Technical Project Manager

NAVA Software is looking for a Technical Project Manager

Details:

Technical Project Manager

Duration: 6-9 month contract-to-hire

Location: Houston, TX. 4 days onsite (Mon-Thurs, Friday remote)

The IT Project Manager's role is to plan, coordinate, and supervise all activities related to the design, development, and implementation of organizational information systems and software applications according to strict deadlines and within budget. The IT Project Manager is also responsible for maintaining, supporting, and upgrading existing systems and applications. This individual will apply proven communication skills, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of best practices to guide his/her development team on issues related to the design, development, and deployment of mission-critical information and software systems. The IT Project Manager will also define the project's objectives and oversee quality control throughout its life cycle.

Essential Job Functions

• Manage the development, deployment and ongoing support of new applications, systems software, and/or enhancements to existing applications throughout the enterprise.
• Assist in defining project scope, goals and deliverables that support business goals in collaboration with key business users and senior management.
• Ensure that development projects meet business requirements and goals, fulfill end-user requirements, and identify and resolve systems issues.
• Effectively communicate project expectations to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
• Develop and deliver status reports, proposals, consolidated requirements documentation, and presentations.
• Prepare, establish, and monitor project budgets.
• Estimate the resources and participants needed to achieve project goals.
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel.
• Coach, mentor, motivate and supervise project team members and contractors, and influence them to take positive action and accountability for their assigned work.
• Liaise with IT Operations groups (network, server, database teams) to assist with quality assurance, program logic, and data processing.
• Identify and resolve issues and conflicts within the project team.
• Set and continually manage project expectations with team members and other stakeholders.
• Build, develop, and grow any business relationships vital to the success of the project.
  Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path.
• Proactively manage changes in project scope, identify potential crises, and devise contingency plans.
• Collaborate with analysts, designers, and system owners in the testing of new software programs and applications.
• Develop best practices and tools for project execution and management.
  Identify and resolve program errors.
• Review and analyze existing applications' effectiveness and efficiency, and then develop strategies for improving or leveraging these systems.
• Ensure that any new software integration into company systems meets functional requirements, system compliance, and interface specifications.
• Cultivate, disseminate, and enforce functional policies, procedures, and quality assurance best practices.
• Assist the IT Trainer with understanding the various application systems and review and comment on training materials while they're being developed.
• Provide Level 2 production support for application systems by researching and responding to questions received via the IT Help Desk's ticketing system.
• Supervise recruitment, development, retention, and organization of all direct reports in accordance with corporate budgetary objectives and personnel policies.

Other Skills/Abilities

• Proven experience in overseeing the direction, development, and implementation of software solutions
• Strong knowledge of system and software quality assurance best practices and methodologies
• Experience with core software applications, including WebLogic Server
• Familiarity with development frameworks and programming languages, including Java EE
• Good project management skills and/or substantial exposure to project-based work structures, project lifecycle models, etc.
• Knowledge of database design and file management techniques
• Familiarity with Internet technologies including network hardware, protocols, and standards
• Strong customer-service orientation
• Excellent understanding of the organization's goals and objectives
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate ideas in both technical and user-friendly language
• Ability to conduct research into application development issues and products
• Highly self-motivated and directed
• Keen attention to detail
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment
• Strong PC skills, particularly with Microsoft Office products