Technical Project Manager 4

FreeWheel, a Comcast company, provides comprehensive ad platforms for publishers, advertisers, and media buyers. Powered by premium video content, robust data, and advanced technology, we’re making it easier for buyers and sellers to transact across all screens, data types, and sales channels. As a global company, we have offices in nine countries and can insert advertisements around the world.

Job Summary

The Technical Project Manager 4 is a key member of the global Engineering operations team at FreeWheel reporting to the Executive Director of Engineering Ops. FreeWheel has 5 platforms and many sub teams within each. Employing a consistent approach to the planning and execution process across all platforms is critically important to ensure optimal quality and reliable communication (e.g., progress of work, release communications).

As a Technical Project Manager, you are assigned a platform and play a vital role as a trusted partner to advise and guide efficient planning and execution activities within that platform. This role will support Beeswax, Freewheel’s buying platform (Demand Side Platform). You will face “inward” as part of a centralized Engineering Ops TPM team in the shaping of standard operating practices, and then “outward” to your assigned platform to educate and drive the adoption of those practices. You provide consultative, practical, and hands-on services that support the product and engineering stakeholders, listening to their needs and proactively addressing them through a process of continuous improvement. There will also be roadmap projects that you help organize and drive the team to completion. You will interact with a mix of stakeholders across the product and engineering disciplines at all levels, including senior leaders. You will have a direct and meaningful impact on helping your assigned platform team efficiently and predictably deliver quality software.

Job Description

Primary Duties and Responsibilities    

The Platform TPM performs a wide range of duties including some or all the following:   

Platform Team Planning and Execution   

• Be a trusted partner within your assigned platform; enthusiastically dive in and get your hands dirty while at the same time encouraging (and sometimes enforcing) the teams to plan and execute their work efficiently and responsibly following standards, best practices, and established business rules.  
• Ensure that engineering activities (primarily in Jira) are accurately maintained in our systems of record, including status updates, linking to roadmap (in Aha), etc.  Here, too, there will be a combination of hands-on contribution to maintaining the integrity of our product and engineering tracking systems, alongside driving the teams to accurately maintain their work in these systems.  
• Coach teams on implementation of planning and execution ceremonies, building good habits that reinforce the standard operating procedures.   
• Lead some planning and execution ceremonies across and within dev teams, ensuring alignment and continuous improvement.  
• Understand the underlying team dynamics, help remove blockers and allow the team to operate smoothly.  
• Be able to coalesce the day-to-day, on-the-ground team behavior into a concise, clear story of how they are doing, where their challenges lie, and what strategies we should employ to improve.  

Shape & Reinforce Standards and Best Practices  

• Contribute to the shaping of standard operating practices as part of a centralized Engineering Ops TPM team. Bring the insights you have gathered from your assigned platform and make recommendations for improvements.   
• Educate, drive, and foster the adoption of the standard practices within your assigned platform.   
• Work together to foster a culture of teamwork and commitment to best practices.  The TPM is key in driving this behavior.  

Program & Project Management   

• Most projects will be roadmap deliverables with a predefined goal and scope. In these cases, develop a project plan that lays out an approach and timeline to reach the goal. Collaborate with key stakeholders to execute the plan and deliver success. Some projects will be loosely defined and require you to hone the scope, solution, and schedule.   
• Leverage internal tools for planning and execution (e.g., Smartsheet, Jira, Excel, Confluence, etc.) providing visibility and accountability for project team members.    
• Escalate risks and drive towards solutions that mitigate risks proactively.     
• Look for opportunities to create efficiencies and improve processes.    

Communication   

• Ensure visibility of your platform’s roadmap throughout the planning and execution lifec