Operations, Product, Engineering Leader

Russell W. Wambold III

**********@***.*** § 732-***-**** § Toms River, NJ

Executive Profile

Operations Excellence / New Product Development & Deployment / Strategic Business Planning

Accomplished and highly motivated team leader with experience in Telecom, Customer Service, Marketing, Manufacturing and Pharma. Proven ability to drive industry-leading growth within highly complex organizations across domestic and international channels. Extensive experience connecting customer wants and needs with product design, development, operational implementation and support. Persuasive communicator with proven success building bridges across functions and driving support for initiatives that alter the status quo. Resourceful and creative in meeting difficult challenges while improving performance through process analysis and improvement.

Operations & Management Strengths

Program & Project Management

Cost Reduction and Avoidance

Process Redesign / Change Management

Vendor / Client Relationship Management

Strategy and Leadership

Software Engineering

Functional Programming

Agile/Waterfall/Dev Ops

Budget Administration / Management

Full Lifecycle Project Management

Team Building and Staff Management

Executive Planning and Communications

Customer Service

Roadmapping

Professional Experience

Comcast, Philadelphia, PA

Accepted highly challenging strategic and tactical role to manage and execute product development and deployment of complex, game-changing new products (including X1 Platform) leading the company to new heights as the market leader and providing unique versatile products to protect against evolving competitive pressures.

Sr. Director of Product Development Engineering & Operations (3/2018 – 5/2019)

Role encompasses a combination of Technical, Business, Strategic and Project based skills to ensure complex programs are properly evaluated, planned, measures and implemented in line with product and company goals. Strategic engagement managing product development for multiple product lines against top product initiatives in direct coordination with key leaders. Direct impact on the Comcast brand, customer experience and suite of features and products company is investing in to drive the direction and future growth of the business.

Visionary that stays current on market trends and competitive pressure to steer products to success

Serve as subject matter expert on the processes and business impacts of the product lifecycle

Manage 20+ person team of product managers, analysts and engineers

Own requirements and road mapping through development and delivery

Provide direction and assistance to leadership (VP, SVP & CTO) regarding both short and long term team objectives to mitigate risks and ensure project success

Continued analysis of process for opportunities of refinement for efficiencies through direct hands on evaluation, customer focus groups and back office data

Ownership and coordination of resources and planning across the 4 major pillars and multiple complex initiatives at the same time.

Host executive reviews both internal and external with our partners

Ensure day to day operations communications are providing necessary information for stakeholders to keep everyone informed and up to speed

Develop talent within the team to support entrepreneurial spirit and drive to make our products the best they can be, always with a customer first mentality within still working in fast paced environment.

Creation of documentation/communications and reporting for direct leadership and to support

Owner of implementation of corporate and department policy introduction and management

Problem solver that can solely handle large complex problems to resolution without senior level engagement but ensure they are informed of issues, status and mitigations.

Sr. Director of Operations (1/2017 – 3/2018)

Director of Engineering Operations (2/2015 – 1/2017)

Business-critical lead role working closely with Senior Leadership designing, planning, and deploying products and processes across the organization that are helping to drive revenue in new verticals and automating and streamlining internal systems. Lead decision maker driving strategy and planning for new products and processes deployment and their impact on every facet of the business. In a role affecting the full scope of long-standing, traditional operations, responsible for managing every aspect across corporate, divisional, and regional channels with focus on the customer (internal and external). Impact of the launches has exceeded six million customers. Currently manage diverse teams of internal and offshore resources, responsible for identifying and mitigating risks while planning and launching highly complex products, processes and systems while staying within stringent budgets and timelines.

Implemented call center and procurement operational process improvements to handle new enhanced technology with advanced tools.

Analyze build versus buy for critical tools and systems related to product support

Oversee the technology vision and roadmap to provide quality solutions that have direct impact to the business operations and bottom line (savings of over $7 million this year).

Lead change activities across process, organizational design and technology project implementation efforts while engaging in stakeholder management.

Own business standards and analysis throughout project/change lifecycle to ensure alignment across program, business and strategy objectives.

In the face of entrenched practices, developed and championed completely new operations processes and procedures from the ground up, gaining support from cross-functional leaders for changes that impacted more than 70% of company operations.

Partner directly with various players across the business to develop recommendations to advise senior management on high-priority initiatives, including growth strategy, product and segment strategies, and cross business initiatives.

Responsible for identifying operational efficiencies and areas of critical improvement across support teams (Dispatch, Field Ops and Tier 2 call center) related to processes, tools and communications. Recommending strategies to move the groups towards a more cohesive customer focused emphasis through technology and tools (industry leading customer interactive app).

Communications lead for coordination/distribution of enterprise-wide information related to product enhancements, known issues, troubleshooting or process changes and tool updates to ensure a consistent message and keeping all impacted parties up to date.

Leads Cross-Functional focus groups and training for Workforce Management, Field Ops and National Tier 2 Support.

Responsible for in-depth analytics that include recommendations for operational improvements including cost reduction opportunities, process gaps, new initiatives and opportunity areas in coordination with engineering resources to put immediate action against approved improvements.

Devised innovative marketing strategies against internal and external competitive pressures.

Ability to create support and buy-in across a wide range of stakeholders; while partnering with other areas of the business to develop and articulate strategy, associated initiatives, and key performance metrics and reporting ability to create a strong network of relationships among peers, internal partners, external constituencies and decision makers to deliver end-products.

Developed onshore/ offshore new support processes across all tiers; reduced customer visits 10%.

Successfully led on-time/on-budget first market launch of industry leading/company changing customer experience through complex technical and operational challenges.

Led warehouse consolidation program to reduce distribution points and improve inventory management.

Support the business management team coordinating initiatives and communications that provide leadership, direction, and assistance in direct support of the Senior Leadership Team

Daily activities include - Managing tasks and responsibilities associated with the planning, directing, coordination, and support of specific projects/initiatives that support the overall strategic plan of the business while monitoring progress in achieving stated strategic objectives and ensure effective communication of progress.

Comcast, Philadelphia, PA

Senior Manager Project Management (3/2013 to 2/2015)

Manager Project Management (5/2010 to 3/2013)

Project Manager – New Product Introductions (8/2007 to 5/2010)

Led a team of analysts and engineers across multiple initiatives aimed at improving productivity. Identified and resolved internal operational deficiencies through planned and focused project management. Reported strategic findings and recommendations to executives and stakeholders to gain buy-in and support for projects.

Established Video Beta network to drive faster time to market and reduce defects.

Designed and implemented new web portal with simplified interface and increased functionality.

Streamlined operations on winning techniques in customer care, increasing customer retention and promoting 33% productivity increase in the Department.

Excelacom, Herndon, VA

Implementation Consultant at Comcast (12/2006 to 8/2007)

Lead new voice product innovation and deployment in strategic markets. Introduction of product into new sales channel with expected revenue over $100 million.

Led QA and testing team on validation of proof of concept prior to national operational readiness.

Developed operations strategy and risk assessment on overall impact of new product on current teams.

Managed communication to Senior leadership regarding technical readiness and quality of product for evaluation of launch.

Acme-Hardesty, Blue Bell, PA

Information Technology Manager (7/2005 to 12/2006)

Managed staffing, budget, and technology operations for import-export company. Supported remote sales staff. Implemented key projects to enhance communication and functionality.

Rolled out MS Axapta ERP to parent company while enhancing and implementing new modules internally.

Constructed, tested, and deployed SQL Server reports to provide on-demand sales reporting tool.

Showtime Enterprises (part of Sparks Online), Paulsboro, NJ

Information Technology Manager (10/2001 to 4/2005)

Led technical operations and project planning for event marketing agency engaged in experiential marketing and brand promotion. Provided technical direction for the entire organization, serving as the sole technical resource across 11 locations. Served as Project Manager for new initiatives and special projects for company and its clients (e.g. Panasonic, Boston Scientific, Unisys, Bayer Pharmaceutical). Managed budgets to maximize ROI.

Expanded revenue stream through sales tools and value-added services that increased customer loyalty and slashed response to sales leads from 2 weeks to days.

Implemented ERP system (MS Great Plains) to improve handling of $30M revenue stream.

Renegotiated service contracts, slashing IP costs by more than 50%.

Showtime Enterprises (part of Sparks Online), Paulsboro, NJ

Information Technology Specialist (8/2000 to 10/2001)

Managed and maintained LAN/WAN hardware (Cisco routers / PIX, HP Proliant servers) serving 11 locations. Developed and implemented key projects across international boundaries.

Designed and implemented online Customer Program Management system used in 10 different countries.

Implemented Help Desk call center and user knowledge base; reduced response time 30% through improvements to prioritizing, escalation, and ticket management.

Developed internal web applications using Cold Fusion, HTML and SQL.

Migrated entire network from Windows NT and 9x to Windows 2000 and XP, including Server upgrade.

Designed new process for digitally tracking, documenting and reporting on software licensing and BSA compliance management that saved company $250K.

Education

MBA, Strategic Management & International Business

Villanova University, Villanova, PA

BS, Commerce & Engineering, Concentration in MIS & Operations Management

Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Project Management Professional

Project Management Institute (PMI)

Selected technical skills include extensive knowledge in SDLC, Project estimation and planning, Budget & Team management, Waterfall and agile methodologies, Project management methodologies, application development, test automation, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project and Visio

Contact this candidate