Sr. Program Manager-Application Development

Sr. Program Manager, Application Development

 

Reports to:  CIO

 

Location: Lombard, IL-Corporate

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Essential Purpose of Position:

 

· The purpose of the Senior Program Manager, Application Development position is to take a leadership position within the company and play a key role on the IT Management Team, with responsibilities for IT Business Applications Development and Definition Teams. The position works closely with the CIO to facilitate defining and executing the IT strategy, focusing on business applications definition, development and implementation.

 

Essential Responsibilities Related to IT Business Applications Development and Definition:

 

1. Responsible for defining, planning, coordinating, and directing all application development activities related to Application Development including:

· Development project plans, which include budget, schedules, change management, configuration management, quality, and communication plans

· Prepare and monitor project and quality assurance plans, budget, forecasts, capital expenditures, and conducts activities in accordance with approved plans and budgets

· Develops and implements project-related staffing plans to ensure that they are consistent and adequate for attainment of projects objectives

· Oversee project – related operations

· Develop and enhance existing project management guidelines and processes

· Work in conjunction with the Sr. Application Architect to identify, develop and implement appropriate systems development lifecycle methodologies

· Work with all business organizations to determine the functional requirements for system level solutions, which may include translation of artifacts from BPR / BPI activities into requirements suitable for IT system design and development

· Act as facilitator between business and technical resources leading the construction of the analysis models that bridge those two roles. Ensure that the models are business centric

· Participate in business analysis and software quality assurance activities. Prepare and present requirements and analysis reviews

· Develop and enforce procedures, policies, and tools to increase overall organizational effectiveness

· Establish and provide relevant end-user training and support

2. Bridge the communication gap between the users and developers by defining a common terminology based on core business concepts

3. Responsible for Application Operations including the receipt, prioritization, disbursement, and closure of all business application “trouble tickets�

4. Plan and direct the work activities for employees within the group. Ensure staff is appropriately trained and managed. This includes providing feedback, training, counseling and assessing performance

5. Build and manage budgets to effectively address business requirement needs both short- and long-term

6. Ensure programs, procedures and policies are in place to effectively manage daily responsibilities and achieve short- and long-term deliverables

7.  Prioritize the application development initiatives that need to be delivered - formulate and execute plans to deliver these solutions in a cost-effective manner commensurate with the company’s business needs

8. Develop an approach to evaluate new releases of in-service business applications that support the changing needs of the business and then roll out the new functionality. Evaluate new vendors and collaborate with current vendors to maximize the value of solutions utilized

9. Expand the portfolio of applications and leverage the company’s current assets to provide better technology solutions for the business.  Collaborate with the company’s top business leaders on enterprise-wide technology initiatives in alignment with business strategy

10. Rollout new in-store technology in support the continued growth

11. Over all responsibility for SMARTplace, an initiative to replace all business applications with Oracle E-Business Suite v12

 

 

Qualifications:

 

1. Working knowledge of information systems. Experience providing strategic and tactical guidance in defining, planning, developing and implementing enterprise applications and business intelligence systems. Ability to work well with a diverse group of people.

2. Minimum 10 years experience in information systems with progressive responsibilities. Some proven second-level managerial experience preferred.

3. Ability to identify technology priorities and needs. Capable of negotiating cost-effective technology solutions with applicable vendors. Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, analytical and communication skills. A solid understanding of operational budgets and financial reporting

4. Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning applications suites is required. Knowledge of Oracle ERP and database technologies is preferred.

5. Experience with Business Intelligence / Data Warehouse applications is required. (e.g. Cognos, Business Objects)

6. Experience in working with application end-users to determine and document functional requirements for applications software using specifications techniques such as Use Cases or System Requirements Specifications (SRS)

7. Background and Experience – experience in retail within the furniture / big ticket industry, preferable. Understand the retail process and retail systems and how technology will support it.

8. Technical Expertise – possess a broad and deep understanding of retail technology encompassing back office retail systems, and POS systems, preferable.

9. Outstanding Communication, Influencing, and Presentation Skills – ability to communicate with and build effective working relationships with the top management within the organization including the COO,  CIO, CFO, VP HR, and VP Merchandising.

10. Demonstrated proficiency in translating application functional requirements into system models using a formal method. Must have experience developing analysis models (e.g. object model, object interaction diagrams, etc. ) using methods such as:

· RUP

· Rummler-Brache

· Agile

11. Experience with Project Management and Estimation tools such as PMI, COCOMO, etc.

12. Understanding of software application architectures, specifically services oriented architecture leveraging web services

13. Knowledge of Business Process Improvement / Business Process Re-Engineering

14. Certification by PMI or SEI, preferable

15. Experience working in a customer focused IT environment

16. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills

17.  Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related field