Customer Support Project Manager

THOMAS WOELK

412-***-**** • *******@*****.*** • LinkedIn

An accomplished expert in delivering digital transformations by aligning business strategy with technology modernization.

SENIOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE LEADER

SIGNATURE STRENGTHS

Servant leader approach to designing, developing, and implementing innovative technology solutions.

Accomplished in leading global infrastructure integration projects.

Skilled communicator with the ability to dissect complex data and situations into actionable information.

Technology leaders focused on growth and process improvement to enhance global enterprise operations.

Change catalyst in aligning teams, goals, and objectives to drive technology transformations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Agile Solution Implementation

Enterprise Architecture

IT Infrastructure & Operations

Strategic Planning

Leading People & Change

Process Improvements

Finance & Budget Analysis

Project Management

Digital Transformation

Stakeholder Alignment

Cloud Integration

Mergers & Acquisitions

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Bright Pattern • 2022 to Present

Senior Director of Operations • 2022

Responsibilities include managing the business and IT operations of the organization. Lead a team of infrastructure experts and drive strategy and performance for global IT infrastructure and services.

Lead and drive strategic product initiatives and oversee 24/7 operations globally.

Manage internal and external partnerships with business leaders to deliver solutions for customers.

Ensure compliance with security and standards throughout the infrastructure.

Bayer US LLC • 2006 to 2022

Head of Digital Innovation & Partnerships Customer Engagement • 2020 to 2022

Appointed to serve as a cross-functional process improvement leader, identifying opportunities throughout the enterprise and building solutions that enhance operations, modernization, customer engagement, and financial results. In addition, design, develop and implement state-of-the-art digital innovations that optimize the business strategy and sustainability of operations.

Served as the project leader for digital innovation projects, utilizing in-house technology and external resources to solve complex, challenging business problems, enabling scalability and opportunity development.

Led internal teams and external, third-party stakeholders, aligning objectives and project milestones to ensure project completion on time and within budget. Drive compliance with functional requirements for solution discovery, championing resounding improvements to the technology strategy for the global enterprise.

Aligned technology and societal factors with business strategy, including identifying a resource to reduce the cost of water for the seed production team while simultaneously resolving a sustainability challenge for a business project in India.

Head of Application Platform Solutions • 2006 to 2020

Championed the strategy, planning, design, implementation, and operational management of all business functions within the IT infrastructure, including cloud architecture (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure). Mentored, led, and supported 25 direct reports, creating a continuous learning environment dedicated to professional growth and development, and building the organization's future leaders. Served as a project manager for many competing initiatives regarding strategy, operations, and planning; leading projects from design through the implementation of system modernization and enhancements, delivering architectural governance and designing technical roadmaps for global operation. Managed a $20MM budget, implementing cost containment strategies and optimizing the utilization of available resources. Additionally, provided strategic oversight for research, product supply, manufacturing, and marketing systems.

Collaborated with cross-functional business and technology stakeholders to align needs and requirements, and translated business opportunities to technology solutions in partnership with solution architecture and development teams.

Focused on developing lean, efficient systems within the department, resulting in over $1.7MM in cost savings by eliminating unused systems, oversized systems, and right-sizing current solutions.

Designed and launched a new global harmonized business model, yielding cost savings of $1MM+. Created new processes, implemented value flows, and established KPIs for improved performance. Additionally, I deployed a change management approach to align and onboard all functions within the organization on the new business model.

Transitioned Digital Infrastructure from Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Canada, and Mexico to the US, enhancing business continuity and increasing service availability by 10%+, yielding 99.99% availability.

Project Manager for 3 global IT Infrastructure integrations with Monsanto, Merck, and Berlex. Drove cost savings of 30% for each project. Additionally, managed the cross-functional carve-out project teams for company divestitures.

Slashed operations cost by 30% by outsourcing infrastructure to managed service providers and outsourcing and application development to the offshore Shared Service Center in India, increasing profitability and operating margins.

Drove enhanced speed, cadence, quality, and compliance by implementing SOPs, governance, and operational systems. This yielded project implementation improvements from 8 weeks to 2 weeks. In addition, established controls for GxP, SOX, business continuity, and disaster recovery efforts.

Analyzed industry trends and marketplace data to identify cutting-edge technologies, evidence-based practices, and new methodologies to solve business issues and enable solution development for rapidly evolving global needs.

Led Agile Scrum teams, creating efficiency and improved speed of delivery within platform solutions.

Managed projects and oversaw the application platform lifecycle, utilizing effective communication to influence and recommend upgrades and transformations to senior leadership teams.

EARLY CAREER

Bayer • Senior Manager Networks Senior IT Site Manager

AFFILIATIONS

Bayer • Mentor Bayer Talent Mentoring program for North America

Cologne Chamber of Commerce in Germany • Member Board of Examiners

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration (MBA) • Verwaltungsund Wirtschaftsakademie, Koeln, Germany

Master of Science (MS), Computer Science • Industrie und Handelskammer Koeln, Germany

Executive Development Program, Transition to General Management • Columbia Business School, New York, NY

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