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Nicole Mariam Heydari |
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Resume Nicole Mariam Heydari Program Manager nicole.heydari@gmail.com objective: To use my project management, analytical and language skills, multi-cultural knowledge and field experience to influence and promote foreign policy. key qualifications
Notable Achievements
Education Graphologist, Colegio Mexicano de Grafologia, February 2020 Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute, May 2014 Master of Advanced International Studies, Universitat Wien/Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria: June 2013; Master Thesis: "Don't let them rot" Battling for Minds in Afghanistan BS. Foreign Service, Major: International Politics, Certificate: International Development. Georgetown University, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS); May 2008 Study Abroad: Olinda Portuguese Language School, Brazil, January 2016 Megatrend University in Vienna, Austria, Summer 2011 Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany Spring 2007 American University in Cairo, Egypt, Fall 2006 Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Saltillo, Mexico, 1997-2004 (highschool) Centre International de Valbonne, Sophia Antipolis, France, May 2001 (BEPC)
languages English & Spanish: Native Speaker French & German: Advanced Farsi/Dari/Portuguese: Intermediate
Chronology of relevant work experience Senior Program Manager, Cross Border Strategy, Amazon Transportation Services, Mexico (August 2025-Present) § Driving strategic initiatives and program launches to grow and improve cross border operations. § Monitoring program metrics for success, including cost optimization and speed improvement
INL Coordinator, US Embassy Belmopan, Belize (July 2024- August 2025) § Managed day-to day operations of an 11-person team of locally employed staff and contractors and a 7 Million U.S. Dollar pipeline to improve border security, narcotics interdiction, forensics capability and and rule of law in Belize. § Restructured the office in line with foreign policy priorities and developed and oversaw programming with clearly defined goals, targets and indicators, obtaining over 2 Million U.S. Dollars in waivers to continue border security and narcotics projects. § Liaised with inter-agency section heads, Belizean government and international organizations to conduct joint programming and resolution of cases involving Americans.
Senior Reporting Associate/Program Associate. United Nations Agency for Refugees (UNHCR), Tapachula, Chiapas (September 2023- May 2024) Mexico City, Mexico, (June-July 2024) § Coordinated with government donors and drafted high-level reports and proposals for funding in Mexico. § Supervised that the field office direct implementation and grants for day-to-day execution is within project cost, scope and schedule, developing policies and procedures in adherence to organizational goals. § Liased with senior local government partners and NGOs implementing refugee assistance projects in Tapachula § Oversaw the relocation of UNHCR installations and equipment in 2 days for refugee operations in Tapachula. § Negotiated and coordinated amendments and renewals of partnership agreements established between UNHCR and organizations working in Tapachula, Chiapas such as Fray Matias, JRS and UMA.
Deputy Program Manager/Program Director. SGI Global LLC, (U.S. Department of State Contract) Mexico City, Mexico, (March 2018- September 2022) § Managed day-to-day operations and monitor quality control of law enforcement training program funded by INL, U.S. Department of State in Mexico § Supervise logistical staff and instructors ensuring over 450 courses taught across Mexico are within schedule, cost and scope. § Established two PMOs in Mexico City including recruiting Mexican and American staff, establishing policies and procedures and overseeing financial management and qualitry control in accordance with contractual terms.
Deputy Program Manager. Vysnova Partners Inc,(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Contract) Washington, DC (March 2017- March 2018) § Managed two-CDC funded Zika study and surveillance projects in Colombia with 120+ field staff, including overseeing and developing communications, travel and procurement plans and logistics. § Managed multi-million dollar budgets for grant and CRFF Contract, and ensure budget realignments, carryovers and deliverables are submitted on time. § Supervised field PMO and headquarters staff and serve as main lision to client.
Managing Member. CSR Global Solutions, Washington, DC (March 2016- November 2018) § Provided strategic direction and leading consolidation of smart partnerships with businesses for the implementation of corporate social responsibility projects. § Conducted business development and interfacing with potential partners for sustainable project implementation. § Supported project management and streamlining of processes and lessons learned for two Zika-funded projects through Vysnova Partners, Inc
Protocol Officer. Inter-American Defense College, External Relations Department, Organization of American States (now USSOUTHCOM), Washington, DC (September 2016-March 2017) § Led the drafting of a strategic communications framework with a social media component and published the first and second issue of the "Collegium" digital newsletter aligning the College's communication efforts with its 21st century vision. § Developed protocol plans and gifts procurement in support of the College's leadership's engagements with senior diplomats and military and police leaders in the Western hemisphere.
International Program Manager. Sayara International (USAID Contract), Washington, DC (June-September 2016) § Managed DC office program associates and interns to support countering violent extremism (CVE) programming in Afghanistan. § Led team drafting impact evaluation report for CVE program and coordinated business development efforts for projects in the Middle East. § Developed information management system and templates for staff management, project oversight and closeout.
International Program Specialist. CLDP/U.S. Department of Commerce (USAID Agreement), Washington, DC (November 2014- December 2015) § Designed, planned and implemented technical assistance and capacity-building programs for public procurement officials in Afghanistan and interfaced with high-level government officials, international stakeholders and clients. § Managed logistics of Afghanistan USAID-funded training programs in mining, transparency, arbitration and public procurement in a number of countries including Afghanistan, Turkey, Colombia, Chile, Georgia and Malaysia.
Program Specialist. DynCorp International/Casals & Associates, USAID Contract, Dili, Timor-Leste (January-March 2014) § Oversaw field office closeout operations for MCC/USAID FOTI Timor-Leste Program including participation at USAID Exposition, organization of closeout event, property donations, technical deliverables, and personnel administrative tasks.
Book Editor. Dr. Gudrun Harrer/Diplomatic Academy, Vienna, Austria (March- June, September-October 2013) § Copy-edited and formatted book proposal, table of contents and manuscript on topic of Iraq nuclear inspections 1991-1998. "Dismantling the Iraqi Nuclear Programme" published in December 2013.
Civilian Casualties Tracking Cell Manager. International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Civilian Casualties Mitigation Team, Kabul, Afghanistan (July-December 2012) § Monitored civilian casualty (CIVCAS) incidents and trends in Afghanistan through database tracker and recommended mitigation actions to ISAF and Afghan generals; coordinated information exchange with UNAMA and civil society; jumpstarted CIVCAS Mitigation Team (CCMT) transition through ANSF engagements; developed first CIVCAS Annex to Operations Plan; updated SOP on CIVCAS handling procedures; moderated first Joint CIVCAS Mitigation Board, provided content manager support to portal website; briefed newcomers, staff sections and COMISAF regularly; supported CIVCAS media roundtables; served as CCMT ISAF representative to US Joint Staff J7 CIVCAS Working Group and as operations liaison to ISAF gender working group.
Assistant in Project Governance in Post Conflict Countries. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Vienna, Austria (March-June 2012) § Developed a good governance manual adapted to Iraqi context, international conventions and national laws, outlining anti-corruption and accountability policies and measures for the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (Iraq).
Intelligence Specialist/GMI Analyst. Human Terrain System/US Department of Defense, Kapisa and Ghazni, Afghanistan (Jan 2010- Feb 2011) § Advised the French Brigade (TFLF) on socio-cultural operationally-relevant information as resident expert of Nijrab district in its first human terrain team; developed a strong working relationship with ASOP (district council), liaising with PRT and Polish and French Brigades; led and co-drafted a 50 page assessment and co-led implementation of road compensation strategy providing compensation to more than 1200 families while strengthening local governance; conducted in-depth interviews with more than 40 local leaders; created more than 100 village profiles used to inform missions; documented local security initiatives by the Special Forces in Kapisa Province; co-planned and co-executed several PRT missions to villages; co-drafted a diplomatic cable on road compensation; and supported female engagement team for gender-focused projects
Human Terrain Analyst. CLI Solutions/US Department of Defense Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (July-Dec 2009) § Trained for deployment to Afghanistan; conducted field research including data collection, interpretation, evaluation and preparation of debriefings to Commander. Selected based on team skills to form part of only group planned to deploy as a team to Afghanistan. Program Coordinator. Casals & Associates, Inc. (C&A). USAID Contractor Alexandria, Virginia, (July 2008-April 2009) § Provided managerial support to field offices and problem-solved technical, budgetary, logistical and operational issues- including editing and translating reports, budget analysis, procurement of equipment and consultants, and meeting performance targets in Monitoring and Evaluation Plans- as main HQ liaison for USAID-funded anti-corruption programs in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Madagascar; Provided local context, information and situation map to reshape programs to be more effective; Closed down Madagascar Program in December 2008 (traveled in-country, cleared financial accounts with grantees, negotiated budget readjustment with USAID COTR, met with government counterparts, resolved outstanding issues with subcontractor and wrote Program Final Report).
Equatorial Guinea Project Assistant. Academy for Educational Development (AED). Center for Global Education, Washington, DC (May-July 2008) § Conducted technical, operational and procurement tasks, including translation and review of technical reports and purchase and arrangement of transportation of educational material, for major project reforming the primary education sector in Equatorial Guinea, funded by Hess Corporation and the Ministry of Education of Equatorial Guinea.
Research Analyst. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Learning Resources Center, Washington, DC (Jan-April 2008) § Prepared and integrated reports into country briefings for Foreign Service Officers based on all-source/fusion information on economic, social, health, political and cultural issues for countries including China, Iran, Iraq, Peru, South Africa, and Rwanda. Research Assistant. Georgetown University, Dr. Erik Voeten, “Political Parties’ Opinion of US Foreign Policy” Research Project (Sept-Dec 2007) § Researched and compiled a list of political party experts and contact information from countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe to respond to survey regarding opinions of US foreign policy. Spanish and French Interpreter. Georgetown University Hospital, International Services Dept. Washington, DC (Sept 2005-April 2006) § Interpreted and translated medical instructions and information for patients, doctors and social workers
Spanish Literacy and Basic English Teacher. District of Columbia Public School, Parent Program, Washington, DC (Sept-Dec 2004) § Taught parents basic Spanish & English reading and writing using dynamic methods: music, games, and role play
internships · US Mission to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Vienna, Austria (January-March 2012) Drafted position papers on PKO and UNSCR 1325; prepared Ambassador's briefing book; drafted speeches and took notes. · NGO EXIT combating human trafficking from Africa, Vienna, Austria (May-December 2011) Conducted grant proposal writing; supported case interviews; and assisted in event organization and coordination. · National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Washington, DC (Sept 2007) Wrote articles for NIAC website on Iran-related conferences held in Washington DC area. · Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV), Dept. of Research & Education, Tehran, Iran (July-Aug 2007) Conducted research and analysis of State Department, UN and Iranian Civil/Criminal Law and Labor Law sources, prepared presentation, and organized and directed workshop on “Women and Children Trafficking in Iran” for Iranian law professors and students · US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance, Vienna, VA (Jan-March 2007)Created instructor database for information management, managed course delivery contracts, evaluated “Senior Crisis Management” course for Kyrgyz Republic senior government authorities and submitted recommendations for improvement · US House of Representatives, Government Reform Committee, Washington, DC (July- August 2006) Conducted background research and wrote memo for hearings: “Retirees Returning to the Rescue: Re-employing Annuitants in Times of National Need” and “Back to School: Gangs, Drugs and Sexual Predators”
Other skills/activities
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