KIMBERLEY WARD
Project Management
Bloomfield,NJ
Summary
Dedicated Product/Project Manager and Business Analyst with 15 plus years of experience in successfully managing complex projects and analyzing business requirements across diverse industries. Results-driven with a proven track record of successfully managing diverse and complex projects and skilled in coordinating project planning, execution, timing, quality, and cost. Proficient in identifying opportunities for process improvement, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring timely project delivery within budgetary constraints as well as providing support to PMO Project Managers to ensure projects are on budget and on schedule. Possesses exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Talented professional considered knowledgeable leader and dedicated problem solver. Brings 15+ years of valuable expertise to forward company objectives. Attentive to detail with experience in coordinating projects, programs and improvements.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Manager, Business Analyst
Salsa Sexxy
04.2012 - 12.2023
- Founded and established Salsa Sexxy a boutique dance shoe store specializing in high-quality footwear for men and women in 2012
- Developed a comprehensive business plan, securing financing, and overseeing all aspects of store setup, including location selection, interior design, and inventory procurement
- Implemented effective inventory management strategies, ensuring optimal stock levels, product assortment, and pricing to meet customer demand and maximize profit margins
- Recruited, trained, and managed a skilled team of managers and sales associates, providing ongoing training and support to maintain exceptional customer service standards
- Utilized sales data and market research to make informed decisions about product offerings, pricing strategies, and expansion opportunities
- Led and managed various store improvement projects, including renovations, visual merchandising updates, and technology integrations, resulting in enhanced customer experiences and increased sales
- Maintained financial records, prepared budgets, and analyzed financial performance to identify opportunities for cost reduction and revenue growth
- Cultivated relationships with suppliers and negotiated favorable terms to improve product availability, quality, and pricing
- Played a key role in store operations, assisting with inventory management, staff scheduling, and customer service
- Provided support to the store manager in administrative tasks, including payroll processing, reporting, and vendor communication.
Technical Project Manager, Business Analyst
ACS/Verizon
11.2018 - 07.2022
- Led a cross-functional team of 30 professionals in the successful implementation of Verizon 5G and new cell plans, resulting in 5% cost savings and 12% improvement in customer satisfaction 1 month after implementation
- Conducted thorough business analysis, including requirement gathering and stakeholder engagement, to identify opportunities for process improvement, leading to 5% increase in operational efficiency
- Developed and maintained project plans and timelines, ensuring on-time project delivery for critical cell service infrastructure projects
- Collaborated with key stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables, aligning technology solutions with business goals
- Worked closely with IT teams to translate business requirements into Agile stories/ technical specifications and led the development and implementation of technology solutions
- Analyzed and presented data-driven insights to senior management, facilitating informed decision-making processes
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline business processes and improve operational efficiency, resulting in cost savings of $1.1M.
- Facilitated strong team collaboration through effective meeting management, open communication channels, and timely resolution of conflicts or issues.
Senior Project /Product Manager, Business Analyst
MetLife Insurance Company
01.2007 - 01.2016
- Responsible for managing a portfolio of diverse and complex IT projects, ensuring successful project planning, execution, and delivery within committed budget, schedule, and quality standards
- Collaborated with IT PMO Project Managers to provide support in managing project plans, tracking deliverables, and identifying risks, and developing risk mitigation plans
- Collaborated with product management to translate business requirements into technical specifications, ensuring alignment with project goals and deadlines
- Led efforts to coordinate cross-functionally to estimate project scope, tasks, and cost, ensuring accurate project planning and resource allocation
- Coordinated effectively across multiple workgroups to plan for resources and resource assignments, optimizing resource utilization
- Managed project plans in a sophisticated and dynamic environment, adapting to changing requirements, and tracking their impact on budget and schedule
- Regularly communicated project accomplishments, forecasts, and budget updates to stakeholders, maintaining transparency and ensuring alignment with organizational goals
- Successfully delivered within budget, ahead of schedule, and meeting or exceeding quality standards
- Proactively identified and mitigated risks, in potential project overruns
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration, leading to improved project scope definition and more accurate cost estimates, resulting in organizational savings
- Managed projects simultaneously, demonstrating exceptional multitasking and organizational skills
- Implemented to improve project planning and tracking, resulting in increased project success rates
- Enabled $1M in annual savings by implementing changes within interactive system.
- Enhanced user experience, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and retention rates.
- Implemented Agile methodologies for more efficient project management and team collaboration.
- Managed full product lifecycle, from ideation through post-launch support, ensuring consistent quality control measures were in place.
- Managed stakeholder expectations effectively throughout the entire product development process.
- Continuously monitored customer feedback channels after launch to gather insightful data for future iterations or updates.
- Communicated effectively with team members to deliver updates on project milestones and deadlines.
- Documented user stories, specifications, and product features into detailed work order to communicate across teams and build mandatory requirements.
Education
Project Management Certificate -
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science - Project Management
University of Phoenix
11.2024
Skills
- Project Management
- Product Management
- Waterfall, Agile & Scrum Methodologies
- Project Planning and Development, RFPs, ROIs
- Project Tracking
- Risk Management
- Change Management
- Business Analysis
- Solution Design & Implementation
- Stakeholder Communication
- Resource Allocation
- Quality Assurance
Additional Information
Additional Experience:
Assistant Vice President, UBS Financial Services, Weehawken, NJ
Director Project/Product Manager, AT&T Basking Ridge
Call Center Manager, AT&T Parsippany, NJ
Customer Service Representative, AT&T, Smyrna, GA
Additional Processes and Skills
- JIRA
- Confluence
- MS Office Applications
- PeopleSoft
- Visio
- Google Documents
- Excel
- PMLC
- PlanPlus
- FieldGlass
- Budgeting and Cost Control
- Technical Leadership & Development
- Team Development & Learning
- Solution Design & Implementation
- Document Management
- Work Flow Planning
- Cost Control
- Root Cause Analysis
- Procedure Development
- Strategic Planning
- Performance Improvements
- Forecasting
- Presentations
- Staff Management
- Advanced Problem Solving
- Project Regulations
- Processes and Procedures
- Project Scope Analysis
- Change Control Processes
- Performance Evaluations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Stakeholder Communications
- Delegation Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Resource Management
- Cross-functional Coordination
- Organizational Skills
- Multitasking
- Goal Setting
- Process Improvement
- Project Closure
- Meeting Facilitation
- Critical Thinking
- Conflict Resolution
- Analytical Skills
- Task Prioritization
- Decision Making
Timeline
Technical Project Manager, Business Analyst
ACS/Verizon
11.2018 - 07.2022
Project Manager, Business Analyst
Salsa Sexxy
04.2012 - 12.2023
Senior Project /Product Manager, Business Analyst
MetLife Insurance Company
01.2007 - 01.2016
Project Management Certificate -
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science - Project Management
University of Phoenix