Contracts Manager (Military and Government)
Alshamel Travel
Total years of experience :37 years, 9 Months
Manage military and government contracts with annual sales in excess of $500M including the largest US military travel program, KBOSSS (Army R&R and Emergency leave contracts): US Embassies, USAID, US Navy (5th Fleet) and others. Lead proposal efforts for the division including graphic design to customers including US DOD, US DOS, UN, and others (complete and maintain all necessary SAM, UN, and other required registrations and certifications for the Company). Lead proposal effort to get Alshamel onto GSA schedule (on-going). Division in QA/QC efforts; lead to obtain ISO 9000 certification for the Company. Conduct regular QA site surveillance audits at head office and satellite offices on Arifjan and LSA/Ali Al-Salem base. Perform customer satisfaction surveys and implement policies. Legal - Knowledgeable of and responsible for review of US/Kuwait Trade Agreements, FAR, Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR) and various military and USG regulations. Development of contracts, agreements and other legal documents. Provide various reports to executive management team as requested. Business Development - Develop business with external clients. International travel representing Alshamel at tradeshows/conferences (annual participation at AUSA national convention). Lead projects for exhibiting at conventions/tradeshows. Sharepoint Corporate Administrator - M&G, July 2011 - Present Develop libraries and establish security parameters. Update/maintain information. Versioning. Upload documentation. Create announcements. Conduct user training and develop and distribute training materials. Conduct QA surveys of employees for use of portal. US Embassy Project POC - (10/2013 - Present) Principle point of contact/PM of travel office located at the Embassy dealing with contractual, staffing, resolution issues. Work with embassy staff and negotiate with Embassy General Services Officer (GSO) on contractual issues.
Working on various independent marketing-related projects for customers in Kuwait. Network/Assist companies in business development and marketing with Camp Doha and Arifjan, US Military, and other organizations wishing to do business with Iraq, US Government/military procedures and processes. PR Manager for Kingly SAS Trading Company. Contributing Freelance Writer for International Herald Tribune (local section, “Daily Star”), Arab Times, “Kuwait This Month”, “Kuwait Life” (dedicated monthly column), “Woman This Month” (Part of Bahrain This Month) “Bazaar” Magazines. Travel to Iraq for meetings, requirement gathering. Copy writing. Proposal writing. Corporate image: Logo, letterhead, website design. Write and design company profiles, marketing brochures, website content. Write and format CVs. Work on “as required” basis for: law firm of Jamal Al-Shehab & Jamal Abdullah and Partners (market research, correspondence, meetings, etc.); Center for Strategic Planning, as PR representative to international firms; Arab American Institute; Yousef Ahmad Rashid Al-Dossary & Bros. (YARDBC) of KSA’s Kuwait marketing representative; Arabic Triangle Corp. and others. Worked as script-writer/narrator (voice overs) for environmental documentary on KTV2, Earth Vision. Voice overs for several companies’ external phone systems.
Volunteer position. Recommend, coordinate and conduct branding and marketing efforts. Conduct fund raising activities. Promote association. Promote and participate in annual chapter activities and AUSA annual convention (Washington, DC) attended by global leaders in the defense industry. Networking.
Responsible for development of strategic alliances with potential partners and customers for company expansion into UAE and Qatar. Develop approach strategies for potential new customers. Travel throughout the Gulf and to/from US. Company lead for organizational development, business planning, development of reporting, and review. Business process analysis for departments. Development of military contacts for bids, future work; Cold call and lead generation. Research and development of JV’s. Work with Chinese JV partner in fulfillment of general requirements. Development of Kuwait National Offset Company projects for programs by partners. Develop and coordinate market intelligence reports, competitor reports, business analysis, departmental assessment reports, business plans, budget reports, marketing materials, and periodic company reporting to corporate HQ of holding company. Daily review and assessment of US military business opportunity sites (ASFI, Fedbizops, others). Network leads with local contacts. Work in conjunction with executive-level management in recruitment of key personnel. Represent company at trade shows, conferences, embassy functions, receptions. Development of marketing materials and website content.
As Director of Marketing, responsible for all marketing activities for consultancy firm. Marketing plans, budgeting, advertising. Further responsible for business development, cold call and lead generation. Development of marketing materials.
As Acting Administration Manager, responsible for general administrative functions for the Kuwait branch. Negotiation with vendors.
Proposal development for the two largest US Military contract solicitations of 2005 in this region: DLA and Heavy Lift VI. Consulting assignments include engagements at KOC, KNPC, MTC, KGL, and other large organizations within Kuwait.
Work in Chairman’s office, Organizational Development, in development of corporate policies and procedures, strategic initiatives for the company. Coordinate with company general managers, Quality Assurance and staff. In process of writing company-wide employee handbook and policy and procedure guide which will be delivered both online and in hard copy to 3, 000 employees in regional offices in nine countries. Edit, compile, format and produce corporate newsletter, Logistically Speaking, distributed to 3, 000 employees. As department administrator for intranet sites, developed and maintain SharePoint website for newsletter, department and various sub sites. Through the company, underwent crisis management and hostage negotiation training. Various projects as requested.
Worked in conjunction with management of systems integration company (specializing in SUN, IBM and Oracle products and services) in developing business related to the reconstruction of Iraq. Attend symposiums pertaining to Iraq, gather solicitations and report information. Prepared proposals, write legal documentation, write corporate documentation and brochures. Prepared marketing brochures, market research and documentation for FastFill, an automated fuelling system joint-venture with Crossecom of Australia. Travelled to UAE office of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) (now IBM) Consultants to assist in joint venture proposal work. KOC Portal System Documentation Officer/Graphics Coordinator; Diyar and OpenWare (sister company of DUC) websites; and user manual development for Mobile Data Terminal to Ministry of Interior (national project utilizing map & query system for all police vehicles). Represented company at various trade shows and seminars.
For ITS’ Marketing Communications, coordinating road shows and events with local hotels and vendors. Designed/copy wrote press releases, flyers, forms, and mass mailing documents. Worked on ITS’ annual party committee for 4 years arranging and coordinating event for 250 employees from all offices. Coordinated meetings, training courses and events at local hotels throughout tenure at ITS. Preparation of ITS’ company profile and website - copy writing and design. PR with executive level customers including gift and card arrangement and delivery during Eid holidays and other special occasions.
For ITS’ Business Solutions, responsible for technical documentation on various telecommunications projects, including telecomms billing system developed by ITS \[(Telecommunications Administration & Billing System (TABS)\]; MTC (Oracle Financials): and human resource system projects at various oil companies in UAE (HR Access by IBM). Define user requirements, technical writing, tech editing, formatting, graphics, structure of user documentation (i.e. user guides and procedures manuals for systems developed by ITS). Marketing projects included writing, editing, QA of corporate brochures and corporate website content. On-line documentation structure and use of RoboHelp and other on-line tools. Travel between Kuwait and regional offices.
ITS: 10/96 - 2/99 Administrative Assistant
For Sales Department, responsible for proposal preparation, technical writing and documentation production for commercial and government clients. Assist in the planning stages of documentation at customer sites. Technical writer for users documentation for DSS OLAP tool (Holos system), Executive Information System (EIS), developed by ITS for Kuwait Oil Company. Conducted user training to executive management. Technical editor for documentation to customers. Database management: Developed and maintain Access database for customer tracking, mailings (form letters, labels, etc). This database is currently shared with ITS’ regional offices throughout the Gulf. Developed proposal tracking system with QA management. Liaison with international customers, vendors. Worked in assistance of Assistant General Manager and Sales Manager for documentation, correspondence, adherence to ITS’ ISO standards. Attended QA briefings.
Worked as consultant through ICS’ merger with Cincinnati Bell Info Systems. As a Marketing Coordinator for this telecommunications-based organization, assisted international sales and marketing staff and General Manager for telecommunications billing software product line. Responded to RFPs. Responsible for marketing resource allocation. As Corporate Recruiter for ICS Technical staff, was responsible for non-technical evaluation and follow-through; promoted company at university job fairs; candidate database administration. Use of MS Office Applications.
Worked recruiter in the start-up phase of this recruitment consultancy organization, specializing in providing contracting and permanent placement services in the areas of software engineering, information systems, telecommunications and network communications. Interviewed potential employees, evaluated and counselled applicants for local and commercial IT clients. Implemented, tracked and maintained candidate database in MS Access. Position necessitated awareness of latest technology and terminology. Use of MS Office Applications.
SAIC: Production Specialist
As Production Specialist for the International Systems Division, one of SAIC’s largest revenue-producing divisions, was promoted to lead production of proposal design, format, and standardization. Assisted in the writing and compilation of proposal and corporate qualifications packages while continuing functions listed below for SAIC. Wrote and coordinated “ISD Style Guide” outlining standardization procedures for proposals, documentation production, and editing. Turn-around time for corporate qualifications package was approximately 3 days (normally a 2 week procedure). Completed major proposal efforts while simultaneously coordinating other projects within 1-week periods. Quality assurance editing, resume production and standardization. Configuration management of all proposals being bid, as well as deliverables (1000 +) for on-going multi-million dollar projects. Graphics work included the use of several applications for free-hand technical drawings, flow charts, financial graphs, clip art, briefing preparation. Research of past contracts and corporate experience (on-line searches, networking information). Use of MS Word, WordPerfect, Excel, Netscape, Presentations, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, Corel Draw, cc:Mail, Quickmail, Nexus/Plexus.
SAIC : Recruiter
Worked in conjunction with technical staff in recruitment of secretarial staff. Evaluated and reported on candidates to management.
SAIC: Middle East Liaison
Responsible for liaison to visiting international officers for marketing efforts. Coordinated
SAIC: 4/94 - 4/95 Administrative Assistant
Provided support to management and technical staff in several capacities:
SAIC: Help Desk/Computer Operations Support
Consulted by staff on software functions and on-line searches.
SAIC : 8/94 - 7/95 Student Liaison
On this Saudi-based program for the Saline Water Conservation Corporation (SWCC), used Arabic language skills and knowledge of foreign student requirements to make arrangements for relocation of students and their families to the area. Continued support as requested throughout their training at SAIC.
SAIC 1/92 - 4/94 Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Program Secretary
As Program Secretary on the RSNF’s Command, Control, and Communications (C3) System Upgrade Program, responsibilities included Officer Liaison (US - NISE East, SPAWAR & Saudi Navy), QA editing for deliverables and documentation, preparation of bi-annual program review briefings, meeting preparations. CM - tracked and maintained deliverable library (1000+ documents) according to Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) requirements including audits and research listings. Assisted Project Manager in the following: established and maintained work breakdown structure (WBS) charts and schedules, prepared integrated project Pert and Gant charts and reports for briefings and quarterly reviews.
At the headquarters of construction and development company, was responsible for the administration of an $85 million construction project (national HQ of Freddie Mac mortgage company - phase I). Worked closely in conjunction with Project Manager and ICAD engineers to adhere to rigid project requirements and specifications set by customer.
Self-organized company structured to network information during the occupation of Kuwait. Worked with officials and Embassy of Kuwait. Planned and organized White House vigils and demonstrations. Acted as liaison between media (local, national print & broadcast) and local Kuwaiti citizens. Assisted in the production of two public service television spots for Kuwait. Ran 24-hour inquiry line to assist with questions pertaining to Kuwait. Designed and distributed informational brochures about Kuwait during the Gulf War. Consultant following end of Gulf War to companies and individuals seeking contracts/employment in Kuwait.
Simultaneous to work with Kuwait Link, worked as Sales Administrator. Responsible for administrative matters for GM, Director of Sales, and seven Account Executives. Maintained and updated automated sales activity and tracking system (proprietary database using Dbase 3), compiled weekly and monthly reports on performance and status. Word processed and edited a minimum of four 25-page sales and marketing proposals per day on stringent schedule and deadline. Use of WordPerfect.
As Sales Administrator for Panasonic’s Communications & Systems Company in the Computer Products Division, worked in support of sales management staff of 12 and supervised secretarial staff of 2. Responsibilities included proposal, report and correspondence preparation. Served as point-of-contact service representative to 300 dealers and distributors of office automation equipment. Help desk rep in providing technical support to hardware end-users. Financial reporting responsibilities included: compilation and tabulation of monthly sales forecasts & marketing reports (manual tabulation of 1, 000 pages of statistical information for 6-month period processed monthly on an 8 hour deadline). Contract administration and related requirements for GSA contracts. Meeting, travel and marketing presentation coordination and arrangements. Recruited and supervised secretarial staff. Use of Lotus 1-2-3 and Panasonic proprietary word processors. Worked at Washington DC area Panasonic trade shows in support and marketing of office automation products.
At this Saudi-owned publishing firm, was responsible for marketing, circulation, research, editing and embassy liaison for monthly newsletter, Transglobal Report, to subscription base of 10, 000. Detailed research and production with staff writers of strategic political and anti-terrorism reports pertaining to the Persian Gulf area during the Iran-Iraq war. Worked in conjunction with firms’ President in preparation of anti-terrorism reports and seminars. Organized and set-up office filing system and office procedures. Financial responsibilities included working in conjunction with CPA to maintain company bookkeeping and tax records. Position also entailed meeting and travel coordination. Use of WordPerfect, Wordstar, Lotus, transcription equipment.
Did not complete.