Sr. Project Manager

Position : Sr. Project Manager

Location : San Diego, CA

Duration : 12 Months contract

Total Hours/week : 40.00

1st shift

Description:

• The EPMO Project Manager provides Project Management support for assigned medium to large sized projects (typically projects of moderate complexity, medium to high risk and cost), which have a direct impact on achieving client cross-functional objectives. This is defined internally at client as Tier 1 or Tier 2 projects. The Project Manager may manage one or more projects that are part of a larger strategic program.
• The Project Manager leads the project through building effective relationships with business leaders, the project/program team and key stakeholders.
• The Project Manager drives the delivery of the project through advanced project management techniques and methodologies.
• The Project Manager may have responsibility to lead/coach/mentor other EPMO team members either as project team members or as direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Successful planning, executing and delivering one or more concurrent medium/large projects (defined internally at client as Tier 1 or Tier 2 projects).
• Partners with project sponsors and stakeholders to define project objectives.
• Works directly with executive and director level business leaders to understand the strategic objectives for major business change initiatives and define the tactical programs/projects to realize these objectives.
• Takes ownership for delivering project objectives and deliverables. Drives project execution within established scope, schedule, resource and quality requirements, and leading project teams of cross-functional resources in matrixed environment.
• Defines, communicates and delivers project scope, goals and deliverables.
• Creates and organizes project work, required documents and deliverables for validation and compliance traceability (as required by the project, EPMO practices and applicable regulations).
• Creates a project governance process, including meeting cadence, scorecard, RAID log in accordance with established EPMO practices and required tools.
• Identifies resources required to successfully complete the objectives of assigned projects.
• Leads project teams in accordance with established EPMO and BD project management methodologies and practices, maintaining optimal team performance on assigned project tasks and deliverables.
• Provides timely and effective project communications, including meeting facilitation, and executive status reporting.

• Identifies and manages project risks and issues, ensuring their timely mitigation and resolution with impacted stakeholders.
• Creates management reports and presentations (as required) to keep project sponsor and other leaders and stakeholders up to date on schedule, budget and deliverable status.
• Plans and executes change management activities related to each assigned project.
• Manages internal and external customer relationships to realize high customer satisfaction for their project.

• Adheres to and follows all applicable EPMO Project Management guidelines and practices.
• Supports EPMO management in refining project management practices and implementing them throughout the EPMO.
• Mentors Project Managers and Project Coordinators in project management best practices.
• Responsible for leading and training direct reports, team members and other managers to identify and achieve performance goals.
• Responsible to coach and facilitate skills development activities to help team members manage their career.

Capability:

Project / Program Management

• Must be knowledgeable in project and program management industry best practices and have in-depth understanding of the project management planning process.
• Skilled in driving the project team to produce detailed scope, schedule, and budget using standard project management tools.
• Develops clear problem statements and resolution options for escalation to project sponsors and management.
• Provides principal drive towards action for project team.
• Proactive in driving creative resolutions to project issues and risk mitigation strategies.
• Able to establish a governance structure with operating mechanisms and cadence appropriate for VP or C-level sponsors.
• Develops fully integrated, multi-work stream project management plans, anticipating work needs and factors that will influence works schedules.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing project change control governance to manage scope changes, and reporting project schedule/budget performance.
• Understands and leads the team in the established processes to define and validate acceptance / gate criteria for the project to ensure successful project completion stakeholder acceptance

Risk and Issue Management

• Capable of demonstrating an understanding of the value of continuous risk management on assigned projects and leveraging team members to identify risks and brainstorm mitigation plans.
• Able to distinguish between risk mitigation and issue resolution; demonstrating an understanding of how one may evolve into the other.
• Able to facilitate team members in the resolution of issues on assigned projects and develop alternative approaches for resolution to be presented to and approved by project sponsors.
• Capable of facilitating interdependency workshops to lead team members in productive conversations to accurately identify risks, issues, resulting impact and resolution plans.
• Able to coach lesser experienced PMs and business leaders in successful risk and issue management.

Analytical Skills

• Applies critical thinking skills objectively considering multiple angles to decision making and problem solving.
• Able to quickly gather relevant data across multiple risks, issues and interdependencies to
• bring clarity to confusion while defining the process to go about addressing the issues
• Presents recommended course of action, when escalating issues along with additional viable options

Communication

• Communicates clearly through verbal team updates and written project summaries (status, issues or risks) with peers and senior level leaders.
• Delivers tailored communications for the receiving audience.
• Demonstrates active listening and confirms understanding.
• Able to maintain regular, effective communications with the project team, resource managers and sponsors.
• Leads the development of a comprehensive communication plan with team members, stakeholders and / or customers.
• Proven ability to apply appropriate communication, facilitation & escalation skills to ensure effective information exchange.

Leadership

• Capable of clearly communicating project scope and objectives to the team.
• Have the ability to know when and which stakeholders to engage to resolve issues.
• Effective in creating a positive working environment within the project team that encourages collaboration and innovation.
• Creates leadership presence that instills a level of confidence in team members and stakeholders that project manager can drive successful project outcome.

Business Acumen

• Knowledge of client policies, practices, trends, and technology developments to help drive decision making to reduce project risk and achieve project results.
• Capable of using applicable client and EPMO processes and procedures required to accomplish assigned work (i.e.: procurement process, contracting, legal, etc.).
• Able to clearly articulate how a project strategically aligns with KDGs.

Organizational Savvy

• Required to understand client core businesses and the functions that support them.
• Can identify key project stakeholders and understand their goals and motivations for the project.
• Capable of demonstrating knowledge of regional concerns and differences. Able to recognize their impact on project planning & execution.
• Ability to utilize the resources, tools and processes available to direct how to get things done at client; strong knowledge of who to turn to for guidance, direction and assistance.

• Required to know who the key decision makers are across the EPMO and knowledge of client top leaders.
• Able to promote cross functional collaboration within assigned project teams.

Supervisory Responsibilities (for people managers)

• Ability to coach and supervise experienced professional associates, usually in a matrix structure as aligned to projects.
• Able to provide honest feedback and hold crucial conversations with direct reports on performance and results and provide input to all HR related matters including annual compensation planning.
• Capable of being a moderate to strong champion for their PMs; influencing program sponsors and stakeholders to remove barriers facing the PM.

Degree of Accountability

• Accountable for setting own work direction and complete work tasks along with setting the direction of assigned project team members or other project managers
• May be accountable for the achievement of key operational or functional goals
• Often plays critical role in key projects / initiatives
• Erroneous decisions may cause delays and result in the allocation of more resources
• Breadth of Assignment
• Leads the execution of moderately sized projects
• Strategic Impact
• Required to be able to successfully lead medium to large sized project teams on projects of moderate scope and complexity.
• Capable of managing up to three mid-sized projects (projects of moderate complexity, scope and cost) simultaneously.