Ben Smit Email & Phone Number

Cape Town, Wc, Za

Lead a diverse high-performance Project Management team to successfully develop and industrialise defence products through all product lifecycle phases, from concept to production readiness.Define product development projects to achieve business goals and support Project Managers to effectively execute all Project Management processes (Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring, Controlling and Closing, per international standards).Manage completion of Design - and/or Process Qualification of products for all portfolios (incl. Artillery, Mortars, Aircraft Bombs, Grenades, Propellants, Rocket Motors, and Warheads).Developed and implemented a quantitative project prioritisation model to ensure finite resources are allocated to highest priority projects.Managed a streamlined implementation of an Enterprise Project Management software system.Developed Project Management templates (Cost Estimation, Cost Management, Financial Reporting, Project Charters, Project Execution Plans and Project Close-out Reports).Developed informative dashboards and stakeholder reports.

Developed product roadmaps that satisfied customer requirements and aligned with company strategic objectives.Defined and tailored projects per product lifecycle phases (from conceptualisation, full-scale development, industrialisation to production) to achieve programme objectives.Led Project Managers to manage all aspects of projects from initiation and planning through execution to closing (scope definition, costing, scheduling, and risk- assessment and management)Compiled commercial and technical proposals and negotiated technical- and price options with customers.Managed contracts for local and export delivery (incl. contract effectiveness, incoterms, forward cover, client-furnished items, performance guarantees, export authorisation, deliverable acceptance, freight and after-sales support).Contributed to establishing and implementing a stage-gated process for the introduction of new products.

Compiled commercial and technical proposals for developing and manufacturing rocket motors that satisfied user specifications and budgetary constraints.Managed contracts (including export) and projects (scope, cost, schedule and risk) from initiation to completion.

Established technologies to characterise and mitigate the vulnerability of rocket propulsion and warhead missile subsystems when subjected to unplanned external stimuli (Insensitive Munitions), including test facilities, design- and process methodologies. Authored and presented technical papers at international symposia.

Certificate, Project And Programme Management

Bachelor'S Degree, Mechanical Engineering