Principal Project Manager

Primary Role

The Principal Project Manager is responsible for overseeing, providing directions and assigning project/delivery responsibilities to the project management resource pool. This role is accountable for managing the implementation of technology-related projects, software migrations, and system integrations. They are responsible for mapping out all needed IT functionality for a project, identifying schedules, and managing implementations in accordance to schedule. They may act as a direct point of contact between the Business, Business Relationship Manager, Business Analysts, Development and Delivery team. They are responsible for assembling cross functional project plans, directing and monitoring work efforts on a daily basis, identifying resource needs and escalating functional, quality, timeline issues appropriately. This individual should have a deep understanding of effective project management methodologies and enforce project standards.

Key Accountabilities

• Drives accountability for Project Management resources and serves as a subject matter expert
• Empower associates to exceed expectations of their role
• Defines and oversees effective project management methodologies, tools, and processes in both waterfall and agile methodologies
• Assists in overseeing and defining the implementation of IT projects, software migrations, and client system integrations
• Acts as a liaison with business/process owners and other T&I groups to coordinate the delivery of information technology solutions to the business
• Oversees the identification and documentation of client and contracted technology deliverables and specific requirements while communicating said requirements to the T&I teams
• Reports progress and issues to the appropriate teams and management as needed
• Partners with the Change Management and Communication resources to enable successful rollout and adoption of IT changes
• Understands the available IT tools with respect to complexity, functions, and standards
• Ensures business value realization and optimization, from value plans through consultancy, business case development, financial awareness, managing expectations, and identifying technology opportunities to add value
• Monitors progress to ensure the emerging solution meets business demands and business requirements
• Interacts with internal and external customers to create relationships that deliver value
• Understands and documents operational processes for projects as they relate to the use of technology tools
• Understands the nature of business process change and oversees the composition of technical specifications outlining the necessary modifications to relevant business applications

Key Accountabilities - Continued

• Participates in process improvement efforts
• Manages budgets and cost center spending, to include external spend with outside vendors
• Develops departmental plans and prioritizes to meet demand
• Leads engagement initiatives, goal setting and management of innovation within the team
• Manages activities through direct staff, team leads, professional staff, or operation staff; may manage indirect staff
• May execute performance roll-up

Knowledge/Skills

• Expert knowledge and application of various software development life cycles and techniques (e.g., waterfall and agile)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and proven ability to work effectively with all organizational levels
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills in order to manage multiple phases of a project plan
• Customer-oriented approach in managing communications and issues
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed organizational structure
• Ability to listen, and build rapport and credibility as a strategic partner vertically within the business unit, as well as with leadership and functional teams
• Ability to map joint organizational vision and long-term thinking, imagination, and idea generation
• Strong leadership, business, technical, analytical, problem solving and verbal and written communication skills
• Highly organized and able to manage time effectively
• Excellent listening skills in order to successfully interpret business needs
• Ability to balance what is “right” with what is “realistic”
• Ability to make decisions in situations of ambiguity and the absence of complete facts
• Ability to work and team with a multitude of different people and to balance demands
• Ability to convey complex process concepts to IT and business organizations in a manner that is easy to understand
• Ability to deal effectively with escalations and difficult situations under pressure

Experience/Education

• 12+ years of total experience on Information Technology / Information Systems
• 8+ years of experience in an IT Project Management role
• Strong experience with Project Management Institute (PMI) framework and various project management methodologies (e.g., agile/scrum)
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Computer Science, Information Systems or equivalent
• PMP/PMI-ACP/Scrum Master/Agile Mythology certified preferred
• These certifications will be a plus
  • PMI Certification
  • Agile Analysis Certification
  • Scrum Master Certification

Travel Requirements

As necessary, up to 15%

Competencies