Manager - Portfolio/Program Management - Consulting Firm

Capability / SSL Advisory - Portfolio & Program Management [PM]

Level : Manager

Year of relevant PM experience : 10 - 12 years

Brief Description :

As Manager Portfolio/Program Management, Candidate will have to contribute technically to Portfolio/Program management client engagements. Role will include actively establish, maintain and strengthen internal and external relationships. He/she will be expected to identify any potential business opportunities for the team and the organisation within existing engagements.

- Drive and manage engagements at a portfolio level. Align programs, projects and objectives to strategic objectives

- Regular monitoring of the planning and execution of the optimal selected projects

- Establish and implement processes and methodologies based on best in class industry practices

- Ability to devise PM processes for clients based on requirements

- Device Plans to address the challenges PMs may face during the course of practice adherence

- Study, Research and continuously evolve the PM processes on par with Industry Best Practices - be a continuous improvement champion

- Build strong internal relationships within Services and with other services across the organization

- Be an active evangelist of the PPM practice

Key Responsibilities :

- Perform the relevant portfolio/program management processes - i.e. initiate, plan, execute, monitor and control and close, and the supporting processes e.g. scope, cost, time, issue, risk, resource, communication, stakeholder management

- Analyze current PM practices and suggest/define process improvements aligned with clients priorities/goals

- Tailor/ define PM methods, processes & deliverables

- Create and maintain resource plan with respect to the project by creating and maintaining the project's Work Breakdown Structure

- Setup structured and periodic review & Control mechanism to track the progress of projects

- Define and execute RAID processes; Identify and highlight risks & issues pertaining to projects and discuss them during review meetings;

- Perform analysis on the data & metrics from programs/projects and generate reports pertaining to resources, critical paths, project schedules, budget v/s actual spends, etc.

- Generate and publish Program health dashboards to various stakeholders.

- Conduct management review to appraise management on the Program statuses, risks & Issues for decision making

- Track and Report benefit realization Planned Vs Actual during the course of the project and after closing the project

- Make sure change management is handled properly

- Interface and communicate with program/project team, management and stakeholders

- Close the engagements to formalize acceptance of the program/ result and release program/project resources

- Work within defined governance processes

People responsibilities :

- Conduct performance reviews and contribute to performance feedback for reporting team staff.

- Contribute to people-related initiatives including recruiting and retaining Program Management professionals

- Maintain an educational program to continually develop personal skills of staff

- Understand and follow workplace policies and procedures-

Soft skills :

- Strong, professional communication skills, able to approach senior stakeholders using appropriate level of detail, terminology, and style

- Strong planning and organizing, ability to see the big picture

- Ability to work in a continuously changing environment

- Focus on details, errorless delivery, logical reasoning

- Proactive with can-do-attitude

- Searching for solutions not offenders

- A strong team player, proven team leadership potential

- Willing to step out of own comfort zone

- Fast learner with ability to adapt to change quickly

Core skills :

- Bachelor or Master Degree

- One or more of Industry certifications - PMP, Prince 2

- 10-12 years of experience in the area of portfolio/program management within professional services

- Strong Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

- Strong Knowledge of MS Project / MS Project Server

Good to have skills :

- Knowledge of MS SharePoint is an advantage

- Knowledge of working with industry EPM tools like Primavera / Clarity/ HP PPM is an added advantage