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Somali Linguist

Location:
Cedar Rapids, IA, 50701
Salary:
80,000
Posted:
July 22, 2013

Contact this candidate

Resume:

Zack H. Kassim

**** ***** ***, ******** **** ****1

ab17th@r.postjobfree.com

301-***-**** (cell)

Qualification Summary

Experienced in strategic management, project management, business development, process

improvement and international relations.

Professional Experience

International Organization for Migration (TIS)

Operations & Security Officer Nairobi, Kenya/Mogadishu, Somali April 1, 2012 – present

• Participate in field-level planning formulation in the area of operations and security.

• Advice, inform and implement security procedures and standards that assure the safety of all staff.

• Provide technical and operational support to TIS and the field offices.

• Conduct special management reviews and audit observations to assist in the improvement of office procedures and

practices.

• Serve as the security focal point for TIS-IOM in Somalia.

• Review and update security procedures and make recommendations for risk mitigation.

• Liaison with the different Ministers, government agencies and the office of the Mayor as required.

• Communicate to the field office in the implementation of new policy and procedures.

• Work with the field team and government in creating a tender board and its guiding principles for the city of Mogadishu.

• Train the field office on new procedures and processes as needed.

• Continue to monitor and implement change-management as required.

• Help in designing new strategies that address obstacles in order to minimize the change impact on workers/project.

• Continue to work with the field team in aligning them with the overall strategic direction of TIS-IOM.

• Undertake special assignments as directed by the project manager of TIS-IOM.

• Assist the logistics/procurement team in developing suppliers list for TIS.

• Participate and attend the ceremony of bids opening and selection in Somalia and Kenya.

• Assist in the preparation of BAS evaluations for the procurement division.

• Work with the team in giving weekly reports and updates to the donors USAID/DFID.

• Oversee staff under the procurement, logistics, finance, and security divisions.

• Manage third party contracts including engineering firms, construction firms and partner organizations.

Heartland 2 Africa

Managing Partner Des Moines, Iowa April. 2011 – April 2012

• Co-founder of international firm that helps companies expand their products and services to Africa.

• Developed marketing strategy for various clients as part of their strategic plan to enter African markets.

• Conducted presentations for clients on the variety of services provided by Heartland 2 Africa.

• Attended trade shows in Africa with clients and advised clients on multi-ways to market their products in Africa.

• Created a marketing plan and material that worked effectively for clients in Africa.

• Produced SWAT analysis for clients on competitors, potential partners, and market

• Researched and produce reports for clients on the markets in.

• Introduced clients to potential vendors and partners in Africa in order to increase sales.

• Advised clients on the overall strategy and entry plan for Africa.

• Constructed yearly budgets and oversaw the profit and loss of the company.

Hearst Magazines

Business Process Strategist Des Moines, Iowa & New York August. 2008 – April 2011

• Served as process improvement and implementation project lead.

• Undertook special assignment and projects for the chief technology officer as required.

• Worked with project process manager and team in the consolidation of technology infrastructure for the Magazines

group.

• Worked on the consolidation of information technology infrastructure of Heart owned companies in England and the

U.S.

• Coordinated the migration of the disaster recovery platform for the six companies of the Magazines group.

• Created corporate wide business continuity plan for all information technology departments within the magazines

division.

• Helped with the re-organization of the Information Technology departments in several different divisions of Hearst Mag.

• Managed relationships between business divisions and third party (vendors).

CDS Global

Strategic Project Manager Des Moines, Iowa May. 2007- August 2008

• Work within the Executive office in implementing a five year growth plan for CDS Global.

• Managed and implemented strategic projects, on sales growth, service integration, marketing, and global expansion.

• Served as an advisor to the executive board on market analysis and global changes.

• Created a resource management plan and new processes for projects and implementations of them.

• Managed several projects including the migration from the Main frame to digital platform.

• Coordinate global projects with CDS Global sites, in Canada, England, and Australia.

• Developed and implemented formal SOW and SOC for companywide projects and processes.

• Undertook special assignments for the CEO and the chief of staff, such as re-organization of departments.

• Served as communications focal point for the executive office to global divisions in Canada, Australia, and England.

Janes Intelligence Review

Intelligence Consultant Nairobi, Kenya/ Washington D.C March. 2007- May. 2007

• Conducted research inside Somalia on political and the conflict situation.

• Collected extensive first hand data, and interviews in the areas of security, politics and internal influencers/actors.

• Constructed a matrix on internally displaced people and the impact of extreme Islam in various regions.

• Researched groups importing weapons and the sales of illegal small arms in Somalia.

• Conflict assessment – collected data on the economic impact of the Somali civil war.

• Evaluated and researched the culture of war and its changing face in Somalia.

Relief International Puntland, Somalia Feb. 2007- March. 2007

Field Consultant

• Member of the team, which conducted assessment on the internally displaced people (IDP) camps in Puntland,

Somalia.

• Served as consultant for the expansion of (RI) offices in Puntland Somalia.

• Wrote recommendation for health and security projects in the border towns and the Coastal areas.

• Advised Relief International on multi-level communication with the national government and local leader.

• Facilitated meetings with elders, government officials, and the business community with Relief International

representatives.

Asia Relief, Inc Bethesda, MD/ Srilanka June. 2006- January. 2007

Program officer

• Successfully worked with Pastoral communities in Somalia and the Ogaden on political and economic issues.

• Humanitarian disaster response team member for Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

• Managed six IDP centers dealing with shelter, supplying foods, and coordinating community projects in Sri Lanka.

• Oversaw rehabilitation and infrastructure of community centers for schools and houses in Sri Lanka.

• Coordinated all public relations and managed partnerships with humanitarian organizations and foreign governments.

• Successfully resettled many internally displaced people in eastern Sri Lanka.

• Wrote assessment reports and several project proposals for building schools, houses, roads, and community centers.

Peace Building and Development Institute, Washington D.C Sept. 2002- May. 2006

Program Manager

• Supervised 25 staff and 3 interns, and hired 14 staff members.

• Coordinated Africa and Middle East programs on community peace building and schools.

• Conducted civil society workshops for various groups in Sudan, Somalia, and Ivory Coast.

• Successfully wrote and received 4 grants on youth and peace building from U.S Govt.

• Assisted and coordinated the summer professional training program and workshops.

• Developed partnerships for community schooling in Somaliland, and southern Sudan.

• Public relations officer for the Institute with regards to the U.S Govt and NGO community.

• Conducted assessment of field process and projects in Africa and the Middle East.

• Advised the Director of the Institute on Peace building on projects in Sudan, Somalia, and the West

Bank.

• Designed and implemented peace-building programs in Sudan, and Somalia for project funded by U.S

State Department.

Suburban Propane, Rockville, MD Aug. 1992- Nov. 2000

Customer Care/Service

• Oversaw the daily production and containment of over 2,000 chemically filled tanks.

• Successfully worked closely with the service manager in making more efficient processes

improvements.

• Solved customer problems with regards to propane usage.

• Improved and repaired various client propane equipment and machinery.

• Conducted yearly audit and inventory of equipment as staff members.

• Managed the daily preparation of transportation of rail-cars to base and procurement process.

Education Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland

Bachelors of Arts (BA) Government, History & Political Science Minor in International relations.

American University, Washington, DC

Masters of Art (MA) International Relations-Peace and Conflict Resolution

Conflict Analysis, Refugees and Human Security.

Academic & Research Center for Success (BSU), Bowie, Maryland

Research Intern

• Co- researched with a team of undergraduate student on local government services.

• Conducted academic research on the federal government and its fiscal spending on welfare.

• Performed data analysis of state/ local government expenditure on housing for the poor in

MD.

• Analyzed and researched causes of conflict in Africa for.

Organization of African States, Washington D.C

Research Intern

• Generated several policy papers for the office of political affairs - Horn of

Africa.

• Developed policies for political participation of civil societies in East Africa.

• Drafted policy papers for OAS- economic offices with regards to trade policy in Africa.

• Conducted and research child education and health issues specifically HIV/AIDS southern

Africa.

Languages Fluent in Somali, English, intermediate Arabic.

Lectures & Training

Lectured on the Islamic World (for various U.S agencies and private organizations). 2000- 2005

Moderator, Inter-faith dialogue on Christian & Muslim Relations pertaining to Gender and Human Rights at A.U 2002-2003

Lectured/Trained on Islam and the West for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), and army special operations

Washington, DC. 2002- 2005.

Lectured on the Horn of Africa & Islam and Conflict for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and Army Special

Operations (SO) Washington, DC.2002-2005.

Lectured on Somalia and the Horn of Africa for Universities and businesses in Washington D.C area. 1998-2005

Publications

Colonization and Neo-Colonization: Fetter-sions 2007

The Word Peace in the Quran (ca): Islamic Sources of Peace 2002

Origins of the Somali Qabils: NCUR Journal. 1998

American Leadership: Montgomery College newspaper 1993

Memberships, Honors and Certification

Lean Six Sigma (yellow belt) 2009

Hammer: Process and Project Improvement certified 2008

Training for Trainers 2004

Sphere Training Certified 2004

Monitoring and Evaluation certified 2002

President of Society for Peace and Conflict Resolution. 2002-2003

Member of SOFAS Student Organization for African Studies. 2002-2003

Member of the National Political Honor Society. 1998-2004

Honors Programs/Dean’s-list at Bowie State University. 1998-2000

PPM Project process management certified 1995

Team Captain of Cosmopolitan Soccer League, (Captain of the Simba F.C) 1992-1999

References can be provided upon request

Zack H. Kassim

2105 Cassi Rdg, Waterloo, Iowa 50701

ab17th@r.postjobfree.com

301-***-****



Contact this candidate