Project Manager

JOSEPH GRAFF

Clever, MO 870-***-**** ***********.*@*****.*** linkedin.com/in/joseph-graff5

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Results-driven Project Manager and Military Veteran with over 10 years of experience leading complex, high-stakes projects from concept to completion. Recognized for delivering 95% of projects ahead of schedule and under budget, with a proven ability to define project scope and align stakeholder interests with organizational objectives. Proficient in Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and Waterfall methodologies, with advanced SAFe certifications, including Scrum Master, Product Owner/Product Manager, and Release Train Engineer. Holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on Project Management. Adept at leveraging strategic insights and innovative solutions to drive exceptional project performance and organizational success.

• Agile Methodologies

• Project Lifecycle Management

• Data-Driven Decision Making

• Vendor Management

• Resource Optimization

• Stakeholder Relations

• Budget Management

• Quality Control

• Budget Analysis & Value

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Southern New Hampshire University Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Scrum Alliance

Certified SAFe Scrum Master, Product Owner/Product Manager, and Release Train Engineer SAFe Agile AINS 101 Certificate The Institutes Knowledge Group Professional Management Course United States Air Force PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RT Specialty Remote Nov 2024 – Aug 2025

Project Manager

Led enterprise-level IT and operational projects, including a $6.5M strategic initiative, ensuring seamless delivery across cloud- enabled systems, SaaS applications, and process enhancements.

• Directed cross-departmental initiatives ranging from system enhancements to operational process rollouts, consistently delivering projects on schedule and within scope.

• Served as a primary liaison between business units and technical teams, translating strategic objectives into actionable plans that improved operational efficiency and user adoption.

• Introduced lightweight Agile practices in traditionally waterfall environments, accelerating project momentum and improving collaboration across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Revamped project tracking and documentation standards, leading to cleaner audits, improved handoffs, and fewer downstream support issues.

• Delivered executive-level dashboards and reporting as part of project governance routines, connecting performance to business outcomes, and improving leadership visibility and strategic decisions. Next Level Solution, Inc Springfield, MO Mar 2023 – Nov 2024 Project Manager II

Managed 7 concurrent projects with individual budgets up to $800K, utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) to monitor and control costs, resulting in a 15% improvement in cost performance and maintaining budget compliance.

• Led SAFe Agile initiatives across 7 Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) projects, orchestrating over 150 Agile ceremonies, achieving a 90% risk mitigation success rate, and producing detailed reports that drove a 20% improvement in project delivery times.

• Led and mentored Agile teams of 4-30 members, employing Agile frameworks to oversee project planning and execution, which enhanced team productivity by 25% and reduced project cycle times by 20%.

• Streamlined project management processes by implementing AI tools, Gantt charts, and Work Breakdown Structures

(WBS), ensuring 100% adherence to project schedules and budgets, and achieving all major project milestones on time.

• Conducted Agile scrum ceremonies and stakeholder sessions, driving proactive problem-solving and backlog refinement, resulting in a 30% increase in team velocity and ensuring timely delivery of 95% of projects.

• Produced and presented detailed performance reports and dashboards to stakeholders and executive leadership, utilizing key performance indicators (KPIs) to provide actionable insights and improve stakeholder satisfaction by 10%. JOSEPH GRAFF Page 2 of 2

Project Manager II Cont.

• Co-created and implemented a company-wide Project Management Playbook, standardizing best practices, templates, integrating AI, and delivery processes across teams—improving onboarding, reducing execution gaps, and enhancing project consistency and audit readiness.

Ariento, Inc San Clemente, CA Sept 2022 – Mar 2023 Project Manager Intern

Developed comprehensive software development project plans, detailing resource allocation, task definitions, and backlog prioritization, which ensured that all deliverables met specified scope and budget constraints.

• Engineered the application of Agile and Kanban methodologies to optimize SaaS project workflows, achieving a 25% reduction in project cycle time by implementing iterative development and continuous integration practices.

• Facilitated cross-functional team alignment by conducting bi-weekly sprint planning meetings with engineers, developers, QA, and IT support, addressing impediments, and improving collaboration and project throughput.

• Created and deployed an automation framework and managed project tracking through Jira, configuring Agile boards and Kanban workflows for SaaS projects, resulting in a 30% enhancement in project tracking accuracy and process visibility.

• Generated detailed status reports and communicated progress and issues to stakeholders, using project dashboards and performance metrics to ensure SaaS deliverables were achieved on schedule and within budget.

• Supported phase reviews and project closeout tasks, including updating documentation, capturing lessons learned, and assisting in the transition of project ownership to the program manager, contributing to the effective deployment and support of SaaS solutions.

• Directed the development of a web-based Learning Management System (LMS), integrating resource access and training modules, which facilitated a new revenue stream and improved stakeholder engagement by 40%. United States Air Force Various Locations Mar 2014 – Mar 2023 Maintenance Program Manager

Directed a team of 52 personnel across 3 geographically dispersed field offices, optimizing operational workflows and ensuring adherence to performance metrics for the largest section in the squadron.

• Oversaw maintenance operations for assets exceeding $6B, employing Waterfall and Agile methodologies to achieve a 96% on-time delivery rate for aircraft, with a focus on integration and iterative progress tracking.

• Developed and maintained detailed Project Management Plans, including scope statements, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Gantt charts, and resource leveling to manage project schedules, budgets, and stakeholder expectations.

• Planned and directed preventive and corrective maintenance programs for airfield facilities and equipment, integrating engineering solutions to improve reliability, ensure safety compliance, and mitigate mission risks.

• Directed the Maintenance IT Program, managing system updates, patch deployments, and hardware upgrades for 60 devices, ensuring adherence to ITIL frameworks and achieving a 99% system uptime.

• Developed and implemented employee transition plans and organizational design strategies, aligning talent acquisition and HR processes to ensure seamless integration of systems and promote employee engagement during organizational changes.

• Administered the Air Force Learning Management System (LMS), designing and implementing training modules and performance tracking systems to enhance training delivery and resource management efficiency.

• Supervised and coordinated facility and equipment inspections, managing sequential maintenance phases in compliance with regulatory standards and ensuring complete process validation and documentation. KEY SKILLS & TOOLS

Skills: Requirements Analysis, Business Analysis, User Stories, Problem Solving, Customer Experience, Communication, Analytical Skills, Scrum, Agile Methodologies, Business Process Improvement, Stakeholder Management, Executive Team Alignment, Project Management, Google Analytics, Capital Planning, Resource Allocation, Vendor Management, Project Timelines, Project Budgets, Requirements Gathering, Creating Project Documentation and Project Artifacts Tools: Google Suite, SharePoint, MS Office, Excel, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Project, Power BI, Microsoft Co-Pilot, ChatGPT, AI-driven PM tools, SmartSheets, Clarity, Trello, Asana, Azure DevOps (ADO), HubSpot, Planview, Workday, Survey Tools (Survey Monkey, Type form, etc), Jira, Slack, Agile, Waterfall

Contact this candidate