Company: Vertex, Inc.

Location: King of Prussia, PA 19406

Individuals within the Senior Project Manager role are responsible for following the industry standard project management practices in planning and managing the development and execution of multiple highly complex enterprise-level projects. They create the project scope and charter, define project guidelines, obtain project sponsor approvals, estimate task and determine dependencies, and coordinate the resources necessary to successfully complete the project. In addition to leading enterprise level projects, a Senior Project Manager is expected to lead enterprise level teams and taskforces, and be a key resource in strategic and operational leadership.

Essential job functions and Responsibilities:

Responsible for managing all aspects of multiple large-sized, highly complex mission critical business and commercial software projects. These projects will include those at both the solution and enterprise level.
Leads critical strategic and/or operational teams within the organization proving both project management and general leadership support. Responsible for all aspects of team leadership including creating artifacts, securing resource commitments, managing intra and inter team process, tracking progress, and promoting continuous improvement of the team’s capabilities.
Prioritizes work efforts on projects within a program. Defines/refines the project scope, estimates project cost, further defines project deliverables, and develops/updates charter to be submitted for approval.
Determines staffing requirements, and is able to recommend project teams consisting of representatives from multiple entities filling necessary roles for the project based on a staffing estimate and schedule.
Provides work directions and leadership to assigned projects including scheduling, assignment of work, and review of project efforts. Ensures that all project members understand their role, expected deliverables, and task completion dates. Proactively resolves dependencies with other projects and activities.
Monitors project milestones, critical dates, and dependencies to identify potential issues that could jeopardize the project schedule. Implements strategies to resolve schedule issues. Keeps all levels of leadership aware of the major issues. Proactively manages any effects on related projects.
Assesses variances from the project plan, analyzes them, gathers metrics, and develops and implements changes as necessary to ensure that the project remains within specified scope (i.e. original charter and all approved changes), budget (i.e. time and cost), and quality objectives. Manages effects on related sub-projects, and projects with dependencies.
Reports status to project sponsor during the project execution. At project completion, informs project sponsor of the deliverables and confirms their acceptance. Evaluates internal customer satisfaction level, and develops strategies to increase the level of satisfaction when needed.
Develops a core team in order to delegate the management responsibilities of specific areas of the project when necessary. Provides the project team constructive feedback as it pertains to project performance. Works with the project team to integrate areas of improvement into the project life cycle and project management processes.
Develops and enhances a productive working relationship with project sponsors, vendors, and key entities, which may include making project team changes.
Coaches or mentors less experienced project team members and other project managers. Provides input to, and may conduct, team member performance reviews. Develops and implements training plans for project members.
Leads efforts that extend and enhance the project management discipline at Vertex. Participates as a key leader in developing and executing Project Management Office processes including auditing standards and processes.
Leads and/or is a key participant on enterprise level teams.
Occasional travel required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

May act as a sponsor for one or more employees

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

Ability to apply broad enterprise expertise or unique knowledge and professional concepts to develop resolutions to critical issues.
Ability to manage complex, high visibility or high impact enterprise level projects simultaneously.
Ability to work without supervision leading teams. Complete latitude for decision making.
Ability to create formal networks with key decision makers.
Ability to listen and understand information and communicate the same.
Must possess strong interpersonal, organizational, presentation and facilitation skills.
Must be results oriented and customer focused.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages and other program management / framework tools.
Sufficient knowledge of business communication, including telephone, voicemail, and e-mail and operations of office machines, such as photocopier, scanner, and fax.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and Experience:

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree required and Master’s Degree preferred. Successful completion of recognized project management curriculum and a Project Management Professional certification is required. Additional certifications such as SAFe, Scrum Master (PSM or CSM), and/or Six Sigma required for certain roles. Committed to continued project management learning.

General Experience:

Typically requires 8 years of Project Management experience in the development of commercial software offerings, 3 years of experience in managing multiple projects, and a minimum of 15 years of software development experience with 5 years in a leadership position. Tax/financial industry experience preferred. Extensive experience in multiple technologies, disciplines, and methodologies required (Waterfall, Iterative, Agile, Critical Chain). Demonstrates a working knowledge and expertise of several industry recognized frameworks such as RUP, LEAN, LeSS, CCPM, and/or SAFe required. Extensive experience in managing projects in multiple development environments, and experience in managing non-technical business development and/or solution development projects. Experience in the leadership of a strategic or operational team, and or being a key contributor to several teams providing project management expertise.

Specialized Experience:

The Senior Project Manager must:

Apply advanced project management methodology (i.e. Waterfall, Iterative, Scrum, Critical Chain), concepts (i.e. Earned Value, Dynamic Modeling, Multi-constraint Analysis), and tools (i.e. MS Project, Oracle project, @Risk) to all projects.
Demonstrate an expert knowledge of project planning, execution, controlling, and closing as described in the Project Management Body Of Knowledge (i.e. PMBOK), and have a working knowledge of program and portfolio methods.
Demonstrate a knowledge of industry recognized frameworks such as RUP, LEAN, CCPM, LeSS, and/or SAFe.
Demonstrate an advanced ability to estimate (multiple methods), plan, and track complex, technical, and dependent tasks.
Demonstrable ability to lead all types of project including iterative and Agile with specific SCRUM Master experience (story development, priority management, daily standup-meetings, sprint planning and management, burn down reporting and status).
Demonstrable a specialized knowledge of implementing project tools such as MS Project, Axosoft, JIRA, and Confluence.
Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the latest areas of new technology, and be able to apply this to their projects.
Have the ability to abstract key project dependency and priority patterns from the task level in order to align the project milestones and interim deliverables to enterprise objectives and other dependent projects.
Have the ability to lead and mentor diverse, geographically separated, and complex teams, as well as, being able to recommend project resource strategies.
Work independently with an ability to resolve enterprise level issues. Seeks new assignments with varied content.
Have strong problem solving, risk assessment, and negotiation skills with experience in managing project dependencies.
Have advanced interpersonal skills with ability to serve as primary liaison for internal customers. Good time management, communications, decision-making, presentation (to all levels of leadership), and organizational skills required.
Leadership experience in leading a strategy, strategy sub-team, and/or a work center. Must be a key contributor of project management to the team(s).

REQUIRED FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES:

Builds Relationships: Fosters open dialogue and obtains shared commitment to proposals; shared ideas and information to promote mutual understanding, respect, and effective decision-making.
Drives for Results: Acts to create opportunities for Vertex or to avoid future problems; has the courage to act with incomplete information rather than simply thinking about it; maintains a focused commitment to achieving enterprise objectives.
Knows the Business: Understands and applies knowledge of Vertex’s business and processes to accomplish goals.
Anticipates Customer Needs (internal and external): Establishes and maintains productive relationships with customers and partners, anticipating their needs.
Learns Continuously: Expands own knowledge base to enhance performance; seeks development to increase strengths for current and future needs.

REQUIRED LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

Fosters Innovation: Provides an environment that supports alternative approaches and leads to new processes, products, and services.
Promotes Customer Intimacy: Creates an enterprise in which customers are proud to do business with Vertex; collaborates with customers and partners to develop strategies to meet mutual objectives.
Aligns and Engages: Aligns people, processes, information systems, and structure with the strategic direction; ensures that expectations are clear, priorities established, focus maintained, and tough decisions addressed; works to gain commitment and buy-in.
Develop Talent: Works with others in a helpful way to increase their competence and confidence; eliminates barriers and provides needed resources and support for personal and professional growth.

COMMENTS:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals in this position. Other functions may be assigned and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

Please note: This is a Pipeline Requisition for potential hiring needs

At Vertex Inc. we are always looking for the best talent for future needs of the business. This position description does not represent a current opening. However, may use this position to identify candidates with critical skills and experiences for frequently filled positions at all levels. Candidates who express an interest and match the requirements will be contacted by a recruiter for an introductory phone interview, and further details of timing will be discussed.