Management Manager

Darren Nicholson

Active Clearance: DoD Secret Clearance

M: 540-***-****

Purcellville, VA 20132

Email: ***********@****.***

IT Project Manager / Software Development Manager

Technology Leader focused on development and deployment of customer-centric, cutting-edge products that improve processes, optimize performance, drive growth, and increase profitability. Highly effective management style that promotes shared vision and positive relationships at all organization levels. Succeed in fast-paced, deadline driven environments dedicated to quality. Sharp bottom-line focus. Thrive on challenge to create competitive advantages that achieve corporate goals through expertise in:

• Information Systems/Information Technology • Project Management

• Leadership and Management • IT Operations

• Sales & Marketing • Risk Management

• Mentoring and Managing High-Functioning Teams

EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE

Kronos Washington D.C. 2015 - Present

Responsible for managing assigned implementations including complex projects involving multiple locations and federal organizations. Is the focal point for all communications with the customer throughout the implementation process. Manage current customer relationships and production post implementation support and work with customers to define additional products and services. Responsible for requirements gathering and business analysis relating to the implementation of the product. This involves meeting with the customer, facilitating requirements sessions, documenting software requirements, and communicating requirements to the development team for configuration. Provide presales expertise in support of federal government sales activities including opportunities with federal agencies and system integrators. Assist in RFP responses, presales discovery calls, solutions presentations and follows up on open issues.Key Responsibilities:

• Enter act with all levels of management including “C” level.

• Manage customer relationships and problems

• Own and lead multiple, simultaneous projects

• Project management – manage deliverables, schedules, project plans, meeting milestones, and ensure technical success

• Work with product managers and development to channel client feedback and solutions into releases.

• Provide technical leadership and issue resolution

• Sales Support – understand customer needs and provide business solution

• Communication - manage Internal projects working with other departments to achieve customer satisfaction and resolution of issues.

Nicholson Enterprises Executive/Head of Business Consulting 2015-Present

Partner with clients to help them determine where they want to go (what results they want to achieve) and how they’re going to get there (the action plan to make that happen). I help clients to develop and manage strategic, cultural, and structural changes within their organizations. By working together, we can provide personalized processes and support materials that help turn goals into reality. I help organizations align their plan, people, and systems in order to gain a competitive edge.

Key Responsibilities:

• Enter act with all levels of management including “C” level.

• Manage customer relationships and resolve problems

• Develop team and team charters

• Identify/manage project milestones, deadlines, timelines, tasks (WBS)

• Facilitate team sessions improving overall performance of organization

• Facilitate Change management sessions

• Alter training sessions in accordance with organizational needs

• Co-create plans to improve organizational profits and sustainability

• Help facilitate change management organization wide

DrFirst, Germantown, MD 2014–2015

Technical Project Manager

Responsible for bringing multiple concurrent partner integrations through successful certification, beta client launch. Responsible for ongoing consulting of new integration features and new product delivery. Regularly exercise independent judgment, as well as a high level of analytical skill, in solving complex and unusual technical, administrative and managerial problems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Enter act with all levels of management including “C” level.

• Manage customer relationships and problems

• Own and lead multiple, simultaneous partner engagements and Enterprise integrations

• Project management – manage deliverables, schedules, meeting milestones, and ensure technical success

• Work with product managers and development to channel client feedback and solutions into releases.

• Provide technical leadership and issue resolution

• Sales Support – understand customer needs and provide business solution

• Communication - manage Internal projects working with other departments to achieve customer satisfaction and resolution of issues

• Operational support, provide Tier3 support as needed.

• Manage projects totaling between $250,000 and $1,000,000.

CGI, Fairfax, VA 2010–2014

Tier2 Manager/Software Engineer

Oversee interfacing of multiple software modules used by U.S. Army for controlling costs, equipment, and issues within Logistics Modernization Program (LMP) for full range provider of IT services including consulting, systems integration, and management of IT and business functions serving clients in 40 countries.

• Enter act with all levels of management including “C” level.

• Manage customer relationships and problems

• Manage local and remote teams

• Reported weekly and/or monthly activities and in accordance with DoD specifications

• 40% overall user satisfaction and 15% customer approval increases generated after taking over helpdesk management and introducing new online kiosk system.

• Identified future business opportunity through forward thinking and market understanding that initiated changes in core products to accommodate opportunity.

• 10% efficiency improvement after developing product that united functional groups including customers, analysts, programmers, DBAs, and management.

• $21,000 estimated annual project saving by utilizing a document management system with potential five times BU-wide saving post FY 2014 implementation.

Layer 8, Alexandria, VA 2009–2010

Consultant

Contracted for short-term assignment to assess development process and created quality assurance department plan for software development / consulting firm for non-profit organizations.

• Enter act with all levels of management including “C” level.

• Wrote project plan for creating a Quality Assurance department

• Participated in migration to new version of software development language using current best practices.

Stanley Associates, Alexandria, VA 2007–2009

Software Engineer

Ensured adherence to quality data, ease of use specifications, and product standards while monitoring project requirements for DoD and civilian government supplier of equipment maintenance management software.

• Provided software developers with information and direction to resolve customer’s application/printer issues enabling equipment shipment from Iraq to assigned state-side bases.

• Developed and led instruction on current CMMI standards resulting in outstanding report from DoD.

• Rectified problems between software system and Zebra printers allowing inventory of equipment leaving Iraq and shipping back to state-side bases.

TMW Systems, Durham, NC 2001–2007

Application Developer/Software Engineer

Partnered with customers to determine special needs then design and debug proprietary software for developer of enterprise management software for surface transportation services industry, including logistics, freight, trucking, and heavy-duty repair and maintenance.

• Increased sales potential by designing, and developing software product with value-added features.

• Broadened marketability of Rapid Application Development tool by creating software to enable other programmers to integrate mapping software into their application, automatically plot vehicle location via satellite, and search given range for business location.

• Created set-it-and-forget-it program for predetermined FTP site that searches for downloadable data and processes them into database with checks and balances.

• Provided new functionality for potential clients by managing interface of modern-day software with obsolete mainframe operating system.

VisionAIR, Castle Hayne, NC 1998–2001

Team Lead

Played key leadership role managing all phases of software development and mentoring junior developers for supplier of technology solutions to public safety and criminal justice communities.

• Prevented cancellation of contracts leading development team implementing plan to put delayed deliverables back on schedule.

• Led development of software project featuring “wizard-style” user interface for collecting, validating, and processing user input via series of questions.

• Led team in development of wireless applications that enable law enforcement officers to fill out reports and gather information on suspects.

EDUCATION

M.S. (2017), Business Management, Strayer University, Ashburn, VA

B.S. Cum Laude, Criminal Justice, Mount Olive College, Durham, NC

A.A.S. Magna cum Laude, Computer Engineering, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Initiating and Planning a Project

Setting the Stage for IT Success

Managing a Project

Project Management Fundamentals

Transitioning into a Project Management Role

Troubleshooting and Closing the Project

Project Communication and Stakeholder Management

AFFILIATIONS

Project Management Institute, Member

Delphi & Pascal Developers Group, Member

Microsoft Business Intelligence, Member

Sybase DBA Network, Member

Linked .Net Users Group, Member

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