About AppTheory
 
AppTheory is a 10 year old Software Developer and ISV dedicated to solutions built on SharePoint and DotNetNuke Platforms. We build, manage, and support custom applications that are deployed on AppTheory or client owned servers.

We are located in the Sun Trust Garden Offices in downtown Atlanta. Find some pics of our offices and people here:

http://www.apptheory.com/About/Photos.aspx

Project Manager / Client Advocate
 
The “Project Manager / Client Advocate” role is a highly technical role and is the conduit between the client and the cross functional development teams (dev, creative, etc) that will seek understand the client business needs and help refine these needs into functional requirements. This role will vet the requirements with the client and team to define and document the specifications and project scope and then manage the execution of that scope. 
 
A strong understanding of client service and project team dynamics is required. You must manage your client and the product you deliver (and thus the teams working for your client). You should have a strong personality and a thick skin and be ready to go to the mat when needed for your client. Experience managing clients and working with technology, programmers, and creatives is required.
 
You will be managing a small team (approx. 8-10 people) on the day to day on development projects with daily “standup” meetings including team members in the office and in other regions. You will use several collaborative tools to manage the projects and the project teams including SharePoint, web meetings, Skype, instant messaging, etc. and you will be responsible for on time / on budget delivery of all projects. You will need to understand the technological solution being built and ensure the team is on track throughout the project’s execution.
 
Salary is commensurate to experience and entrepreneurial spirit is rewarded.
 
Client Service Responsibilities:

o    Main Client Contact / Final Responsibility to client
o    Understand Client Business Requirements and help design solutions that meet these requirements and exceed the expectations
o    Status Reports to Clients and Team
o    Identify opportunities with clients to grow the business
o    Create and manage Scope / Proposal / Contract Documentation
o    Project Close Documentation and Surveys

Project Related Responsibilities:

o    Gather requirements from the client. Understand the client business challenges and clarify and discover new requirements.
o    Provide solutions to client problems and articulate those solutions as specifications
o    Communicate Information Architecture and UX to client and project teams.
o    Communicate Process Flows and Page Mockups / Wireframes to the client and project teams.
o    Work with cross functional teams to create, track and manage project schedules
o    Ensure project deadlines are met as the primary project stakeholder
o    Ensure quality is met / QA testing is occurring as the primary project stakeholder. Represent the final QA test role (ensure that client is getting what they want) and work with the team to grow our QA and testing procedures.
o    Work with internal clients to execute projects at the agency
o    Work with creative team to provide great products
o    Work with consultants / vendors when required
o    Be present (in potentially odd hours or weekends) for project pushes to production and the following triage and get buyoff from client validating success
o    Hold project team to a quality bar / level of service your client expects.

Other responsibilities:

o    Anything team, client and project related that helps us deliver better product more effectively.

Skills that are desirable :

o    Great project management skills are required.
o    Understanding of the DotNetNuke and SharePoint Portal Platforms
o    Be able to work with a development / creative team and ensure delivery of quality product to the client
o    Good communication skills
o    Good with clients (and managing client expectations)
o    Stickler for details / perfectionist tendencies.
o    Multi-tasker / great follow through.
o    Ability to get closure on projects / push them across the finish line.
 
Experience Preferred:

o    Experience managing development projects is required
o    Must have direct client management experience
o    Agile Project Management Skills (XP, Scrum or otherwise) is a plus
o    Experience dragging requirements out of clients
o    Experience building specifications
o    Experience creating sitemaps, wireframes and screen mockups
o    Experience creating Scope Documents / Proposals
o    Experience working as Client Advocate / working with the project team as internal “client”

Ideal Candidate:

o    A Project Manager with excellent technical and project management skills and a strong history of developing technical solutions for their clients and managing the delivery of those solutions.
o    A manager who intends to roll up their sleeves and participate in the project execution.
o    A mentor who will look out for the team (as much as the client) and help grow the team and the processes that contribute to the team’s success.
o    A manager who can bring a good balance of process and getting things done.
o    A professional who wants to grow with the company.
 
Non-Ideal Candidates:

o    Newly certified (PMI) project manager with little real world experience
o    PM who is coming from an enterprise role that isolates them in a traditional team project administrative role with no executional responsibilities.
o    PM who is more concerned with Process dogma and modifying the current processes before we can get real work done.
o    Account Manager who is only focused on client management responsibilities who has no technical knowledge or ability to manage a development team.
o    Clock Punchers.
 
Questions for applicants (complete responses required or we will not be contacting you for an interview):

Please send an email to Resumes2010@AppTheory.com with each question below listed with your responses inline. Please also attach your resume for review.
 
1.     What experience have you had with client service?
2.     What is your technical background?
3.     What is your experience with software development?
4.     What types of platforms have you developed projects on?
5.     What is your preferred software development methodology?
6.     What types of testing have you done or managed with a development team?
7.     What tools do you use to do your job and why?
8.     What is your experience with DotNetNuke?
9.     What is your experience with SharePoint?
10.  What is your experience with developing a project scope?
11.  What is your experience with deploying projects for clients?
12.  What experience do you have managing software developers?
13.  What experience do you have managing geographically dispersed teams?
14.  What are your short term and medium term professional goals?

Final Notes:

o    The job is in our office in downtown Atlanta. Physical presence is required.
o    We will not be relocating anyone to Atlanta nor hiring anyone that is not already living here.
o    We are not interested in calls from headhunters. If you have a good candidate, send him our contact info.