The Digital and Technology team at General Mills executes a portfolio of projects leveraging multiple methodologies ranging from traditional to agile product management. We are looking for an experienced, passionate, outcome-oriented senior Project Manager to contribute to the Global Digital Transformation initiative at General Mills.
The Sr Project Manager is responsible for leading multiple strategic D&T projects or a program to deliver capabilities that are high impact, high value outcomes, while managing budget, scope, and schedule.
Candidate must have demonstrable experience of leading complex projects over entire lifecycle through usage of standardized project management methodology across the spectrum from traditional to agile project delivery. This role will not have direct reports but shall be responsible for execution of work through matrixed org.
Sr Project Manager is required to participate in strategic discussions and demonstrate ownership with clear domain expertise, strategic thought, clear expression and a deep understanding of value drivers and key parameters.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Successfully deliver desired outcomes for strategic project(s)/product teams, taking them from complex, ambiguous strategic intent to implemented, measurable outcomes.
- Lead, inspire, motivate, coach and energize the team to deliver results, managing team progress, timelines, cost and resources influencing highest-value deliverables are delivered.
- Lead the identification, management, and mitigation of highest risks, especially those related to business risk or potential business disruption.
- Strong organizational and budget management skills demonstrating financial acumen, working in liaison with Finance, HR, business and other functions as required.
- Facilitate ceremonies (daily scrum, spring planning, sprint review and retrospective) and the ability to drive estimations.
- Own schedules, outline key milestones, traffic deliverables, identify risks and solutions, and deliver specific project artifacts.
- Demonstrate thought leadership, an agile mindset and values in daily work and organization to deliver short and long term business goals.
- Proven ability and experience in successfully managing a complex program or multiple projects and/or workstreams with a focus on the big-picture - anticipate and isolate patterns, identify gaps and catalyse resolutions employing prioritization for maximum outcome.
- Actively engage with a distributed, global project/portfolio management community to continuously evolve capabilities, re-imagine ways of working and deliver the overall portfolio in line with stated business outcomes.
- Influence both Digital & Technology and Business plans to address and resolve risks provide an effective and efficient bridge to ensure teams are able to collaborate and deliver.
- Effectively communicate project status, risks and issues, and escalate for resolution when appropriate. Tailor the message appropriately to all levels of project leadership.
- Effectively partner & collaborate with 3rd Party Vendors, representing General Mills priorities, providing strong governance and managing risk from such deliveries.
- Provide clear guidance and direction to team members, laddering work to the project, function, and corporate strategy. Guide and coach the team on PM/Agile practices.
- Build and maintain trusted, collaborative working relationships with project team members (including global & remote employees and teams of any size and membership), leadership, stakeholders, and sponsors.
- Strong partnership with the business with ability to seamlessly connect between Digital & Tech and Business teams.
- Build standards and best practices to advance the Project Management team.
- Provide mentorship, modelling, and coaches to others
- Experiment and prepare for emerging trends and industry shifts. Develop self and others with understanding of emerging trends.
- Willingness to undertake projects with globally distributed teams, with flexible hours across multiple timezones.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 15+ years work experience, with 8+ years of Project Management experience across traditional and agile based projects.
- Demonstrable experience of working with and adapting to diverse Project Management methodologies, processes, workflows, and terminology including demonstration of effective scope, timeline, budget and risk management.
- Expert in project and process management having contributed to evolution and implementation of best practices across both agile and traditional project management.
- Demonstrated drive to successfully deliver high impact, high value project/product outcomes within project constraints and guidelines on a wide variety of projects including Technology implementations, Strategic initiatives, Portfolio Shaping and Transition Services.
- Proven ability and experience in successfully managing multiple, complex projects simultaneously.
- Consumer First (client focused) mindset: proven ability and experience in building and maintaining trusted and credible client relationships
- Excellent communication skills ability to communicate with the team and various stakeholders (oral & written)
- Ability to adapt style and approach to unique needs of clients and team members
- Proven experience with early risk identification and mitigation, particularly those with strong business impact or potential for disruption.
- Adept at managing complexity under pressure.
- Demonstrated ability to independently take on and ambitious and ambiguous initiatives and quickly drive clarity and high level and detailed plans to advance toward outcomes.
- Identify and solve for blockers and bottlenecks, make trade-offs to balance needs, and know when to escalate to keep the project moving forward.
- Ability to discern and ask insightful or difficult questions and maintain a multi-perspective approach while driving to appropriate and timely decisions
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to tailor communication to any level of the organization including senior leaders
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues and concepts and articulate recommendations clearly and concisely
- Proven ability and experience in influencing and managing conflict at all levels of the organization including senior leaders.
- Ability to self-manage multiple, competing priorities and deliverables simultaneously.
- History of teamwork and willingness to roll up one s sleeves to get the job done.
- Meticulous attention to detail, coupled with a proven ability to see the big picture .
- Knowledge and proficiency with MS Office and Project Management tools
- Bachelors degree in engineering, business or related field
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience of managing techno-functional outcomes ability to interface between Digital & Technology teams and Business teams.
- Business analysis skills
- Experience in consumer food industry considered a plus, especially in Supply Chain or Commercial functions.
- Working knowledge on DevOps, Agile development processes, exploration and POCs
- Works well collaboratively across functional team boundaries
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, complex and transforming environment.
- Candidate should be flexible, reliable, can take initiative, can deal with responsibility, and have a "can do" attitude.
- Familiarity with specific workflow tools such as Jira, Microsoft Azure DevOps, Confluence, etc.
- Relevant certifications, such as PMP, SAFe, CSM
