Mariana Dantas de Paula
Partnerships and Strategic Communications; Project Management
Policy evaluation/review
Data analysis and reporting
Negotiation
Business Communication
Project Management
41 years old
Driving License
Geneva (1200) Switzerland
Employed
Open to opportunities
Italian-Brazilian International Affairs professional fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French. Over 8 years of relevant professional experience in project management, strategic communication and negotiations in government agencies, the academic sector and international organisations.
Coordinator Corporate Administration and Procurement
IATA
Since October 2016
- Administrator of the employees Extra Benefits portfolio for IATA Geneva. Negotiates deals for employees with car brands, telephone providers, cultural producers and restaurants. Manages relationships and communication with partners independently. Achievements: BMW accepted IATA as the first company in Switzerland whose employees are eligible for diplomatic discounts without holding a diplomatic permit
- SAP software purchasing specialist and procuement policy champion. Ensures compliance with business rules and purchasing process through the creation and modification of purchase requisitions, purchase orders, contracts, goods receipt and vendor information. Training of new employees, creation of training material and review of procedure enhancement suggestions.
- Procurement - erforms business intelligence research and analyses to benchmark prices and service packages offered to the organization against market practice. E.g. car insurance/services, mobile phone providers etc. Creates databases and reports to communicate findings to management.
- Communication strategy and implementation focal point. Drafts department updates, speaking notes, executive summaries/briefs, and key performance indicator reports.
- Procurement of company car fleet services and products. Purchases of vehicles, trade-in, insurance contracts and claims, servicing, taxes, transfer of plates and export of vehicles; performs market research and cost tracking of expenses of 15 company cars.
Applicant Support Officer
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
August 2015
to March 2016
Switzerland
- Performed evaluation screening and data analysis on 16 funding applications, assessing eligibility on participatory and transparent decision-making processes as well as completeness of applications . Proved ability to manage conflicting priorities in a high volume of work stream (8 portfolios per 3 month review session).
- Supported grant applicants and countries team from Southern and Eastern Africa, West Asia and Latin America on amending their applications to ensure compliance of eligibility and data completeness requirements . Required tactful communication and collaboration to find solutions in accordance with political, social or economic sensitivities of the applicant country context.
- Preparation of high-level reports, presentations and meetings to brief disease experts and summarize their findings
- Mediating communication between applicants and external disease experts in the review and approval process of applications.
Project Coordinator
Institut de Hautes Etudes Internationales et du Développement
October 2013
to August 2015
Switzerland
- Helped structure and implement the first two editions of an international contest on advancing the millennium development goals (The Geneva Challenge). Required strategic planning of rules, regulations, timeline, communication plans, jury and steering committee membership and all aspects of project management
- Managed and extracted analysis from databases on participants information, compliance of submissions with eligibility criteria, potential partners, project expenses.
- Assessed the eligibility of an average of 700 students per contest cycle. I would treat differences in educational systems and cultural peculiarities on a case-by-case basis, while staying true to the rules, regulations and objectives of the project. I would present special cases to the Head of the Steering Committee for review and final decision.
- Promoted the contest by drafting news pieces, “blurbs” and delivering presentations to a variety of stakeholders. Tailoring communication to students, professors and international organization officials, certainly helped secure participation of students from 50 different countries each year as well as to create partnerships with the Kofi Annan Foundation, UNDP, UNRISD, IOM and the International Development Law Organisation.
Events Coordinator
Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales et du Développement
September 2012
to October 2013
Switzerland
- Facilitated the set-up and logistics of high-level events such as Kofi Annan, Ban-Ki Moon, Irene Khan and William Lacy Swing conferences as well as the inaugurations of the Maison de la Paix in Geneva (300-400 attendants per event).
- Part of a multi-cultural and interdisciplinary team, acquired increasing responsibilities.
- Starting as receptionist, I quickly transitioned to management of registrations database, finally being made responsible of event planning and coordination of teams of 8-24 event assistants with different roles and profiles.
Project Assistant
International Labor Organisation
September 2010
to February 2011
Switzerland
- Prepared policy guidance tool based on national and global studies of project on freedom of association and collective bargaining in the rural and export processing sectors;
- Database analyses. Summarised findings in preparation for training meetings with field experts.
- Translations: French, Spanish and Portuguese into English
- Negotiations
- Strategic partnerships
- Stakeholder management
- Corporate Communications
- Reporting
- Business Writing
- Presentation Development
- Data analysis
- Policy analysis
- Compliance Review
- Database administration
- Lessons learned
- Project Management
- Project Planning
- Project Coordination
The IATA Diploma in Project Management uses one of the most effective internationally recognized methodologies in partnership with the Project Management Institute (PMI), providing a broad understanding of project management, from definition to planning, monitoring and control.
120 PDUs
120 PDUs
Master in International Affairs
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
September 2012
to September 2014
Professional Workshops in: Strategic Communications, Negotiation and Mediation (2 modules) Program management and Social Entrepreneurship.
Exchange Program with University of Sao Paulo on Brazilian Regional Foreign Policy.
5 years program with specialization in international law
