Technical Project Manager by OJ Smith

Technical Project Manager

OJ Smith

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About this service

Summary

Expert Technical Project Management

🚀 Delivering Complex Tech Projects On Time & On Budget

As a seasoned Technical Project Manager, I specialize in steering complex technology projects from initiation through to successful completion. With a deep understanding of software development lifecycles, infrastructure, and agile methodologies, I ensure your technical initiatives are delivered efficiently, meet strategic objectives, and provide tangible business value.

Who Is This For?

Organizations Undertaking Significant Tech Initiatives: Businesses needing expert leadership for software development projects, system integrations, infrastructure upgrades, or a transition to new technologies.

Teams Requiring Experienced Project Guidance: Companies that need a dedicated project manager to implement agile practices, manage scope, mitigate risks, and drive a project to its goals.

Startups & Scale-Ups: Needing to bring new products or features to market efficiently and require structured project management to navigate rapid growth and technical challenges.

Companies Lacking In-House TPM Expertise: Businesses seeking to augment their team with a proven project leader who can manage all aspects of technical project execution.

What I Offer (Key Project Management Activities):

Full Project Lifecycle Management:

Expertly guiding projects through all phases: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring & control, and closure.

Developing comprehensive project plans, defining scope, objectives, and deliverables.

Agile & Scrum Leadership:

Implementing and leading Agile/Scrum ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, retrospectives).

Facilitating backlog grooming and ensuring the development team is aligned and productive.

Championing iterative development and continuous improvement.

Risk & Issue Management:

Proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks and issues.

Developing contingency plans to keep projects on track.

Stakeholder Communication & Management:

Establishing clear and consistent communication channels with all project stakeholders, from technical teams to executive leadership.

Providing regular progress reports, managing expectations, and ensuring alignment.

Resource & Vendor Management:

Effectively coordinating project resources (internal teams, external contractors, or vendors).

Managing timelines, dependencies, and ensuring accountability.

Budget & Schedule Adherence:

Developing realistic project budgets and schedules.

Monitoring project spend and progress against baselines, implementing corrective actions as needed.

Technical Liaison & Problem Solving:

Leveraging a strong technical background to facilitate communication between technical teams and business stakeholders.

Assisting in resolving technical roadblocks and ensuring sound technical decisions are made in the context of project goals.

Quality Assurance Oversight:

Ensuring quality standards are met throughout the project lifecycle.

Coordinating testing efforts and validating deliverables.

Methodologies & Tools Proficiency:

Agile (Scrum, Kanban), Waterfall (where appropriate), Hybrid Methodologies, Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, MS Project (and other common project management and collaboration tools). Deep understanding of software development processes, version control (Git), and CI/CD concepts.

My Approach & Your Benefits:

With over 15 years of experience leading technical initiatives, including roles involving DevOps and co-founding technology ventures, I bring a pragmatic, hands-on approach to project management. I combine structured methodologies with adaptive strategies to navigate the unique challenges of each project.

Clear Path to Completion: Expert planning and execution ensure your projects have a defined direction.

Reduced Project Risk: Proactive identification and mitigation of potential roadblocks.

Enhanced Team Productivity: Effective leadership and streamlined agile processes keep teams focused and efficient.

Transparent Communication: You'll always be informed of project status, challenges, and successes.

Reliable Delivery: A proven track record of delivering technical projects that meet or exceed expectations.

Ready to ensure your next technical project is a success story?

Let's discuss your project requirements and how my expert Technical Project Management services can help you achieve your goals.

What's included

Project Planning & Scoping
Define project goals, objectives, and success criteria. Develop project scope, timelines, and budgets. Create detailed project plans and work breakdown structures (WBS). Identify and document project risks and mitigation strategies.
Team Leadership & Management
Lead and motivate cross-functional teams. Facilitate team meetings, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives. Provide guidance and mentorship to team members. Resolve conflicts and address team challenges. Manage team performance and individual contributions.
Stakeholder Management
Identify and engage key stakeholders. Manage stakeholder expectations and communication. Conduct stakeholder analysis and build strong relationships. Address stakeholder concerns and issues proactively.
Communication & Reporting
Prepare and deliver regular project status reports. Communicate project progress, issues, and risks to stakeholders effectively. Maintain clear and concise project documentation.
Agile Project Management Deliverables
Scrum Master Duties: Facilitate Scrum ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint review, sprint retrospective). Kanban Implementation: Implement and manage Kanban boards to track project progress and workflow. Agile Methodologies: Apply Agile principles and best practices to improve project efficiency and effectiveness.
Technical Project Management Deliverables
Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Expertise: Guide teams through all phases of the SDLC, from requirements gathering to deployment. Technical Documentation: Assist in the creation and maintenance of technical documentation. Quality Assurance: Oversee quality assurance activities, including testing and bug tracking.
Other Deliverables
Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks. Change Management: Manage project changes effectively and minimize disruptions. Budget Management: Track project budgets, manage expenses, and ensure projects are delivered within budget. Resource Allocation: Allocate resources effectively to ensure project success. Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients.