Position: Technology Research & Development Senior Project Specialist
Reports to: Project Management Office
Location: The Sheridan Group Technology Lab, at The Sheridan Group headquarters, Hunt Valley, Maryland
Job Purpose & Summary:
Research and develop new electronic publishing technology products. These products are externally-facing customer systems that will enhance our ability to attract new print prospects and retain existing print customers, and some will be products that themselves generate new income and profits.
Scope: All Sheridan Group business segments and locations.
Major Responsibilities:
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R&D Analysis and Development
• Research new technologies that can have a positive impact on TSG’s business – either to attract and retain new print work, or build new business directly from the technology product or service.
• Serve on project teams to develop and implement new technology products or services.
• Lead and manage portions of technology projects at the Technology Lab.
• Work closely with project members from the Technology Lab, TSG companies, suppliers, and partners.
• Provide technical support and feedback to project team members.
• Use proven TSG project management tools and best practices to define and manage business needs, objectives, scope, deliverables, requirements, success criteria, costs, constraints, timeline, project organization and resource requirements, and status reporting.
• Proactively communicate progress to appropriate leadership team members.
• Software - Select off-the-shelf systems to meet business needs when appropriate packages are available. Develop custom applications, when packaged software is not available. Development may be performed by internal or external resources.
• Develop systems based on standards set by TSG IT, where appropriate.
• Provide necessary training to company teams and users. Transition long-term product support and maintenance to company teams.
• Assess customer satisfaction with, and business benefits provided by, implemented systems and services. -
Knowledge sharing – Share knowledge of new technologies, techniques, and best practices with other project teams, and across Group companies. Assist peers at other TSG companies, where sharing and reapplying software technology is appropriate.
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Offer direction and perspective – Evaluate justifications for major and cross-company technology projects, review assumptions, and ensure projects move the company along a proper technology path. Once a decision is made, fully support the leadership team in implementing and using selected software, equipment, and procedures.
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Technical Liaison – Act as a technical liaison between the Technology Lab and our development partners, TSG operating companies, and customers.
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ECS Commerce Platform Product Management – Coordination / prioritization of unique Book, Journal, Catalog, and Magazine needs.
• Meet directly with Technology Directors from each market
• Listen to market needs, synthesize and set development feasibility and expectations
• Coordinate development efforts -
Coordinate efforts – Develop or reapply best practices at the Group and at other TSG companies. Use these practices as a foundation for continued encouragement and success at all locations.
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Working Processes
• Present proposals and recommendations that are supported by facts, logic, and sound judgment.
• Act with integrity. Demonstrate sound business and professional ethics.
• Show consistency of principles, values, and behaviors.
• Build trust with others. -
Travel – Occasional domestic or international travel to customer or supplier sites will be required.
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Perform any other tasks as required by management.
Knowledge and Skills
• Exceptional, proven technical and system development skills. Experience with development environments, such as Drupal, Microsoft .Net, PHP, Ruby, SQL databases, mobile applications (iPhone/iPad, Android), Crystal Reports, Microsoft Office, others.
• Experience with software development life cycle models like Waterfall and Agile/SCRUM.
• Expertise in Drupal implementation, maintenance and technical configuration
(Drupal 6 and 7 experience required).
• Experience developing on both Unix/Linux or Wintel platforms.
• Strong skills in web design and user-experience consulting.
• Strong technical analysis skills in system design and requirements specifications.
• Strong skills in technical architecture planning for web-based applications.
• Experience with business analysis and workflow optimization.
• Experience in evaluation and selection of technical products and services.
• Experience in managing technology projects is a plus. Competent and comfortable with project management tools like Gantt charts, timelines, budget tracking, and performance metric charts.
• Strong creativity & innovation skills to take a broad view, look for meaningful connections, translate new ideas into workable solutions, and encourage others to do the same.
• Initiative and follow-through to get going on important priorities, overcome obstacles, take appropriate risks, and keep moving toward goals. Ability to handle multiple priorities well.
• Strong technical, interpersonal and influencing skills to successfully perform the planning, reporting, and administrative responsibilities of this position.
• Strong ability to work and thrive in a collaborative team format
• Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university in information technology, publishing, graphic arts, printing, or related information systems or engineering fields.
• Two or more years of experience in relevant business fields.
• Strong knowledge of the direction of publishing, print production, prepress, or information technologies.
• Local candidates preferred.
An annual performance evaluation will be conducted by reporting authority.
Resumes may be submitted to: dale.tepp@sheridan.com