Project identification, launch and management.

Working for AppTechnology on assignment to Tata Steel. Helping to optimise the IT Landscape across Tata Steel UK as it moves towards a hybrid on-site & cloud solution. Tasks include CMDB optimisation, cloud migration, landscape design dynamic discovery and service modelling toolset selection.

Project Manager in the Change Function

Managed a large team of Project Managers both in-house and from partners such as TCS, IBM, Vodafone and Capgemini covering a multi-million pound IT infrastructure improvement programme. Accountable for the delivery to time, budget and quality of multiple projects and feasibility studies covering diverse infrastructure areas such as: • The setup of a Cloud Computing Centre based on Azure with Microsoft and Capgemini consultants.• A full Security and Operations Centre implementation partnering TCS.• Multiple network upgrades/enhancements using an IBM/Vodafone managed service.• Multiple SAP upgrades /improvements across the systems landscape using an offshore team via TCS.• Datawarehouse landscape improvements partnering Information Builders and TCS.Experience of using Clarity programme/project management tool as well as interactions with a Project Management Office to create management reporting up to Board level.Significant experience of Prince2 Waterfall project methodology and a growing experience of Scaled Agile Framework delivery techniques.As a secondary accountability I worked with Senior Business leaders and in-house Business Relationship Managers to define their 5 year rolling and annual plans, translate their roadmaps in to project specifications and assist the business in realizing the value of their IT investments.

Manager of the rollout of circa. 14,000 Windows 8 PC Workstations to various Tata Steel UK Business Units. Project involved:• Worked with IBM and various workplace/logistics partners to perfect a PC Workplace fit-for-purpose in all 64 Tata Steel UK locations.• Developed and implemented a process model for deployments across 18 major (>100 user) locations and up to 46 smaller locations.• Managed the contractor/business interface to ensure a smooth deployment and a balance between Tata Steel requirement (technical and process) and vendor/contract requirements.• Managed the actual deployment at a high level, managing a team of site/area specialists, managing complex safety requirements per site and ensuring a smooth deployment with maximum deployment rate - adherence to plan - and minimal fault rate. Delivered a cornerstone transformation project to ensure the commercial, technical and operational objectives were met.

Led the Tata Steel UK Data Centre team engaged with IBM, TCS and Capgemini regarding the 2015/16 outsourcing deal. In 2014/15 this was the largest active outsourcing deal in Europe fixing a 5-year €500 million deal for Data Centre, Network, AS&D and SIAM.Award: Awarded an IBM Benelux Excellence Award for my contribution to a successful Outsourcing deal between Tata Steel and IBM for Data Centre and Workplace Services.Role included:• Construction of all contract documentation relating to Server Platform, Storage, Network, Middleware and Packaged Solutions.• Ensure all Contract Schedules and Appendices describe and align with Tata Steel's requirement.• Negotiate areas of contention with IBM to obtain compromise solution.• Ensure all exhibits cross references with statements of work from other areas i.e. Workplace, Service Desk and SIAM, Application Support and Application Development.This project concluded with the successful outsourcing deal between Tata Steel and IBM for Data Centre and Workplace Services across Tata Steel Europe.

Award: Awarded a Tata Steel Excellence Award for the delivery of £650,000 data centre restructuring in the UK. A dual responsibility split between shaping, transforming and driving Data Centre strategy on a 5-year planning horizon and the delivery of the IT infrastructure strategy through Programme Management for Tata Steel Europe.The Tata Steel team achieved ISO9001 accreditation with my team specifically responsible for demand planning and request process.Managed a team of 10 including 3 Technical Architects with responsibility for:Physical Data Centre (DCIM), Platforms (Virtualisation & VMWare, Windows, AIX, IBM Mainframe, HP Non-Stop, Alpha/Open VMS), Storage (IBM, EMC, NetApp), Backup and Restore (Tivoli), Utility and Tooling, Middleware (MQ, Enterprise Service Bus).Using OGSM to map IT deliverables against cascaded business objectives, KPI’s to track delivery and benefit. Managing a group of 7 Project Managers who delivered:Key IT Infrastructure Improvements, Business Support (Infra. Support on Business Projects), Enhancements and Life Cycle Management projects.Major Projects Achieved:• Data Centre and Server Room consolidation across the UK and Netherlands.• Establish a distributed VMWare platform to enable local hosting/central management using VMware, Dell and EMC products.• Negotiation of new 5-year HP Non-Stop Support and Maintenance Contract. (Through RFC process).• Creation of new network backbone in Port Talbot, based on the Cisco 3-layer model. Port Talbot is the largest Steelworks in the UK.• Infrastructure support of major Warehouse restructuring across the UK, enabling SAP integration, handheld terminal and Wi Fi technology.• Consolidation of multiple Information Builders Webfocus Data Warehouse processing platforms to merge multiple data marts to a single Data Warehouse.• Removal of Legacy SNA environment across the UK/Netherlands.

Defined and managed IT infrastructure annual plan plus 5 year rolling strategy. Monitored annual plan against actuals to assure adherence and budget control.Defined strategy and sponsored solution delivery and be the Business Unit advocate when making IT infrastructure decisions.Interfaced between Tata Steel Strip UK and downstream UK businesses when managing demand pipeline to IT Supply/Vendor Organisation.Ensured service delivery against targets and achievement of KPI.Managed infrastructure delivery from vendor teams where vendor was typically Capgemini, TCS and Vodafone.Managed all vendor controls including Health and Safety arrangements to meet the needs of Tata Steel Strip UK and downstream businesses. This includes management of accreditation, induction, risk assessment and safety incident reporting/management.

Vendor Management and Business Support roles for Tata Steel Strip UK and Tata Steel Building Systems. Primarily Capgemini Infrastructure Team vendor management acting as the business advocate within the Contractor Management framework. i.e. Service reviews, KPI monitoring, management of improvement plans, benchmarking and recognition of good service.A secondary role in demand planning, technology evaluation, project sponsorship and business/vendor interface for joint projects.

Systems Programmer responsible for design, installation and maintenance of multiple computing platform from Enterprise IBM Z/OS (System 390) down through IBM AIX Midrange and Window/Intel Client Server computing. An excellent grounding in the discipline of systems programming, technical support, service provision and performance monitoring leading to a role managing a 15-person systems programming/technical support team.