public health programs.

Program Officer Duties:

• Responsibilities include overseeing mental health and public health programs, coming up with new approaches to mental health, and implementing them.
• Develop and implement program strategies, work plans, and methodologies.
• Supervise field activities, and perform monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
• Works with the team to build effective operational systems to ensure the routine management of program logistics, supplies, and inventory.
• The gathering, processing, and presentation of data are essential to designing and implementing a program.
• Take part in developing and implementing project-wise strategies for communicating with stakeholders.
• Providing efficient assistance to the programs' administration, with a view toward the following outcomes.
• The aim of providing assistance in the form of knowledge creation and dissemination is as outlined.
• Ongoing training, development, skills assessment, and management for CMWs.
• Strengthening and engaging with referral networks at MNCH program sites at PHC clinics.
• Meeting with stakeholders to represent the mental health program on different platforms, site visits, and engagement with other organizations and partners for collaborations and funding.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the mental health program, and making suggestions for improved administration, training for key employees, and dissemination of public health-related data, knowledge, and advocacy.
• Formatting grant applications and drafting reports for various ideas. And generating grant evaluation reports based on data available on a quarterly and annual basis.
• Search and write grants proposals including budgets for national and international donors.
• Manage the budget, including tracking all expenses to ensure costs are within approved project funds.
• Assist in audit reports of the projects.
• Conduct awareness session for employes of different corporate sectors levels to enhance partnership and collaboration with the stakeholders.
• Research writeup and represent mental health graphics to the research organizations to work on research programs in the domain of mental health care to boost up grant acceptance.