Somali Linguist
Resume:
Zack H. Kassim
**** ***** ***, ******** **** ****1
*********@*****.***
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
*********@*****.***
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