Senior Project Manager

Description:

• [Company] is a leading producer of industrial minerals, including sand proppants, whole grain silica, ground silica, fine ground silica, calcined kaolin clay and aplite clay. In addition to offering over 200 products in this category, [Company] also operates as a research and development specialist for customized products and solutions utilizing the same raw materials. The wide variety of industries and applications served by [Company] includes oil and gas, glass, chemicals, foundry, building products, fillers and extenders, recreation, industrial filtration and treatment, and testing and analysis. The company operates on a platform of ethics, safety and sustainability.
• The Senior Project Manager will be reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer and will be supervising business analysts and developers as well as outside consultants on projects. This position will be responsible for ensuring the successful, timely completion of all work phases on multiple major technology and/or programs-related projects which will include initiation, planning, execution, control, and closure of activities across multiple teams. This position will also be responsible for completion of the full lifecycle of project management tasks from original concept through final implementation and turnover to maintenance and support including schedule, budget, risk, scope, quality, communications, human resources, procurement, and integration. The Senior Project Manager will interface with all stakeholders affected by the project – including executive sponsors, end users, and information services personnel.
• The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for timely project deliverables and expert issue management to achieve those deliverables and will be expected to work the necessary hours in alignment with company goals and timetables. This position will need to have the ability to display not only a solid ability to predict and prevent issues but also a strong sense of urgency when issues to arise.

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop and make ongoing improvements to project methodology, processes and tools related to SDLC including: business case, project charter, project plan, resource estimation tool, risk management, communication plan, and project tracking/status reporting. Will need to train other IT resources on project management methodology and tools.
• Assist in defining and clarifying project scope and objectives with business executive sponsors; develop, execute, and control detailed work plans, schedules, project estimate, budgets, resource plans, and status reports; manage the integration of vendor tasks and track and review vendor deliverables; conduct project meetings as well as being responsible for project tracking and analysis; recommend and take action to solve problems identified from project analysis; ensure adherence to quality standards and review project deliverables; facilitate project closure activities.
• Coordinate overall resource availability and forecasting; integrate projects to provide proper and adequate coordination of the shared resources and synergies among them; map resource capacity to roadmap activities and identify additional resources as needed; participate in overall IT steering group planning and resource alignment.
• Manages activities of project personnel and act as a central coordinator for project communication; oversee activities and results of associates assigned to the project and provide technical support, training, and assistance; will be responsible for directing and monitoring the work of team members.

Qualifications
Experience and Education

• Minimum of Bachelor of Science in Business, Computer Science, Management of Information Systems, or Related Disciplines
• Must have a minimum of 5 years of experience in similar position
• Must have demonstrated understanding and skills of advanced project management concepts (planning, execution, control, and closure)
• Must have demonstrated understanding of advanced project management tools used to develop project plans, collect and analyze project performance, and report progress

Other Qualifications

• Knowledge – experience in project estimation techniques that result in achievable project plans, schedules, and budgets
• Organization – strong organization skills required; must be strong in project planning and tracking, most project work is done with a project team that may include IT staff, external resources, and company employees with non-IT functional responsibility
• Communication – Verbal & Written – must be able to work and communicate with all levels of the company workforce; will need to communicate and present the project charter (including project schedule, budget, and staffing plans) and regular project reports to senior management and other key stakeholders
• Cooperation – assist project sponsors to identify business benefits and assists in completion of the business case; incorporate the realization of business benefits as a quality management measure; align project outcomes with strategic business goals; supervise the activities of analyzing and optimizing workflows and document procedures
• Problem Analysis – effective management skills, analytical skills, initiative, and judgment required; ability to identify, analyze, solve problems, and focus on results through positive interactions
• Creativity – must be able to work within a budget to accomplish the most possible with the given resources
• Computer – Extensive Skills – advanced knowledge of computer concepts, design, and implementation; working knowledge of programming languages, database, internet/intranet, and on-line systems, and ERP; proficiency in Microsoft Office, Visio, Project, and other related tools
• Special Skills – familiar with a variety of the IT field’s concepts, practices, and procedures; ERP systems including JD Edwards OneWorld a strong plus; effective management skills, analytical skills, initiative and judgment required; solid interpersonal, negotiation, change management and communication skills
• Other – experience with ERP (JD Edwards preferred) and financial accounting principles a strong plus; specialized project management certificate or PMP certification preferred
• Must have a good understanding of the business or function for which project is intended