GAME ON – OLG needs you
We’ve said GAME ON, and we mean it – OLG is rapidly transforming its organization to better serve Ontarians by delivering great gaming experiences through our digital, retail lottery, and land-based casino channels.
We are ready to take this game to the next level and need a passionate Project Specialist to work in close collaboration with project managers, project sponsors, key stakeholders, vendors and project teams to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and are in accordance with all scope requirements and quality standards to drive successful business outcomes.
YOUR ROLE IN THE GAME
To work closely and collaboratively with project sponsors, key stakeholders, vendors and project teams to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and are in accordance with all scope requirements and quality standards to drive successful business outcomes.
Job Accountabilities
- Build partnerships and work collaboratively with Clients to ensure the project delivers the benefits that the Client is expecting within the budget and timelines that are mutually agreed to.
- Blending traditional project management principles and practices with an Agile/SCRUM development approach in the right proportions to fit large, complex, mission-critical, enterprise-level projects and with the appropriate level of planning and the right balance of agility and predictability.
- Define project scope, plan, key deliverables, risks, budget, communications, resources, the objectives and value proposition of the project; attain alignment with senior stakeholders and project resources to ensure the successful delivery of the project
- Develop and deploy the appropriate project management methodology and strategies for the successful delivery of projects and the inherent strategic benefits
- As required, implement agile ceremonies, processes, practices, and tools to create simple, consistent, sustainable, efficient and flexible ways of working, coaching teams to become self-sufficient and self-organized
- Manage all aspects of the project’s lifecycle, from planning to closeout, ensuring adherence to the commitments on budget, scope, quality, timelines, strategic impact and project deliverables
- Synthesize the needs of the Client, gather and understand business requirements, stand up workstreams and project teams in a short period of time, develop, maintain and deliver detailed work-plans for approved projects utilizing appropriate methodologies and tools
- Provision delivery resources with the appropriate skills, experience and acumen reflective of the project needs
- Establish a project governance structure and meeting cadence, lead and facilitate project meetings
- Ensure project/program artifacts are developed and maintained throughout the project lifecycle; including but not limited to: charters, implementation plans, resource models, requirements, change requests, issue and action logs, communications, change management plans and Technology SDLC artifacts (if applicable)
- Manage and hold accountable project resources, functional managers, internal stakeholders, vendors and service providers (if applicable) to ensure that all action items are implemented, obligations are met, quality reviews are completed, and areas of improvement are identified and implemented during the execution of projects.
- In collaboration with the Client, prepare program budgets, analyze and report variances with recommendations for corrective actions, as required
- Manage project change requests and implement approved changes within the approved budget and timelines
- Monitor project performance for conformity to scope, schedule, budget and quality and prepare reports for key stakeholders highlighting status, key performance indicators (KPIs), issues and risks; monitor closure of actions and deliverables including monitoring the performance of project resources and the interactions between team members to ensure cohesiveness and collaboration with the project team
- Proactively identify and track project risk and develop mitigation plans to manage risk; minimize exposure of the organization to risks and non-compliance to policies and regulations
- Identify root causes of issues that cause deviation from project plans during execution and initiate necessary corrective action; easily identify areas for internal improvement and develop implementation plans to improve.
- Supervise project close-out activities and ensure transition, knowledge transfer, training, benefits measurement and change management support for stakeholders
- Build partnerships and work collaboratively with other program directors, program managers, project managers and service providers to manage dependencies and constraints, and overcome obstacles using innovative solutions
- Coach and mentor project teams, facilitate continuous learning through knowledge sharing sessions, and contribute to overall professional development of the teams
- Provide understanding of software development practice, concepts/methodologies (i.e., waterfall, Agile, iterative), and technologies obtained through formal training and/or work experience
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY
Knowledge and Education
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Master’s degree in business administration/management is preferred but not mandatory
- Certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) or PRINCE2 or equivalent preferred
- Scrum master experience preferred (Credentials to look for include PSM level I, II, III)
- Significant understanding of Agile frameworks & methodologies to coach and embed behaviours
- Knowledge and a command of scrum-master methods (e.g, scrum, Kanban, storypoint estimating
Experience
- Demonstrated experience in delivery of large, complex projects in a high-tech development environment with multi-function teams with involvement in all phases from inception to closure, using both Agile/SCRUM and traditional project management methodologies
- An understanding of software development life cycle models
- Sufficient level of technical background to provide credible leadership to development teams and to be able to evaluate complex project risks and issues accurately and objectively
- Experience in the technology, entertainment and consulting industry is an asset
Project Manager (Level 3)
- 10+ years of progressive experience in project/program management, solutions delivery or similar delivery roles
- Demonstrated experience in independently managing multiple concurrent complex, high risk and/or long term projects from initiation to execution and close out, while ensuring that the projects are delivered on time and within budget
- Projects for a Level 3 PM are multi-divisional, complex, and/or large in size from a project resource and budget perspective. Projects have a high level of dependencies with other projects or initiatives. The impact of failure will have significant impact to OLG reputation, brand, costs, patrons and/or people.
- Experience in mentoring and developing project team members in the successfully planning, execution and delivery of projects including fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration. Proven track record of dealing with ambiguous, contentious and complex issues and situations.
Critical Skills
- Relationship management skills with an ability to earn the trust of sponsors and key stakeholders
- Expertise in mobilizing and motivating teams, setting direction and approach, resolving conflict and handling ambiguity
- Excellent problem-solving, change management and risk management skills
- Strong Vendor management skills
- Strong business acumen backed by sound technical skills related to project management
- Knowledge and expertise in the use of program/project management methodologies including both Agile/SCRUM and traditional project management principles and practices and the ability to blend them together in the right proportions to fit a project and business environment
- Solid understanding of and demonstrated experience in using appropriate tools:
- Agile Project Management tools such as Jira or equivalent
- Microsoft Project, and all Office Tools
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to manage stakeholders and convey vision, ideas, goals, progress and issues in verbal, visual and written formats.