Vendor Project Manager

Role Summary

The Vendor Project Manager provides leadership to Welocalize employees (for example localization QA testers/reviewers) working onsite on client premises to ensure that projects are executed successfully and in a timely manner.

The VPM serves as a liaison between Welocalize and the client to most effectively meet the client’s needs and goals, and to report any updates or issues/concerns that arise onsite to the account management, recruiting and HR teams, as relevant.

Responsibilities

• Work with the client, other project managers/producers and onsite teams to coordinate testing efforts, schedule resources for projects in multiple labs/locations, and keep testing schedules on track
• Meet with the client to discuss and clarify briefs, policies, requests, deadlines, resource planning and allocation
• Establish and maintain reliable internal tracking process to oversee attendance, schedules and performance as well as monitor the workload of testers/reviewers in different language groups
• Receive new candidates from recruiters and make decisions to invite them for tryout or present them to the client
• Guide tester/reviewer candidates through tryouts, serving as the primary contact and escort for testers while onsite at client facility
• Manage the onsite components of on-boarding new testers/reviewers (for example, getting accounts/credentials set up, reviewing I9s, welcoming employees to the team)
• Provide technical and general linguistic training, coaching and guidance to improve the speed and quality of testers’/reviewers’ work and address any performance concerns
• Compile and maintain training materials and operating guidelines
• Respond to testers’/reviewers’ scheduling requests and other needs or issues
• Gather information and feedback from testers/reviewers about performance, workload management, and any work-related issues
• Actively seek feedback from the client about the team's performance, identifying challenges and inefficiencies in workflow and systems and discussing areas of improvement
• Schedule team meetings as needed
• Promote team-building activities during and after work hours
• Report to Welocalize management about onsite activities, team performance, client feedback, requests and policy changes, short- and long-term planning
• Report to Welocalize recruiters about immediate and anticipated language needs, upcoming projects, and the status of submitted candidates or testers/reviewers in training
• Make sure the onsite team knows who their management is, and whom to contact about what
• Have an understanding of joint employment (co-employment) and how to mitigate risks
• Report to Welocalize HR about any issues or concerns that arise onsite, referring employees who have HR questions to the right person
• Assist project managers and producers on various tasks
• Ensure the safety and well-being of Welocalize employees on client premises (for example during emergency situations)

Additional Job Details

• Natural leader who easily gains respect from and motivates team members
• Ability to connect easily with colleagues and managers (both Welocalize and client) in a very diverse setting
• Ability to communicate effectively with client company managers, linguists, onsite and offsite project managers, and testers across all vendors and language groups
• People management experience
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• High level of integrity and ability to handle information with discretion, discerning when confidentiality is important
• Genuine team player who puts team first
• High level of responsibility, ownership and accountability
• Conflict management and mediation skills
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and when facing conflicting demands from various stakeholders
• Ability to address groups of 10-100
• Ability to think strategically
• Extreme attention to detail and great organizational skills for managing multiple tasks and project deadlines
• Keen sense of judgment when prioritizing tasks and managing delivery of communications
• Ability to troubleshoot and come up with solutions on the spot in a fast-paced, demanding environment
• Experience providing trainings to people individually and in groups, in technical and other skills
• Ability to present complex tasks in a simple and clear manner
• 2+ years experience in the QA, localization or globalization industry
• Bilingual
• In-depth knowledge of OS X, iOS, iWork, iCloud, iTunes, Windows, MS Office
• Bachelor's degree in language, linguistics, HR, management, or related field, or equivalent work experience