Maher Kassem

Key Strengths

I consider myself to be a self-motivated and highly reliable person. I am a fast learner and loyal team member, readily listening to others, acknowledging peer accomplishment and contributing to a positive and productive work environment, as well as team morale.

Experience

Jul 2024 - Present

IT Specialist/ Software & Web Developer

Pafilia Property Developers LTD - Paphos, Cyprus

Developed and maintained the Timesheet website for the weekly employees to enter their working hours using budibase.
Custom scripts to move files and convert them and read Bar-Codes and seperate them and uploads them in to the server.
Spearheaded development and optimization of internal web applications used by over 500 employees across multiple departments.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams including HR, Finance, and Operations to automate business workflows and improve digital efficiency by 40%.
Supporting over 700 active user accounts.
Led the deployment and integration of a centralized IT ticketing system , reducing average resolution time by 35%.
Developed responsive internal dashboards using Laravel, JavaScript, and MySQL to support data visualization and reporting needs.
Managed and secured Linux and Windows-based virtual servers, ensuring 99.9% uptime across mission-critical infrastructure.
Supported enterprise-wide software rollouts and version upgrades with minimal user disruption and full documentation.
Integrated REST APIs between core enterprise systems, improving system interoperability and eliminating manual data entry.
Conducted penetration testing and implemented security patches to ensure compliance with ISO 27001 standards.
Provided second- and third-line support for complex technical incidents, achieving a 94% customer satisfaction rate.
Participated in agile sprint planning with the software development team to prioritize and deliver feature requests.
Oversaw IT asset lifecycle management, maintaining accurate records of over 1,200 hardware and software assets.
Contributed to disaster recovery planning and performed routine backup validation and recovery drills.
Maintained CI/CD pipelines for internal web applications, reducing manual deployment time by 50%.
Developed and maintained an inventory spreadsheet, ensuring accurate tracking of IT assets.

Aug 2023 - Jul 2024

Head of IT

American University of Beirut - Paphos, Cyprus

Developed and implemented strategic IT plans aligning with business objectives, resulting in improved efficiency and cost savings.
Oversaw IT service delivery, ensuring high-quality support and troubleshooting for end-users.
Implemented and managed IT ticketing system, resulting in a 30% reduction in response times.
Developed and conducted training programs to improve employees' technical skills and knowledge.
Extensive experience providing technical support for software applications, troubleshooting and resolving end-user issues.
Proficient in setting up and configuring hardware devices, including PCs, printers, and network equipment.
Strong knowledge of operating systems, including Windows and macOS, and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement and support technology solutions for the organization.
Conducted hardware and software installations, upgrades, and repairs for desktop computers and laptops.
Conduct electrical safety checks on computer equipment.
Keep computer systems running smoothly and ensure users get the maximum benefit.
Over 3 years of experience providing technical support for IT systems and software.
Implemented security measures, including antivirus software and firewalls, to protect systems from threats.
Conducted regular system updates and performed data backups to ensure data integrity and security.
Familiar with Active Directory administration and user account management.
Successfully managed and resolved complex technical issues, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
Implemented and maintained server operating systems, such as Windows Server and Linux.
Proficient in server rack installation, management, and troubleshooting for efficient data center operations.
Demonstrated ability to provide technical support and resolve server rack-related issues quickly and efficiently.
Skilled in cable management and organizing server racks to ensure efficient airflow and minimize downtime.
Developed and maintained an inventory spreadsheet, ensuring accurate tracking of IT assets.

Aug 2021 - Aug 2023

EDI Analyst/Software Developer

Transalis (Cyprus) LTD - Paphos, Cyprus

Deliver >80% of projects within agreed timescales, agreed in conjunction with sales team.
Time track tasks effectively to enable early escalation of projects to Development Manager Customer Projects which are or are likely to overrun estimations.
Build and maintain effective relationships with customers through phone and email communication and ensure clean handover to BAU teams on completion of project stream.
Create and maintain effective working relationships with other teams and departments, taking responsibility for resolving cross-team issues for the best outcome for customers.
Identify and implement opportunities to improve development processes and communication in partnership with the Head of Service Delivery.
Maintain project documentation, ensuring it is complete, accurate and up to date. Ensure that components are reused to greatest extent to avoid time lost reinventing the wheel.
Contribute to wider company projects demonstrating commitment to business growth and development.
Maintain time variance of <20% against estimations, measured on an overall project completion metric on a quarterly basis.
Maintain individual workload under 15 projects, except in exceptional circumstances.
Maintain a maximum lead time of 4 weeks for projects from point of creation on project system.

Apr 2017 - Jun 2021

Lifeguard

Aphrodite WaterPark - Paphos, Cyprus

Enhanced my communication, public speaking and leadership skills when directing and providing guidance to visitors from different backgrounds, at both the individual level and with larger groups.
Developed monitoring skills in tasks such as conducting daily quality control and safety checks.
Administered first aid and CPR in response to life threatening situations, while staying calm under pressure.
Participated in trainings, including facilitating trainings for other colleagues related to the standard operating and health and safety procedures.
Conducted interviews with prospective employees, which required good judgement and decision-making skills.
Supervised visitors and carefully enforced the waterpark facility policies and guidelines to ensure the visitors safety.

Education

2016 - Sep 2020

BSc Applied Informatics

Neapolis University Pafos (NUP) - Paphos, Cyprus

Jul 2021 - Aug 2021

Certificate of Project Planning & Management For Software & IT Engineers

Udemy (under Transalis company)

September 2020

Diploma in Ethical Hacking

Alison: Online Education

September 2020

Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Google Online Academy

September 2020

Google Analytics

Google

Certificate in Arabic Language

Alison: Online Education

Projects

4th year student

360 - VR & AR Tour & Image Stitching Applications

Neapolis University of Paphos

Designed and developed a 360 - VR & AR tour application for navigating through the University campus.
Knowledgeable in photo editing, stitching and programming.
Knowledgeable in researching and organizing.

3rd year student

Web-based team project & Unity-based project

Neapolis University of Paphos

Developed an image filtering program by using C# language on Microsoft Visual Studio.
Knowledgeable in user interface, coding, testing, and debugging processes.
Comprehensive knowledge of web-based programming languages such as PHP, CSS, HTML, HTML5, MySQL.
Dedicated to learning additional technologies and coding languages (currently enrolled in a JavaScript course).
Comprehensive knowledge of ERD, UML, FLOWCHART.
Worked on database design and front-end/back-end interfaces, which improved my web-based language coding, and the user interface to be more user friendly.
Knowledgeable in SQL.
Knowledgeable in Adobe Photoshop.
Integrating system changes to align with the client's requirements.
Advising clients on the layout, colour and style of a site.
Able to effectively self-manage during independent projects, as well as collaborate in a team setting.
Comprehensive knowledge of Unity.
Knowledge of asset pipeline architectures and game engines.
Expertise in Unity3D.
Comprehensive knowledge of Oracle.
Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Visual Studio.

Technical Skills

Programming & Markup Languages

C

C++

C#

Java

PHP

HTML

CSS

XML

XSL

JSON

EDI

SQL

Tools & Technologies

Laravel

Visual Studio

Bootstrap

Eclipse

Wamp

Xampp

FileZilla

Notepad++

Unity

Oracle

Postman

Photoshop

Zoho Creator

Budibase

Databases

MySQL

phpMyAdmin

Oracle

Operating Systems

Windows

Linux

Low-Code Platforms

Zoho Creator

Budibase

Other

Ethical Hacking

Digital Marketing

UML

ERD

Professional Skills

Fast learner

Decision maker

Researching

Interviewing

Counselling

Critical thinking

Innovator

Communicating

Organizing

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Vendor management

Project Management

Customer Communication

Process Improvement

Languages

Kurmanji (Native)

Arabic (Advanced)

English (Advanced)

Greek (Advanced)

Turkish (Elementary)