Mariana Cruz Murueta
Mexico City
Summary
Experienced Projects' Manager with extensive background in design, delivery and evaluation of educational programs. Mariana manages program budgets, identifies areas of growth and coordinates events and consultations with key stakeholders in Mexico and across different regions. Good planner, problem-solver and analytical leader with strong attention to detail and focused on continuous improvement.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
International Education Senior Advisor
Education Development Center (EDC)
04.2022 - Current
- Leads high-performing team by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Cultivates a positive work environment that fosters employee engagement and characterized by open communication channels.
- Oversees the Latin American and Caribbean Hub of USAID's Leading Through Learning Global Platform on foundational skills, education in crisis and conflict, and higher education.
- Manages strategic development programs for diverse audiences of policy makers, donors, and program implementers
- Works closely with organizational leadership, donors and local partners to guide operational strategies.
- Monitors de design and implementation of annual work plans and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
- Manages daily operations while overseeing multiple locations in Latin America and the Caribbean to foster increased engagement and enhancement of educational programs.
- Convenes systematic meetings with Hub's members and key stakeholders to identify emerging priority areas in education.
- Identifies and supports systematization of teaching-learning best practices, and provides technical support to Ministries of Education upon requests.
- Represents EDC and the LAC Regional Hub at high-level events and periodic meetings.
Senior Program Officer - Education and Gender
Fòs Feminista (former IPPFWHR)
08.2017 - 04.2022
- Managed a portfolio of educational programs of more than US$20 million, ensuring optimal implementation across the Latin American and Caribbean region.
- Led cross-functional teams in the successful design and delivery of projects on time and within contextual and budget constraints.
- Coordinated and participated at large-scale events or conferences on education, showcasing organizational capabilities while gaining valuable exposure in the sector.
- Led educational and gender equity projects and provided technical support to global organizations through strong collaboration with Ministries, civil society, and academic institutions, mostly in the global south
- Collaborated with internal units to ensure alignment of objectives and seamless integration of program initiatives.
- Provided technical assistance to partner organizations for the incorporation of gender equality approaches in strategic programs and activities
- Built strong relationships with stakeholders such as Ministries of Education, implementing partners and local organizations through effective communication and collaboration.
- Coordinated public/private partnerships with global founders, international organizations, and governments.
- Supported knowledge management and information sharing processes within the organization and with global partners.
- Led the organization's educational response targeted at young people in contexts of emergencies, and led a digital educational initiative on health and wellbeing.
- Fostered an environment of continuous learning, encouraging team members to stay abreast of regional educational trends and best practices for ongoing professional development.
- Mentored 3 managers and 4 coordinators to improve program management.
Projects Manager
Sesame Workshop, Mexico
08.2017 - 04.2022
- Led early-childhood development projects through design and implementation processes to ensure deliverables occur in effective, efficient, and timely manner
- Coordinated $3M project to guarantee inclusion of girls in mathematics and sciences educational programs
- Identified, led negotiations, and co-managed relationships with all partners and vendors on ground including outreach, digital, social and media partners
- Managed monitoring and evaluation processes for all Sesame's Workshop projects, including formative research testing, needs assessment and project M&E.
- Led the design and implementation of local trainings and meetings, including stakeholder planning sessions, community events, learning workshops and face-to-face educators' trainings
- Supported partnership and fundraising efforts, which includes research of funding sources, research on existing educational needs in Mexico, preparation of concept notes and proposals, and follow-up with potential leads
- Ensured timely reporting to donors, which includes preparing narrative and financial reports.
Program Manager
UNESCO Regional Bureau of Education in Latin America and the Caribbean
07.2016 - 07.2017
- Collaborated with senior specialists to design and implement education and gender equity initiatives in Latin America
- Assisted in the elaboration of specialized thematic publications: 'Educación Integral de la Sexualidad: Conceptos, Enfoques y Competencias'
- Drafted and submitted weekly reports to the Community of Practice in different educational issues
- Participated in three regional workshop events centered on inclusive schools, gender equality, culture of peace and anti-bullying strategies
- Identified and contacted Latin-American stakeholders and education experts for the three regional workshops.
Program Manager
UNESCO Office in Mexico
04.2014 - 12.2016
- Coordinated a multidisciplinary team to plan, implement an evaluate education projects in five states within Mexico
- Led two UN Joint Programs on Education and Gender Equality
- Coordinated special events and projects for the offices in Mexico and Santiago
- Proofread and reviewed all print and electronic content for adherence to the Organization's style guide
- Designed and coordinated projects' proposal and documents production
- Designed and conducted evaluations and diagnostic studies to assess the quality and performance of education projects
- Coordinated and prepared a large-scale closing ceremony for 500 people within the context of the UN Joint Program for a Culture of Peace.
Assistant Education Program Specialist
UNESCO International Bureau of Education (UNESCO-IBE)
02.2008 - 02.2012
- Assisted in the provision of enriched up-to-date and globally, regionally, and nationally relevant learning tools and training modules for curriculum development
- Contributed to the consolidation of the organization and implementation of the worldwide Community of Practice (COP) in Curriculum Development
- Coordinated and prepared the 1st and 2nd Diploma in Curriculum Design and Development in Latin America
- Elaborated the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the 1st edition of the Diploma in Latin America
- Prepared documentation for the annual IBE Council Sessions and coordinated the logistics for all Spanish-speakers' representatives from Member States
- Contributed to the edition and final publication of the Spanish version of the Training Tools for Curriculum Development: A Resource Pack.
Education
Master's Degree in Development Studies / Education -
The Graduate Institute of International And Development Studies
Geneva, Switzerland05.2010
B.Sc. in International Relations, graduated with honors -
Universidad Iberoamericana
Mexico City, Mexico07.2006
Diploma in Curriculum Design and Development -
Universidad Católica De Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay08.2012
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Program Management
- Budget Management
- Business Development
- Non-profit management
- Excellent Communication
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Problem-solving aptitude
Publications
- Fondo Nacional para el Fomento de las Artesanías (FONART), Cruz, M., López, C., Neyra, L. (edit.) Artesanías y Medio Ambiente. CONABIO: México, 2009.
- Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultural (UNESCO). Cruz, M. (coord.) Caja de Herramientas en Educación para la Paz. UNESCO: México, 2013. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000221205
- Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO). Cruz, M. (coord.) Alas para la Igualdad. Menú de Actividades a favor de la inclusión y la igualdad de género. UNESCO: México, 2013.
- Makleff, S., Garduño, J., Zavala, R. I., Valades, J., Barindelli, F., Cruz, M., & Marston, C. Evaluating complex interventions using qualitative longitudinal research: a case study of understanding pathways to violence prevention. https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/ve82p/ May, 2020.
- Cruz, M., Medina, S., Silva, I. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as a tool to transform gender norms. SVRI Blog. 16 July 2020. https://www.svri.org/blog/comprehensive-sexuality-education-cse-tool-transform-gender-norms
Languages
Spanish
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Advanced (C1)
Portuguese
Elementary (A2)
Timeline
International Education Senior Advisor
Education Development Center (EDC)
04.2022 - Current
Senior Program Officer - Education and Gender
Fòs Feminista (former IPPFWHR)
08.2017 - 04.2022
Projects Manager
Sesame Workshop, Mexico
08.2017 - 04.2022
Program Manager
UNESCO Regional Bureau of Education in Latin America and the Caribbean
07.2016 - 07.2017
Program Manager
UNESCO Office in Mexico
04.2014 - 12.2016
Assistant Education Program Specialist
UNESCO International Bureau of Education (UNESCO-IBE)
02.2008 - 02.2012
Master's Degree in Development Studies / Education -
The Graduate Institute of International And Development Studies
B.Sc. in International Relations, graduated with honors -
Universidad Iberoamericana
Diploma in Curriculum Design and Development -
Universidad Católica De Uruguay
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