Bassem Koujak

I recently picked the role of Cybersecurity and support officer to help big IT upgrade projects for the whole organisation. This also involves cybersecurity management and advisory role.

I was very fortunate to get this job. I always had the passion to help others in general and in particular when it comes to significant forced changes. So when Australian federal government announced to grant 12k humanitarian visas for Syrians and Iraqis. I could have imagined the challenges these people will face during their settlement process and in particular finding a job. Therefore, I put my hands up to help.
Major responsibilities:
 To work with local refugee communities in general and with the Iraqi and Syrian communities in particular to identify needs and plan activities that they might identified as useful.
 To plan, facilitate, evaluate and deliver groups and programs as identified by the communities and/or management of QPASTT. E.g.:
• Co-facilitation and delivery of Ucan2: this program is designed to deliver “work readiness” sessions to AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program-Tafe) students. Sessions include:
 Understanding employment types.
 Writing resumes and cover letters.
 Thorough education of the “employment process”
 Thorough education of job boards.
 Use of LinkedIn.
 Interview preparations.
 Mock interviews.
• Co-facilitation and delivery of Support Skill and Connect: another program which aims to deliver very similar goals to the above one but with lower level content as this one is intended to address younger and lower English level students.
• Facilitate and delivery of Mens’ Group: This program aims to reduce the pressure of newly arrived men and help their general wellbeing by engaging them in meaningful and relevant outdoor activities.
• Co-facilitation and delivery of “Rock & Water”: it is anti-bulling strategy program delivered to young community members and school students.

 Other activities may involve: information, advice and referral; individual advocacy; emotional support; social and personal development; community development, community education, capacity building and training delivery.
 To build capacity of other service providers to have an understanding of the Iraqi and Syrian communities need in collaboration with QPASTT Capacity Building Officer when required.
 To network with other organisations and communities, to ensure high quality support is available and maintain a positive and collaborative approach to supporting our client group.
 Raise awareness about QPASTT work and access to its services among local communities and other service providers.
 Prepare in collaboration with the QPASTT’s Group Facilitator work sessions by developing, planning, facilitating and evaluating the sessions.
 In collaboration with other QPASTT’s staff develop and maintain strategic and productive partnerships with other service providers, community leaders, community organisations and other agencies.
 Provide group work support, information and referral to clients through the group activities;
 Undertake activities aimed at building resilience and skills and attributes that promote positive life choices and wellbeing; and
 Prepare appropriate documentation; maintain files, records, statistics and data.

 Identify future talent needs within Path4 clients and proactively engaging with the right candidates.
 Developing talent pool in the required fields and creating the social engagements.
 Manage the recruitment process and life-cycle, including initial assessments, interviews, and offers.
 Coach the candidate on corporate benefits, salary, and corporate environment.
 Use social media, job boards, Internet sourcing, and other technical means to source candidates for open jobs.
 Use sophisticated applicant tracking systems and other recruiting software and CRM system to track applicants through the selection phase through to on-boarding.
 Accountable for sourcing suitable candidates for vacant roles.
 Qualifying candidates suitable for current or future vacancies.
 Managing the expectations of candidates and clients.
 Generating business leads to capitalize on.
 Providing client/project/program mapping to have a better insight into the market place.
 Networking and advertising to potential candidates.
 Identifying skills to match appropriate vacancies.
 Negotiating contracts and new starter packs.
 Dealing with general queries relating to contracts, pay, logistics etc.
 Accountable for screening candidates, pre-interviewing candidates prior to clients'

 Accountable for sourcing suitable candidates for vacant roles.
 Conduct talent pooling to be proactive in search for professionals.
 Create a sort of social engagement with candidates.
 Qualify candidates suitable for current or future vacancies.
 Manage the expectations of candidates and clients.
 Network and advertise to potential candidates.
 Identify skills to match appropriately with vacancies
 Negotiate contracts and new starter packs.
 Deal with general queries relating to contracts, pay, logistics etc.
 Accountable for screening candidates, pre-interviewing candidates prior to clients' interview.
 Build ongoing relationships with Candidates and Clients - understanding organisations culture and fit to candidate types.
 Gain people's confidence and put them at ease, as well as keep their confidentiality.

 Has the responsibility of 360 sales recruitment cycle for selected clients.
 Accountable of creating a talent pool to serve SNS branches in Gulf region.
 Growing the existing accounts and generate diversified revenue streams.
 Advertising vacancies by drafting and placing adverts in a wide range of media.
 Using social media to advertise positions, attract candidates and build relationships with candidates and employers.
 Headhunting - identifying and approaching suitable candidates who may already be in work.
 Using candidate databases to match the right person to the client's vacancy.
 Receiving and reviewing applications, managing interviews and tests and creating a shortlist of candidates for the client.
 Requesting references and checking the suitability of applicants before submitting their details to the client.
 Briefing the candidate about the responsibilities, salary and benefits of the job in question.
 Preparing CVs and correspondence to forward to clients in respect of suitable applicants.
 Organizing interviews for candidates as requested by the client.
 Negotiating pay and salary rates and finalising arrangements between client and candidates.
 Offering advice to both clients and candidates on pay rates, training and career progression.
 Full responsibility over the major accounts of the company i.e. Telecommunication and IT, generating 60% of the company revenue.
 Leading and mentoring sales team of account managers and resource consultants across MENA region.
 Achieved over target Revenue and Margin in 2006, 2007, 2008 (32% over margin), 2009, 2010 and 2011.
 Developing and implementing sales plans and directing sales forecasting for setting performance goals and achieving target.
 Setting and developing annual sales targets.
 Continuously exploring and cultivating new sales opportunities while ensuring revenue & profitability growth from the existing customers.
 Actively seeking new relationships with potential customers.
 Ensuring that work activities are carried out according to the pre-set performance goals, and suggesting any necessary actions to the General Manager.
 Maintaining a comprehensive database of sales opportunities, sales activities, revenues (billable delivered sales), work in progress, and collection of due and overdue monies.
 Provide the company with new ideas and initiatives on how to improve its sales activities.
 Sales support, where appropriate, for service demonstrations, customer presentations and partner presentations.
 Develop their subordinate’s capabilities and support them in all activities.
 Customer interface, identifying customer problems & complaints and find proper solutions to meet customer satisfaction.
 Reviewing market analysis to determine customer needs, price schedules, and actively enhance customer relationships.
 Conduct opportunity review, deal reviews (with P&L), quarterly business reviews, and deal closure reviews.
 Achieving sales target and increasing revenue and profitability from existing customers.
 Visiting clients on regular basis and developing relationships with all levels.
 Actively seeking new ways to get leads and convert leads into sales.
 Responsible for the promotion of the Company brands' image through exhibitions, public relations activities, customer-seller forums, etc.

 Generating business leads and converting leads to sales.
 Responsible for the market promotion, presale and after sale customer relations support of projects.
 Responsible for grasping customers’ demands, gathering their requirements, organizing work process to assure the customized solutions and strengthen relationship with them.
 Managing the sales process in an efficient and effective way ensuring achievements of sales targets.
 Providing the company with feedback reports, sales analysis, presenting recommendations for improvement and estimation of sales.
 Developing and implementing short & long term business plans and strategies.
 Developing system and procedures related to sales management.
 Follow up with customers in terms of visitations & inquiries.
 Conducting the required minimum number of meetings and sales calls.
 Management reporting (weekly, monthly & quarterly).
 Scouring the KSA market and identifying potential clients within varied industries.
 Providing clients with specialized services and recommendations in line with their requirements.
 Meeting targets and goals as set by the Management.
 formulate policies regarding development of sales plans and strategies
 Establish, implement and supervise administrative procedures, regulations and training for the distributors and resellers in Riyadh market.
 Responsible for the promotion of the Company brands' image through exhibitions, public relations activities, customer-seller forums, etc
 In charge of the Industrial Supplies Division in Riyadh branch.
 Handling major accounts in Riyadh & Eastern province.
 Responsible for the highest contract negotiations with clients.
 Responsible for arranging the clients’ delivery schedules.
 Responsible for Budget forecast.
 Liaison with the high customer’s management.
 Increased 15% of our market share (as an average between different products) in Riyadh market only.
 Increased Riyadh indirect and direct sales proportionally with the market share.
 Re-established relationships with old clients.

 Followed up all the marketing activities running in UAE, Syria and Lebanon offices (sales, credits, promotions, clients’ issues etc.)
 Full responsibility over the coordination between the branches needs and factory production.
 In charge of researches of new projects in different areas.
 In charge of inspection of new markets pan Arab. (Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Thailand and India)
 Established a new jewelry designing office in Mumbai, India (2003).
 Established a new jewelry designing office in Aleppo, Syria (2003)
 Established new business collaborations in Bangkok, Thailand (2002).
 Signed contracts on my company’s behalf with leading jewelry designing companies and free lancers in Seoul, South Korea (2002).
 Full responsibility over the jewelry exhibitions that we participate in (Dubai, Bahrain, Syria and Beirut).
 Full responsibility over the public relations events and seminars (Lunching the TV game show Your Weight in Gold with collaboration of Abu Dhabi TV.

 Followed up all the marketing activities running in UAE, Syria and Lebanon offices (sales, credits, promotions, clients’ issues etc.)
 Full responsibility over the coordination between the branches needs and factory production.
 In charge of researches of new projects in different areas.
 In charge of inspection of new markets pan Arab. (Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Thailand and India)
 Established a new jewelry designing office in Mumbai, India (2003).
 Established a new jewelry designing office in Aleppo, Syria (2003)
 Established new business collaborations in Bangkok, Thailand (2002).
 Signed contracts on my company’s behalf with leading jewelry designing companies and free lancers in Seoul, South Korea (2002).
 Full responsibility over the jewelry exhibitions that we participate in (Dubai, Bahrain, Syria and Beirut).
 Full responsibility over the public relations events and seminars (Lunching the TV game show Your Weight in Gold with collaboration of Abu Dhabi TV.