VP of Projects

The role of the Vice President of Projects (VP of Projects) is to guide the Project Management Office (PMO) and its resources to meet the specific needs of the Executive Management Team members who have commissioned the PMO for the benefit of the Credit Union. The VP of Projects will also develop project plans and schedules and deliver solutions on-time and within budget, in support of the Credit Union’s strategic direction, objectives, product and service innovations, organizational and process changes. The VP of Projects will lead and direct the PMO and designated project-specific teams during all project lifecycle phases, act as liaison between end-users / requestors / management / technical personnel / vendors / sponsors, document plans for mitigation or avoidance of possible project risk(s), and track activities (what works, what doesn’t, within Shell FCU’s operational culture) to develop project delivery best-practices and improve project delivery, over time.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Consistently meet all Shell FCU Service Commitments; Shell FCU Employee Creed, Commitments and Service Distinctions.
• Maintain knowledge of and comply with all applicable rules and regulations required within the scope of duties, including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act.
• Attend annual training sessions as instructed or scheduled.
• Perform job duties and responsibilities in compliance with Shell FCU policies, procedures, philosophy and performance standards.
• Leverage PMO resources to meet the specific needs of the Management Team and project stakeholders.
• Effectively facilitate meetings, keeping participants focused on the agenda.
• Be able to work independently and thrive in a team environment.
• Demonstrable ability to learn quickly, and remain current with rapidly developing software, hardware, service and business practices, automation and procedure efficiency opportunities in an ever-changing industry.
• Strong follow-through, with a willingness to take on whatever tasks are needed to complete the job.
• Be able to interact effectively at all levels of an organization, relating tactfully and effectively as liaison between end-users, project requestors, sponsors, management, Vice Presidents, Executives, technical personnel and vendors.
• Develop, implement and apply standard project methodology through the course of project life cycles. Improve this structured methodology over time, based on results from post-project implementation reviews and analysis.
• Promote the use of structured project management methodologies within the organization.
• Ensure effective management of projects from inception through implementation and monitor through cycle(s) of continuous improvement.
• Manage projects through the planning, analysis, design, testing, implementation, and transition phases.
• Assist Executive Management, by working with fellow VP Team, to identify, prioritize and understand business requirements to ensure effective corporate or departmental project rollouts that satisfy desired strategic objectives.
• Direct and lead designated project teams members, typically of 5 to 20 contributors, by developing and coordinating work plans, schedules, milestones, deliverables, training, and management of available resources.
• Exhibit strong written and verbal presentation skills for information delivery to Executive Management, VP Team, sponsors or stakeholders.
• Gather customer requirements, create development schedules, develop and nurture the use of Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) methodologies and conduct product-comparative research.
• Manage project budgets, including investment return and mitigation of risk due to impact of changes to project plans. Monitor and manage ‘scope-creep’ to keep projects on-schedule and within designated expense budget expectations/requirements/limitations.
• Track and communicate purchased vendor work hours to stay in budget and ensure the quantity includes reserves for planned projects.
• Create an annual PMO budget, which may include entries that impact, relate to, or are necessary for corporate strategic projects.
• Identify and minimize project risks or constraints that might impact project deliverables.
• Identify, communicate and resolve departmental or cross-organizational concern areas that may impede or adversely impact other projects, initiatives, or daily operations.
• Maintain, update, retain and distribute (appropriately) all project documentation.
• Work with internal vendor due diligence team to meet all new vendor onboarding requirements, or contract negotiation/reviews as needed based on project requirements.
• Serve as primary point of contact for project management and related issues.
• Serve as an expert in the project management discipline, effectively applying project management tools, analysis and best-practices.
• Secure resources and ensure optimum application of those resources to attain successful product delivery, within budget, schedule, scope and value.
• Allocate project team assignments to ensure accountability, establish a team environment, and manage personnel changes within a project or initiative.
• Manage, execute, and communicate project plan directional variances, changes to approach/direction, and/or priorities, based on changing business requirements, circumstances, limited resources, new information and/or budget or introduced risk considerations to all stakeholders.
• Promote team building and skills development within the PMO.
• Develop personnel competency, including training. Build leaders within the department.
• Select only top-tier candidates for available PMO department positions and groom these individuals to consistently provide unrivaled internal service delivery and first-rate interaction with vendors.
• Provide mentoring and skill building for on-staff project managers.
• Provide guidance on the documentation, selection, prioritization of active projects, escalated projects, and projects “on-deck.”
• Conduct project audits, as needed.
• Recruit, select, evaluate and determine salaries for Project Managers, Project Specialists and other direct-reports.
• Interact effectively with staff from other organizations, leveraging professional relationships and information-sharing to maximize delivery of Shell FCU’s strategic objectives.
• Some travel may be required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Shell Federal Credit Union is an equal opportunity and an affirmative action employer and committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, citizenship status, marital status, protected veteran status, mental and/or physical disability, pregnancy, or any basis prohibited by State or Federal law.

Knowledge and Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge and Skills

Experience:

• Five to ten years’ experience with progressively increasing responsibility within various roles of the Project Management Offices/Organizations.
• Experience working with all levels of employees, management, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Experience leading and/or managing projects of varying sizes.
• Experience participating in and/or managing, cross-functional, multi-dimensional teams and projects.

Education / Training:

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management or equivalent degree plan required. Masters preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification required.
• Certified Project Manager (CPM) certification preferred.

Job Requirements:

• Welcoming, tactful, helpful and positive demeanor is essential.
• Effective planning, organizational problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Possess a service first mentality.
• Expert skills in exercising initiative, good judgment, and making sound and timely decisions.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, execution, and control of projects.
• Effective interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Expert skills in effectively building relationships with and positively influencing team members, management, vendors and a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and team-based problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with PCs and related software applications (project management, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software packages).
• Position will at times require participation in after-hours or weekend work.
• Position is onsite, leveraging an open floor concept environment.
• Must be prepared to participate in Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, or Incident Response scenarios.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to handle workloads during emergencies or stressful time sensitive situations.
• Ability to work in open concept workspace/environment.

In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization.

This Job Description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising this position. Job descriptions are not intended and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law

This organization uses E-Verify® in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.