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Neelima Pudinaga

ad14bj@r.postjobfree.com • LinkedIn

Cerritos, CA 90703 • 213-***-****

Qualifications Summary

Experienced Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working in IT and workforce industry. Adept at ensuring quality in various business environments. Organized and motivated employee eager to apply time management and organizational skills in various environments. Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations. Areas of Expertise

• Workforce Operations Management

• Project / Product Management

• Strategic Planning & Execution

• Contract Negotiation & Management

• Performance Enhancement

• Agile / Scrum Methodologies

• Data Modeling & Forecasting

• Risk Assessment & Mitigation

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Team Training Leadership

• Cross-functional Collaboration

• Statistical & Financial Analysis

Professional Experience

Project Manager, Farmers Insurance Group, Los Angeles, CA 2018 – Present Develop and execute project plans, while conducting daily stand-up meetings, reviews, retrospectives, demos, and project-related meetings. Manage and execute complex projects, including Vendor Management System (VMS) changes and integrations. Identify and mitigate risks within budgetary parameters to effectively resolve issues. Serve as primary interface to Finance, VMS, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Managed Service Providers (MSP), release managers, and contract managers. Provide operational support to customers and spearhead the implementation of strategic initiatives. Represent workforce management and reporting functions at client meetings. Conduct in-depth analysis to determine supplier dependencies, spending by applications, and critical metrics for management review.

● Enhanced project management capabilities by successfully engaging customers in new product adoptions.

● Boosted team productivity and reduced process lags by delivering training on best practices and procedures.

● Ensured program adoption and success through program change management and communication efforts.

● Improved efficiency and saved cost by automating redundant optional approvers in vendor management workflows.

● Streamlined procurement process by introducing Straight to Beeline project; enabled stakeholders to negotiate directly with suppliers within Beeline.

● Recognized for the successful implementation of Diversity and Inclusion related projects, including Women Back to Work, Neurodiversity, and Work initiatives.

Lead Performance Specialist, Farmers Insurance Group, Los Angeles, CA 2014 – 2018 Delivered exceptional assistance in sourcing contingent talent and negotiating/reviewing vendor agreements. Enhanced information coordination and security through creation and optimization of records management strategies. Served as key IT liaison for all aspects of Vendor Management processes. Generated detailed and pertinent reports for informed business decisions. Provided project status updates and financial reports to c-level management for fiscal year budget decisions.

● Secured favorable contracts through excellent negotiations skills.

● Maximized productivity by training and integrating newly hired interns into key positions.

● Elevated the organization's profile by representing at VMS conferences within Jacksonville.

● Recognized for establishing Employee Resource Group for enhanced employee engagement.

● Earned acknowledgment from (CIO) for outstanding performance in managing heavy workload during year-end.

● Boosted operational performance and efficiency by conducting analysis and recommending innovative solutions for strategic suppliers.

● Enhanced project management capabilities by implementing SOW module and strategic suppliers into program.

● Successfully trained newly hired procurement team for transition of the contract management from IT. Performance Specialist, Farmers Insurance Group, Los Angeles, CA 2010 – 2014 Collaborated with business unit leadership to align execution strategy and expectations. Cultivated culture of continuous improvement within the Supply Planning team, while leading to the development of sustainable processes. Ensured alignment with business and functional strategies by measuring and monitoring performance.

● Optimized supply chain efficiency by maximizing internal / external suppliers through strategic planning and execution.

● Achieved desired targets through cross-functional communication and integration with internal / external suppliers.

● Improved predictability and stability across the supply chain by deploying Supply Chain Roadmap and project plans. Demand Management Specialist, Farmers Insurance Group, Los Angeles, CA 2007 – 2010 Spearheaded project activities for IT across various business units, including contract reviews, risk / liability assessment, and pricing due diligence analysis to support key customer solutions. Assisted functional stakeholders by implementing streamlined processes within team environment. Managed key activities, such as bid (RFP) process, supplier selection, and contract negotiations. Served as IT liaison for vendor management processes and procurement related to contracts. Leveraged data analysis to identify issues and recommended corrective actions within SOW-related processes.

● Achieved $500K in cost savings for the company through strategic monitoring process.

● Monitored project budgets with precision by utilizing SAP ledger for accurate financial management.

● Streamlined and enhanced financial operations through the establishment of central control among Farmers IT for the processing of invoices from Strategic Global Suppliers.

● Management of the DXC contracts and the respective tool Zebra. Additional Experience

Supplier Analyst, Farmers Insurance Group, Los Angeles, CA Quality Assurance Intern, ConAgra Foods, Los Angeles Nutritionist, Care Group of Hospitals

Education & Professional Development

Master of Science, Cal State University, LA

Master of Science, Sri Venkateswara University, India Business and Writing Skills, UCLA

Certifications

LEAN CCWP SAFe Advanced Scrum Master PMP (In Progress)

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