Project Manager Lead

Job Description

The Project Manager Lead is responsible for planning, leading, organizing, and motivating teams to achieve a high level of performance and quality in delivering products and projects that provide exceptional business value to Experian clients. This role will be responsible for managing several concurrent high visibility client projects using suitable Project Management framework and practices in a fast-paced environment that may cross multiple business divisions and functions within Experian. The Project Manager Lead will play several different roles in actual practice:

At an enterprise level, leads and manages large, complex enterprise-level projects consisting of multiple teams and/or requiring integration with other activities outside the scope of the project teams. Brings creative and strategic solutions to the table to help solve unique, complex problems. Innovates and acts as a change agent to evolve processes and practices.

At a team level, plays a consultative role to help put in place the appropriate people, process, and tools needed to optimize the efficiency of the project team. Effectively mentors and coaches members of the team as necessary to help increase the maturity of the team. Recognizes the importance emotions play in building and maintaining supportive relationships within and outside the team and uses those preferences to guide decision-making. Lead team through position of influence vs command and control.

In situations that require a hybrid Agile approach, uses good judgment and skills to develop a project management and governance approach that is suitable for planning and managing the effort to achieve the business objectives and drive value within designated project or environment constraints.

In performing these roles, the Project Manager Lead will be expected to use a high level of knowledge and experience in blending traditional project management practices with an Agile/Lean methodology in the right proportions to fit large, complex, mission-critical, enterprise-level projects and with the appropriate level of planning and provide the right balance of agility and predictability.

Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Management – Manage a portfolio of complex projects that span one or multiple business units and clients. Define project scope and schedule while focusing on regular and timely delivery of value; organize and lead appropriate cadence and working meetings that serves project teams and stakeholder needs; track, prepare and distribute progress reports, metrics; manage risks and issues, help removes blockers; manage/track allocated budget; and perform delivery planning (i.e. release planning or program increment planning) for assigned projects/teams.

Team Management & building – Assist in team development while holding teams accountable for their commitments, removing roadblocks to their work; leveraging all available resources to improve team productivity for project work; mentoring and developing team members.

Product Owner Support – Is a strong strategic partner to product owner/leader and collaborates on feature roadmap and backlog. Supports the Product Owner in managing customer expectations for project/release/program increment deliverables. Manages stakeholder communications, and helping to implement an effective system of governance

Client/Solution Delivery –

Work with Solution Consultant & Design Lead and Client Partner to develop work breakdown plans, scope definition, and schedules for client delivery projects.

Schedule and run internal delivery team design discussions and regular team stand-ups to support overall progress and identify potential issues in near real-time.

Coordinate with Solution Consultant & Design Lead and/or Client Partner to author and run regular status meetings with client and overall client communications plan. Escalate issues and risks with Experian and client leadership, where needed. Develop and articulate risk mitigation plans.

Process Management and Improvement – Define and manage a well-defined agile governance and management process and champion ongoing process improvement initiatives to implement best practices for Agile Project Management

Documentation & Presentation – Effectively presents and conveys information, ideas, and perspectives to peers, team members, clients, and leadership. Ability to summarize, communicate, and present data to variety of audience. Develops and follows documentation requirements.

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Qualifications

BA or BS or equivalent experience is required; MA or MS is a plus

Solid understanding of software development life cycle models as well as intermediate knowledge of both Agile and traditional project management principles and practices; ability to blend them together in the right proportions to fit a project and business environment

10+ years of experience as a Project Manager managing large, complex projects in a high-tech development environment working with Clients, business stakeholders and multi-function teams

Proven ability to work in an ambiguous environment and collaborate across multiple areas to drive clarity and achieve a common business objective

Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills with an ability to manage competing demands; Demonstrated strength in problem definition and resolution

Strong leadership, diplomatic and motivational skills including the ability to lead up, across and down multiple regional business and technology organizations

Build and maintain relationships by engaging Client stakeholders, business leaders to establish credibility, solve problems, build consensus, and achieve objectives

Self-motivated, decisive, with the ability to adapt to change and competing demands without impact to quality of work

Passion to innovate and continuously improve Experian products and services to deliver optimum solution to clients and position Experian to be a leader in the marketplace

Research best practices within and outside the organization to establish benchmark data and use continuous process improvement disciplines to achieve results

Proven ability to demonstrate a drive for results and accountability of business needs

Experience negotiating vendor contracts

Experience drafting and submitting budget proposals and recommending subsequent budget changes where necessary

Technically competent with various software programs, including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), ServiceNow, JIRA, Confluence, SmartSheet and Lucid Chart

Must be able to learn, understand and apply new technologies

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Experian is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Our goal is to create a thriving, inclusive and diverse team where people love their work and love working together. We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion is essential to our purpose of creating a better tomorrow. We value the uniqueness of every individual and want you to bring your whole, authentic self to work. For us, this is The Power of YOU and and it reflects what we believe. See our DEI work in action!

Please contact us at [email protected] to request the salary range of this position (please include the exact Job Title as it reads above in your email). In addition to a competitive base salary and variable pay opportunity, Experian offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, life and disability insurance, generous paid time off including 12 company paid holidays and parental and family care leave, an employee stock purchase plan and a 401(k) plan with a company match.

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