Program Manager - DevOps and Infrastructure Projects

Ness is seeking a highly skilled Program Manager with expertise in managing DevOps and Infrastructure domain projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and delivery of projects related to cloud infrastructure, DevOps automation, and system reliability. This role requires strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills to effectively manage project scope, timelines, budgets, and dependencies while ensuring alignment with business objectives. Responsibilities:

• Project Planning and Execution:
• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of DevOps and Infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and timelines in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, resource allocation, and budget estimates.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and proactively address issues to ensure successful project delivery.
• Stakeholder Management:
• Act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, providing regular updates on project status, milestones, and dependencies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Operations, and Product Management, to drive alignment and resolve conflicts.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and ensure clear communication channels throughout the project lifecycle.
• Jira Backlog Management:
• Manage and prioritize the Jira backlog, ensuring that tasks are accurately captured, prioritized, and tracked.
• Work closely with development teams to groom user stories, refine acceptance criteria, and estimate effort for backlog items.
• Monitor progress against the backlog, identify bottlenecks, and facilitate resolution of blockers to maintain project momentum.
• Dependency Management:
• Identify and track dependencies between projects, teams, and external vendors.
• Develop mitigation strategies for critical dependencies and ensure timely resolution of issues to prevent project delays.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to manage inter-project dependencies and facilitate cross-functional collaboration.
• Budget and Resource Management:
• Define project budgets, track expenditures, and ensure adherence to financial guidelines.
• Optimize resource allocation to maximize efficiency and productivity across projects.
• Work with finance and procurement teams to manage vendor contracts, invoices, and procurement processes.
• Performance Tracking and Reporting:
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure project success and performance.
• Generate regular status reports, dashboards, and presentations for executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Conduct post-project reviews and lessons learned sessions to identify areas for improvement and best practices.

 Key Skills:Must have : 

• Proven experience managing DevOps/Automation and Infrastructure projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies, DevOps practices, and cloud infrastructure technologies.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Microsoft Project.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to influence and motivate cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
• Experience managing project budgets, resource allocation, and vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work environment.

Good to Have

• Certification in AWS (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, AWS Certified DevOps Engineer) or VMware (e.g., VMware Certified Professional).
• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker/Podman and Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of hybrid cloud architectures and multi-cloud environments.
• Familiarity with database replication technologies (e.g., MySQL replication, PostgreSQL streaming replication).