Data Project Manager

Position Summary:
The Data Project Manager is responsible for the planning, direction, coordination, implementation,execution, control and completion of project activities related to SSP Data Services to ensure the viability and success of the project, while remaining aligned with strategy, commitments and goals of the organization.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
• Manage project scope and budget in accordance with contract(s) and project financial targets, including management of a change control process. This includes management of weekly and monthly financial/invoice forecasts.
• Maintain gross profit percentage targets for each project milestone by careful monitoring and control of the tasks, hours, durations, and resources allotted in the project schedule.
• Manage and maintain adherence to project schedule and deliverable milestones utilizing Microsoft Project Plan (MPP), including recommending and implementing corrective measures as
required.
• Manage and maintain resource utilization targets for all project staff.
• Ensure project workflows and quality assurance/quality control procedures are designed and executed to consistently meet the project requirements and specifications resulting in first time
client acceptance of deliverables. This includes identifying and recommending process improvements/enhancements on a continuous basis.
• Develop proper project documentation to support required deliverables, project workflows, technical specifications, and quality assurance procedures.
• Lead project teams of various sizes and see them through to project completion.
• Establish/communicate/manage project success criteria and project expectations. Provide leadership for the project team by motivating and coaching team members to meet project goals. This includes effectively leading regularly scheduled project meetings.
• Actively maintain knowledge of all activities within assigned project(s) via regular communication with all project team members and stakeholders.
• Maintain effective professional working relationships, including regular interaction with client and company leadership.
• Document and proactively manage project issues, risks, action items, and key decisions.
• Prioritize project tasks and assignments and delegate to proper project resources.
• Develop and maintain project tracking tool(s) to identify status of completeness, as well as manage productivity and quality metrics of the staff and project.
• Manage and monitor project staff performance in accordance with SSP’s policies and applicable laws, as well as report any issues to direct manager and/or the Resource Manager.
• Involved in performance appraisals, performance management, and staff development of project staff. This includes effective leadership, mentoring, and coaching.
• Interview potential employees.
• Provide weekly status reporting to the client regarding overall status of project including project milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks, action items, and key decisions.
• Maintain good understanding of company goals, financials, and initiatives to ensure alignment with day-to-day management of projects and staff.
• Maintain good working knowledge of SSP internal project management and financial systems, such as Flysheet and Job Cost. Experience with setting up projects in the systems based on the sales proposal and MPP and ensuring alignment with defined milestones. This includes understanding how to report and interpret this information accurately out of these systems.
• Maintain effective project administration ensuring timely communications and reporting to internal management and stakeholders, including timely and accurate time entry, financial forecasting, invoicing, and project estimates. This includes required attendance to the monthly Project Management Office (PMO) meeting with Project Managers and other senior resources.
• Proactive response and resolution to technical or project issues that arise.
• Innovate within the position to constantly improve and advance the role of project management within the company. Develop or recommend new (or improvements to existing) project management policies, procedures, tools, or templates.
• Continue professional development to keep abreast of emerging technologies, methods, and best practices related to project management and GIS.
• Understand and apply project management principles, methods, and techniques based on PMI Project Management Lifecycle and SSP’s defined PM Methodology.
• Travel (domestic and/or international) to visit clients or subcontractors as required. Must be able to travel for up to two (2) weeks at a time.
• Assist in development of proposal content and hours estimates for sales support.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Competencies:
• 5-7 years of related GIS/data management experience.
• Good critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Effective decision-making and leadership capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal relations.
• Detail oriented, organized, and quality focused.
• Adaptable and ability to work independently.
• Planning and time management skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate issues and potential solutions.
• Conflict resolution experience.
• Takes the initiative to learn new things.
• Proficient knowledge of MS Office Products including Microsoft Project.

Education, Certifications, and/or Experience
• Degree in Geography, Computer Science, a related field, and/or equivalent work experience.
Relevant certifications are preferred, but not required.
• A minimum of five progressive years of related project/management experience with GIS or
within the utility field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of advanced concepts in one or more commodities.
• Formal project management training (PMI) a plus.