Senior Project Manager - Data Center

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together advances in cloud infrastructure, automation and analytics, and software delivery, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation. At AHEAD, we prioritize creating a culture of belonging, where all perspectives and voices are represented, valued, respected, and heard. We create spaces to empower everyone to speak up, make change, and drive the culture at AHEAD. We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate based on an individual's race, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law, whether actual or perceived. We embrace all candidates that will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives at AHEAD. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the management of assigned technical projects.  The duties include facilitating coaching and mentoring the junior project management staff.  The Project Manager executes day-to-day management of assigned project segments. In addition, the Project Manager manages the group of projects as a whole, providing a single point of knowledge and control for the aggregate effort.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate all aspects of technical projects from initiation through delivery.

• Ensure service delivery success and customer satisfaction through effective project management.

• Manage project initiation activities, which include the identification of contractual obligations, client needs and goals, existing situations, and necessary contacts. Gain access to existing information as needed.

• Develop, define, and execute project plans, project scope, activities, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.

• Identify needed resources for projects while defining and assigning major project roles.

• Coordinate activities and tasks among project team members, other internal departments, and client or vendor/subcontractor organizations as needed to meet project goals, and ensure project completion is on schedule, within budget constraints, and of the appropriate quality standards for the project scope.

• Assign and monitor the work of the project team, providing technical and analytical support and direction.

• Interface with clients on technical matters as needed.

• Manage project risks, issues/problems, and activity progress to ensure project goals (e.g., deadline, scope, and quality) are achieved.

• Assist with problem resolution or risk mitigation as needed.

• Manage the integration of vendor/subcontractor tasks as well as track and review vendor/subcontractor deliverables, if appropriate for the project.

• Serve as liaison between technical and non-technical teams and vendor/subcontractor organizations to ensure all project targets and requirements are met.

• Conduct project closure activities to formalize and communicate the project acceptance, handover documentation, and ongoing activities. This includes completing a post-implementation review to identify areas of improvement.

• Directly oversee employees assigned to the project.  Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function.

• Identify project management coordination process gaps or areas for improvement.  Recommends and implements solutions.

• Utilize Ahead systems (PSA, etc.) to maintain updated project information.

• Assist in presales efforts including OA, SOWs, and customer presentations.

• Develop customer relationships and aid in identifying additional sales opportunities.

Skills Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent would be required

• Minimum of 12 years of experience in project management, with a focus on leading and delivering complex projects or programs.

• Professional certifications like PMP (Project Management Professional) or PgMP (Program Management Professional) preferred.

• Must have experience with data center/workload migrations, data center consolidation, and/or data center build outs.

• Strong technical knowledge in Dell, VMware, Rubrik, NetApp, etc.

• Strong ability to independently manage medium to high risk, high complexity, and high client visibility projects.

• Must have a strategic mindset and be able to align projects or programs with organizational goals.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, team, conflict management, and time management skills.

• Strong communication & leadership skills.

• Possess advanced skills in the use of project management software.

• Demonstrate ability to manage project budgets and timelines.

• Must be adept with the use of negotiation techniques to reach an agreement when there are widely differing viewpoints.

• Effectively facilitate interaction with executive-level clients.

• Should be able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks effectively.

Why AHEAD:

Through our daily work and internal groups like Moving Women AHEAD and RISE AHEAD, we value and benefit from diversity of people, ideas, experience, and everything in between. We fuel growth by stacking our office with top-notch technologies in a multi-million-dollar lab, by encouraging cross department training and development, sponsoring certifications and credentials for continued learning.

India Employment Benefits include:

Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees, with options to extend coverage to dependents Paid time off and company holidays, along with additional leave benefits as per policy Flexible work arrangements, supporting work-life balance Learning and development opportunities to support continuous growth and upskilling Employee wellness initiatives and programs focused on physical and mental well-being Retirement and statutory benefits in line with India regulations Inclusive and people-first culture, with a strong focus on collaboration and ownership

Originally posted on Himalayas