NICOLAS GRU.

Location: Marseille, France | Timezone: CET (UTC+1)

Primary Language Pair: English (EN) -> French (FR) (Native)|Secondary Language Expertise: Spanish (ES), Indonesian, Russian, Picard (Regional).
Specializations: Humanitarian / NGO Localization, Open-Source & IT Systems, Crisis Interpreting, Field Safety & Incident Response

CAT/Localization Tools: Lokalise, CafeTran, OmegaT, Termsoup, GoldenDict, Termbase, PhraseTMS, Wikipedia/WikiTranslate, Git/GitHub, Command Line (Bash)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: Multidisciplinary Translator, Localizer, and Humanitarian Interpreter with native fluency in French and advanced proficiency in English. Specialized in bridging technical open-source environments with crisis-response and NGO workflows. Combines a background in sociology, critical analysis, and open-source infrastructure with field-ready safety certifications (Maritime Operations, Advanced Firefighting, First Responder Emergency Care). Proven record of delivering clear, localized communication across high-stakes, open-access, and humanitarian platforms.

Education

See here for the Credentials Gallery

EF SET level C2 (Score 78/100): 2021.

EF SET level C2 (native/bilingual): 78/100, 2021.

Advanced English as a Second Language (ESL004): Saylor Academy, July 30, 2025 (14 Hours, Grade: 77.27%).

An Introduction to Proofreading (Score: 88): Alison, August 11, 2026.

Basics of Humanitarian Translation: Translators without Borders, July 2025.

Basics of Humanitarian Interpreting: Translators without Borders, July 2025.

Open Source Foundations: IBM Skills Network, 10 august 2026.

Basic Translator Training: Translators without Borders, July 2025.

Lokalise Advanced Course: Lokalize academy, july 2026.

Yachtmaster 200 STCW: Commercial Vessel Captain qualification under STCW international maritime conventions, French Maritime Academy (2014).

Level II Maritime Medical Care & Radio Consultation: medical remote operator, individual first aid and coordinated emergency response, 2014.

Advanced Maritime Firefighting and survival techniques in enclosed spaces and with the presence of passengers and explosive materials, 2014

French High School Diploma (Baccalauréat Littéraire) — Honors (14/20): Specialized curriculum in English Language, European Spanish Stream, and Social Sciences (2012).

Professional Translation & Volunteer Experience

Volunteer Translator & Interpreter, Translators Without Borders: Contributed over 2,600 words over three years to global humanitarian initiatives. Successfully completed specialized training in the Humanitarian Interpreting. TWB Word Count

Localization (L10n) Team Member, Mozilla Foundation: Provide continuous localization for privacy-respecting, open-source software platforms.

Contributor, Editor & Translator, Wikipedia: Contributing on a regular basis on the French Wikipedia : over 600 contributions, 79 % in articles, only 0,4 % of reverted work. Author and translate articles focusing on linguistics, regional languages (Picard), and highly sensitive technical subjects. Also volunteer for WikiTranslate and Wikimedia Commons. Atendee at the Wikimania 2026 in Paris.

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Independent Writer & Researcher: Author articles for specialized journals and craft accessible, pedagogical guides, including an ongoing project translating complex digital privacy concepts for a broad public audience.

Core Skills & Competencies

  1. Technical & Systems (IT & Engineering): Command Line & Automation: Bash scripting, Shell environment management, Linux/Unix system administration.Programming & Data Analysis: Python (automation, data manipulation), R (statistical computing, qualitative data processing).Containerization & Deployment: Docker (container management, isolated environments).
  2. Open-Source Infrastructure: Open-source architectures, collaborative knowledge frameworks, and platform management (IBM Open Source Foundations certified).
  3. Human, Analytical & Linguistic Skills - Discourse & Power Dynamics Analysis: Applied sociology and critical phenomenology to deconstruct institutional bias, authority markers, and narrative framing.
  4. Information Quality & Propaganda Spotting: Source verification, cross-validation of normative data, and critical analysis of systemic bias in institutional or official media.
  5. Threat Intelligence & Epilinguistic Assessment: Evaluation of antagonistic speech, coercion dynamics, power imbalances, and psychological harm risks in interpersonal or field settings.
  6. Editorial Quality & Error Detection: Diagnostic proofreading, structural sentence analysis, and error reduction (Alison CPD Certified in Proofreading, Score: 88%).
  7. Humanitarian & Cross-Cultural Communication: Ethical field interpreting, neutral cross-cultural mediation, and crisis-setting communication standards (Translators without Borders certified).
  8. Security, Operational Safety & Incident Response - Incident Response & Operational Security: Threat assessment, risk mitigation, and safeguarding protocols during sensitive communications or field interactions.
  9. Emergency Medical & Field Response: Basic medical/first responder training and crisis stabilization.
  10. Maritime Safety & Survival: Confined space entry/survival techniques, advanced maritime firefighting, and passenger safety protocols.
  11. Hazardous Materials: Management and safety protocols for handling hazardous or explosive materials.