IT Project Manager (Technology Alignment Lead)

For our client, international retail company, we are looking for Technology Alignment Lead (IT Project Manager). Location: Kiev, Ukraine. 

About the Role 

The Technology Alignment Lead primary responsibility will be to ensure the alignment of the Technology Ukraine team with the Global Technology strategy and standards, the Ukrainian business plan and the technology partners’ standards of service. This role will lead the project management, vendor management and planning in a professional and timely manner. The Technology Alignment Lead will be responsible for managing budget, vendor team schedules, assisting the team in prioritizing projects, being a “gatekeeper” for unexpected projects and ensuring the completions of the yearly plan. 

Technology Alignment Lead (IT Project Manager) reports to Technology (IT) Director. This position does not have direct subordinates.
 Reason of opening: new role. 

Main responsibilities: 

Project management responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ensure and support the delivery of all projects on-time, within scope and within budget in partnership with both internal and external stakeholders
• Coordinate internal resources and third parties/vendors for the flawless execution
• Assist in the definition of project scope and objectives, involving all stakeholders and ensuring feasibility
• Ensure resource availability and allocation
• Develop a detailed project plan to monitor/ track progress and to be shared with stakeholders
• Manage changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs using appropriate verification
• Report and escalate to management as needed
• Manage the relationship with the market, operators and vendors involved in the project
• Perform risk management to minimize risks
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation (spreadsheets, diagrams, process maps, etc.) 

Vendor management responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Manage external vendors relationships with the Technology Ukraine organisation
• Leverage vendor engagement to deliver business value and/or drive efficiencies
• Perform as functional bridge between vendors and internal stakeholders
• Coordinate all vendor management tasks in alignment with internal stakeholders
• Develop workflows, processes and policies for vendors integration and alignment
• Engage in vendor governance, due diligence, risk assessment activities
• Track, measure, report and evaluate vendor performance
• Analyse vendor shortcomings and present to management as required
• Coordinate vendor selection, master agreements, on-boarding, termination and improvement processes
• Identify and implement continuous improvements in the vendor management process
• Facilitate the annual budget process with internal stakeholders and monitor ongoing spend

Profile of the person we are looking for

Knowledge and experience:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, MIS, Business or similar degree
• 3 + total years of progressively responsible roles relating to technical services in the managed services or consulting industry
• Strong background in ITIL and Knowledge Management processes preferable
• Has experience or proficiency with technology projects, in retail preferable
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and quality experience
• Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills
• Thoroughly and accurately understand issues and analyse the problem in a systemic mode
• Experience leveraging managed or outsourced services
• Experience managing solution and services delivery across a full technology stack (infrastructure through applications) and in a “hybrid cloud” environment combining on-premises data centres, IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS

Specific skills

• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent independent judgment and express creativity and initiative in a leadership capacity
• Prior resource management experience
• Excellent organizational and follow-up skills with strong attention to detail
• Superior customer service skills and experience in a client-facing role
• Breadth of technical skills related to the hardware, software and IT infrastructure of an organization. Be able to get hands-on when issues are escalated to help troubleshoot and resolve an issue
• Disaster Recovery/ Business Continuity design, implementation is a plus
• Upper intermediate+ English, Ukrainian spoken and written