Job role: IT Program Delivery Lead

Job description:

The role of IT Program Delivery Lead within XTEL’s Service Delivery group is crucial for ensuring that global Solution Implementation programs are successful and for managing and developing service delivery team capabilities to achieve program objectives.

Technical Program Delivery responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Oversight

Technical Program Delivery Planning : Craft and execute a technical program strategy that specifically addresses the complexities of global implementation rollouts, including tech solution design based on optimum reuse/enhancements of core XTEL technology, roll out planning, and execution, as well as budget optimization.

Global and Local Adaptation: Oversee the global rollout of XTEL technology solutions within client programs, ensuring that the software is adaptable to both global standards and local market nuances, such as regional compliance, and that the use of the standard technology is maximized.

Project Execution and Governance

Technical Program Planning and Execution:

• Develop comprehensive project plans, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Execute and oversee project activities, ensuring adherence to quality, timelines and budgets.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, ensuring successful delivery.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and motivate project teams to achieve optimal performance.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to project leads (functional, technical, QA) within the respective programs.

Program Governance:

Implement governance structures that ensure XTEL technology programs are delivered on time, within budget, and meet or exceed the expected standards of quality.

Resource Management:

• Allocate resources efficiently to achieve project goals.
• Monitor and manage project budgets, ensuring financial objectives are met.
• Identify opportunities for resource optimization and process improvement.

Quality Assurance:

• Oversee the adherence of quality assurance processes to ensure the XTEL software implementations perform as expected under various CPG scenarios and throughout the customer lifecycle:
• Implement quality control measures to ensure the delivery of high-quality outputs.
• Conduct regular project reviews to assess performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Stakeholder Management

Client Relationship Management:

Serve as the primary point of contact for technical program delivery, ensuring services contracted by the client are successfully delivered and contracts are executed accordingly:

• Effectively communicate project objectives, progress, and outcomes to stakeholders.
• Manage scoped client requirements to ensure they are kept aligned with project timeline and budget
• Foster positive relationships with clients, ensuring satisfaction with project deliverables.
• Delivery Performance Reporting: Create and maintain reports on the performance of program delivery, providing actionable insights to both the client and internal stakeholders.
• Works closely with Customer Success Managers who are ultimately responsible for overall Client relationships

Cross-Functional Team Leadership:

Coordinate across various functions – delivery, product engineering, cloud operations, and Customer Success - to ensure that IT program delivery is successful, that the XTEL solution integrates seamlessly and adds value within the CPG client’s organization.

Partner Engagement:

• In the context of IT program delivery, manage relationships with partners who provide implementation and AMS services for some of the clients in the portfolio.
• Team management responsibilities.
• Develop the Services Team
• Train, coach the team with advanced project management skills
• Permanently assess the quality, the rigor and discipline of the delivery team.
• Lead by example.
• Establish a strong culture of Risk Management
• Develop for each PM/project a strong risk assessment, and support in the definition and execution of mitigation plans.
• Ensure the management lines are informed of current risks and eventually anticipate any customer escalation
• Ensure that projects within the program are aligned with the overall risk management plan.
• Performance Monitoring
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance program efficiency : Systematically gather and provide feedback on program execution to refine and enhance methodologies and Ways-of-Working, focusing on operational efficiency, quality and product compliance/best practices.

Qualifications/Competencies/Experience:

• Track record in leading programs for commercial enterprise software vendors with a strong emphasis on core product and technology adoption.
• 10+ years technology project management experience implementing large enterprise software solutions, in a commercial environment (including fixed price contracts)
• Proven Experience in leading and motivating cross functional teams with respect and understanding.
• Significant senior stakeholder management (internal and external).
• Excellent understanding & command of project management principles and SDLC methodologies such as Agile
• Track record in leading a team and also in handling matrixed resources across multiple time zones.
• Proven track record to work independently and lead multiple projects simultaneously.
• Results orientated and a high level of resilience especially in an environment of change.
• Financially literate, understands and models the financial impact of decisions on project, Services/AMS functions, and company P&L.
• Strong proficiency in oral and written communication to provide clear, concise, and actionable recommendations internally and externally at different levels of seniority.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, able to see the bigger picture and understand the implications and consequences of different options under consideration making a rational evaluation of options available.
• Seeks input from and incorporates expert knowledge from senior team members and SMEs within XTEL when developing proposals and recommendations.
• Excellent social skills and verbal and written communication skills in English, second foreign language is very desirable (French or Italian).
• PMP/Prince 2 qualified and/or Agile certified is preferred.
• Master of Sciences, Engineering degrees preferred
• Software technical implementation background preferred ( ex-Software engineer, ex-Software architect, …)
• Experience in Consumer Goods/Retail sector will be helpful.