Steven Jones, BA(Hons), ACIL, Dip.French, Dip.Spanish
Personal Details
Home base:Cheshire, UK
Home :01606 79567
Mobile :07979 420199
Date of Birth :22 October 1950
Nationality :British
Security:Cleared to SC level
Profile
Now a freelance translator, fulfilling an ambition to use my passion for languages in a full-time professional capacity, I have previously been employed in the IT industry for more than 35 years on consulting assignments in a wide variety of roles. Since the early 1990s, I have fulfilled senior roles such as Solution Director, Chief Architect and Business Analyst, specialising in architecting and delivering complex IT solutions which have had a strong focus on key commercial and operational drivers. These solutions have been proved to address succesfully many major business challenges and to resolve significant operational problems.
With respect to project and bid work, including an award-winning programme, I have focused on areas such as IT strategy, business analysis, technical consultancy, system architecture and design, commercial bid responses and technical management. My broad experience allows me to be comfortable engaging with both large and small companies and my knowledge and skills allow me to be as technical as a client requires.
Working worldwide, I have been engaged by a large number of clients in a variety of industry sectors. During the last 15 years, I have increasingly needed to work through the medium of French and Spanish and this has included working on many occasions as the internal project translator. I have been required to translate or summarise French and Spanish technical and business text, into English, from a range of written sources. These have included requests for information/proposals, technical documentation, presentation materials, emails, questions and clarifications.
With an Honours degree in Modern Languages, I am well equipped to translate from French and Spanish into English, specialising in the computer industry. In addition, as a result of my working background, I have substantial knowledge of business in general and the banking and retails sectors in particular.
In summary, my professional skills and experience allow me to quickly assess the business context, key focus areas and goals, potential ambiguities, nuances and cultural undertones of a source text to produce an accurate and professional quality translation.
Education & Languages
EducationBA (Hons) in Modern Languages (French & Spanish)
OND Business Studies
3 GCE ‘A’ Levels (Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Chemistry)
11 GCE ‘O’ Levels
LanguagesSpanishProficient
FrenchProficient
ItalianIntermediate(currently studying)
GermanBasic
AccreditationChartered Institute of Linguists – Associate Member (ACIL)
I.T. & Business Professional Background
More than 35 years of solid experience in the IT industry, in a variety of projects and has successfully fulfilled the role of Chief Architect on projects worth more than £50 million.
Strong oral and written communication skills in all situations at business and technical levels. This covers a broad range including board level presentations and discussions, commercial and technical workshops, supplier and partner meetings, technical reviews, educational courses and public speaking.
Strong technical leadership in a variety of engagements, including lead roles in solution/system architecture, database design, application development and project implementation, with strong evidence of customer, supplier and partner management..
Substantial experience in commercial bids for major programmes/projects and smaller niche pieces of work. This includes producing bids and assessing bids, i.e. ‘both sides of the fence’.
Broad technical knowledge, covering a disparate range of standards, technologies and methods. Experience ranges from legacy and proprietary technologies through to modern open standard technologies. Work has involved all aspects of architecture, from the conceptual approaches down to detailed infrastructure design.
Strong inclination towards self-directed education, professional and personal development.
Key industry sectors:
- Banking & Insurance, Retail, Government
Significant exposure to:
- Healthcare, Utilities & Energy, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Distribution
Examples of key professional achievements:
- As the chief technologist, architected and orchestrated an large integrated solution for Yorkshire Electricity which won the McGraw-Hill Award for Technical Excellence
- As the chief architect, was instrumental in architecting and delivering a solution, in exactly one year, which underpinned the operational capability required by a start-up mobile phone operator in Venezuela. This included services and functionality to support the data centre, the call centre, retail outlets, agents and technical support personnel.
- Worked on projects and bids in France, Belgium, Spain and Venezuela where a substantial proportion of the activities were conducted in the local language.
Summary of employers and clients from 1974 to 2011
I have been involved in a variety of projects and minor activities, spanning diverse industries in more than 30 countries (15 countries for extended periods), with exposure to a wide range of cultures, commercial models, business practices and communication styles.
Employers and key clients have included:
International / Fujitsu Services, CSC Computer Sciences, Sanchez AssociatesUnited Kingdom / HM Government, Marks & Spencer, NHS, British Aerospace, Yorkshire Electricity, British Home Stores, Gateway Foodmarkets, Bradford & Bingley BS, ICT Ltd, Automotive Products, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Midland Bank, Barclays Bank, Davy McKee, London & Manchester Assurance, Del Monte Foods, British Airports Authority
France / Total Oil, Club Med
Belgium / Belgacom, AnHyp Bank, BP Oil
Spain / Telefonica, Endesa, Ferrovial, Iberia
Venezuela / Digitel Communications
Switzerland / Dow Chemical, Winterthur Insurance
Italy / European Space Agency
Netherlands / ING Bank
Poland / PBK/BPH Bank
Sweden / Skandia Insurance
Denmark / Danish Labour Agency
Ireland / Bank of Ireland
Bahrain / DHL International
Kuwait / Ministry of the Interior
U.S.A. / State of Missouri, Equitable Life
Thailand / Krung Thai Bank
Page 1 of 425 July 2011