Assistant Manager

Job Title: Assistant Manager

Function: PMO

Location: Pune

Job Summary / Overview 

As an Assistant Manager in a Project Management Office (PMO) supports the PMO Manager and team in ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and effectively.

Key Responsibilities and Daily Activities 

• Lead and manage end-to-end delivery of transformation projects that align with our strategic objectives, from concept through to implementation and benefit realization.
• Lead the planning and implementation of transformation projects, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic goals and objectives.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams including IT, product development, operations, and external partners to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Manage and oversee the entire project lifecycle, from ideation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure, ensuring high-quality deliverables.
• Drive innovation in product development and technology solutions by staying abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging teams to innovate and optimize processes for better efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and reports for transformation initiatives, providing regular updates to senior management.
• Ensure projects adhere to frameworks, and all documentation is maintained appropriately for each project.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders, effectively communicating project goals, progress, and outcomes.
• Mentor and develop team members, providing guidance and support to strengthen capabilities across the transformation team.
• Anticipate and mitigate project risks, and resolve issues that arise, to keep projects on track.
• Facilitate the Scrum process from initiation through to delivery, ensuring adherence to Agile principles and practices, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives.
• Act as a servant leader and coach for the Scrum Team, helping them self-organize and work collaboratively to achieve high performance and deliver value to the business.
• Remove impediments or guide the team to remove impediments, thereby enabling the team's progress towards their sprint goals.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team, encouraging them to identify and implement changes that increase productivity and enhance product quality.
• Work closely with Product Owners to ensure a well-groomed and prioritized product backlog, ensuring clear communication of product vision and scope to the team.
• Facilitate stakeholder collaboration as requested or needed, acting as a bridge between the team and external entities, including other teams and customers.
• Monitor and report on project progress and team performance against deliverables and timelines to stakeholders, using Agile metrics such as velocity and sprint burn-down.
• Champion the adoption of Agile and Scrum practices across the organization, providing training and support to teams and individuals new to the Agile environment.
• Ensure that the team adheres to the organization's Agile framework, recommending improvements and adjustments to processes as needed.
• Protect the team from outside interruptions and distractions and ensure that the team's capacity and velocity are optimized for project success.
• Stay abreast of new trends and tools in Agile practices and Scrum methodologies and facilitate the adoption of innovations that can benefit the team.

Skills and Competencies 

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency in project management software tools, such as Microsoft Project, Jira, and Azure DevOps (or similar). 
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop detailed project plans and monitor key performance indicators. 
• Expertise in managing project changes, scope adjustments, and risk mitigation. 
• Behavioral Skills:  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and negotiate at all levels.  
• Strong leadership skills and innovative mindset; able to drive continuous improvements and process optimizations.  
• Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and manage stakeholders from diverse cultural backgrounds.  
• Ability to maintain executive presence in boardroom meetings and senior management presentations.  
• Experience with client interactions, business development, cost negotiation, and pre-sales activities for more senior roles is an added advantage.  
• Qualifications 
• Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or MBA is desirable. 
• Proven experience (minimum of 8 years) in a similar transformation delivery role, specifically within the commercial sector- Retail, Oil and Gas, FMCG, Energy, Manufacturing, etc 
• Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale, complex projects and leading cross-functional teams. 
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills. 
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities, with the skill to negotiate and influence at all levels of the organization. 
• Experience with project management software and tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, ADO). 
• Certification in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) is an advantage. 
• Agile and Flexible Working 
• Experience in change management and driving adoption of new technologies and processes.