Jason K Embry
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Graham, NC, United States
Toptal member since May 19, 2021
Jason is a seasoned professional with proven experience in multiple industries, including manufacturing, retail, distribution, supply chain, and others. He has demonstrated abilities in program management, project management, consulting, client engagement, and data analytics.
Project Highlights
Expertise
Work Experience
{Toptal Projects] Agile Project Manager
Surgiyo
- Managed the client relationship, including but not limited to weekly report-outs, requirements gathering, solution design, client communications, status reporting, estimations, and release planning.
- Acted as the product owner and scrum master for a team consisting of 3rd- party designers, developers, a solution architect, and a QA associate.
- Was responsible for the build and delivery of an iOS mobile app, Google Firebase back end, and web app for video uploads.
- Delivered a full-featured beta application with features including custom calendar logic, messaging, notifications, custom video editing, and more.
- Managed the UX design of the application with a 3rd-party design group and designed custom features within Figma post-completion of the design.
Product Manager
Zeconomy
- Built and managed the product roadmap for the transition from an older technology platform to an AWS-hosted web application to achieve feature parity and add new features.
- Managed a team of employees, including a designer, the development staff, and a QA associate directly.
- Utilized the agile framework when transitioning functional business requirements to the development team.
- Collaborated closely with the executive team, engineering, marketing, operations, and customers to ensure the business strategy was met.
Technical Project Manager
XTO Energy
- Managed the client relationship, including weekly report-outs, requirements gathering, solution design, client communications, status reporting, estimations, and release planning.
- Acted as the product owner and scrum master for a team consisting of a designer, developers, solution architect, and a QA associate.
- Built and delivered a mobile app, Microsoft Azure back end, administrative portal, and a cross-browser web application.
Product Manager
Codehost, Inc.
- Performed marketing research for three different technical consumer products with respect to market segmentation, current competitors, and barriers to entry to determine company direction.
- Performed all product owner responsibilities, including gathering business requirements, transitioning to the requirements to actionable user stories, refining the backlog, transitioning to technical teams, and evaluating delivery.
- Hired staff to facilitate the mobile and desktop platform design, develop the MVP of the product, facilitate focus group sessions, and provide QA coverage.
CS Program and Process Manager
Gilbarco Veeder-Root
- Provided program management for the customer service department with regard to Microsoft AX ERP implementation, NPI, and new projects.
- Oversaw all aspects of customer experience regarding the ordering platform for the current state and future design.
- Managed technical project analysts supporting departmental data analytics, global and senior leadership metrics, root cause problem-solving, and systems requirement and development activities.
- Redefined the process flow for customers and distributors for the order fulfillment process. Facilitated all company areas, including marketing, engineering, finance, procurement, and operations.
- Hired, trained, and positioned the department's ERP and project support staff.
NA Program Manager
Gilbarco Veeder-Root
- Developed solutions and managed programs in the POS arena, including mobile payment, loyalty, digital scanning, barcode integration, network integration, payment processing integration, media at the pump, and remote management through web services.
- Oversaw all areas of program management leadership for large-scale solutions, including the design, RFP, requirements, contract development, estimating, engineering, system integration, installation of field trials, and final deployment to end customers.
- Directly interfaced between the customer, participating vendors, executive management, marketing, software and hardware engineering, quality assurance, security, legal, operations, service, and support.
- Fulfilled the roles of a product manager, product owner, and scrum master as required to support three overseas development and SQA teams.
- Managed the largest customer lead opportunity (CLO) within the POS development group, equating to $6 million yearly revenue for a Fortune 10 customer.
- Led the program from customer escalation, single team, and lack of program management to customer satisfaction, three fully staffed development teams, and multiple simultaneous programs with high visibility to internal and external stakeholders.
Supply Chain Network Solutions Design Manager
New Breed, Inc. (XPO Logistics)
- Developed and implemented strategies to position and differentiate New Breed from industry competitors optimally.
- Participated in client-facing teams to obtain and analyze complex supply chain data to understand client needs. Identified and defined solution opportunities to improve productivity, quality, performance, and profitability.
- Performed project management from solutions design and development to implementation.
- Performed supply chain analysis utilizing JDA Supply Chain Strategist to help prospective clients determine where to place facilities, processes, and inventory and evaluate existing operations and alternatives.
Transportation Operations Manager
New Breed, Inc. (XPO Logistics)
- Developed all aspects of transportation for the largest inbound transportation project at a top 50 3rd-party logistics company. The client is a global diversion company with a projected freight spend of more than $30 million per year.
- Managed the inbound transportation operation team utilizing multiple transportation modes and a diverse product mix.
- Transformed the manual transportation process across a broad carrier base to a network-optimized solution with a rationalized national carrier base.
- Oversaw the direct supplier, carrier, forwarder, distribution center, and plant compliance, training, and communication.
- Hired, trained, and developed personnel within the operations group for the continuous support of the client.
Transportation Implementation Project Manager
New Breed, Inc. (XPO Logistics)
- Served as the project lead for the design and implementation of i2’s transportation manager and transportation planner.
- Communicated with internal and external customers to gather project requirements to lead implementation efforts.
- Developed a transportation solution exceeding customer expectations while maintaining the integrity of existing client designs.
- Modeled scenarios for client enhancements and cost-saving initiatives.
- Designed and supported transportation planning processes for various clients' day-to-day operations.
- Managed bi-yearly continuous improvement initiative affecting system design and operational processes.
- Directly interfaced with the client and led all project initiatives.
- Supported other client projects, including software upgrades, reporting requirements, and overall program support.
Project History
POS Remote Management
Delivered an industry-leading remote management web portal to control POS applications from the corporate client office.
Developed product requirements through marketing channels and the voice of the customer (VoC) and captured complaints in the field. Built feature documentation and the product roadmap.
Served as a product owner for the new product introduction facilitating feature priorities, story writing, and communications.
Managed software release schedule, bug tracking and resolution, customer configuration, and user management.
Facilitated and hosted alpha field trials and beta field trials for the customers.
ERP Program Management
Led the migration from legacy systems to Microsoft Dynamics AX implementation with customized web portal and CPQ integration.
As a program manager, I also hired, trained, and managed ERP support staff, including managers of projects and technical support, business analysts, and QA resources, organizing, reviewing, and approving all functional and technical design and change requests for ERP and support systems. Furthermore, I handled UX/UI across the ordering platform and subsequent interaction, including notifications, packaging labels, and shipping documentation.
My duty was facilitating, managing, and participating in testing new systems and processes through production release. Testing included technical development as well as UAT. I provided and presented status reporting to the executive team, PMO group, customers, and internal groups affected by the implementation. I also provided training to external customers.
Mobile and POS Program Management (Exxon)
Managed SDLC projects from requirements to delivery for the companies' largest client—Exxon Mobil—in both the United States and Canada.
I handled all aspects of the project, including client relationships, requirements gathering, scope definition, budgeting, story creation/prioritization (agile), development status to client and executive team, release management, lab certifications, market roll-out, issue resolution, and sustainability.
Education
Master's Degree in Business Administration
University of Louisville - Kentucky, United States
Master of Engineering Degree in Industrial Engineering
University of Louisville - Kentucky, United States
Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering
University of Louisville - Kentucky, United States
Certifications
Certified Scrum Product Owner
Scrum Alliance
Certified Supply Chain Professional
APICS
Skills
Tools
Jira, Slack, Microsoft Dynamics AX
Paradigms
Scrum, Requirements Analysis, Agile, B2C, Agile Product Management, DevOps, Agile Project Management, Mobile App Design
Industry Expertise
Construction
Platforms
Blockchain
Other
Product Owner, Customer Engagement, Executive Reporting, Business Requirements, Hiring, Product Demonstrations, Requirements, Product Comparison, Product Management, Beta Programs, Project Management, Program Management, Microsoft Excel, Project Planning, Client Management, Microsoft Office, Feature Backlog Prioritization, Feature Roadmaps, Product Ownership, User Stories, Backlog Grooming, Web & Mobile Applications, Feature Prioritization, Product Development, Product Launch, Roadmaps, User Experience (UX), B2B, Documentation, Digital Product Management, QA Testing, Business to Business (B2B), Technical Project Management, Discovery, Project Timelines, UX Design, UI Design, Technical Hiring, Product Roadmaps, Marketing Research & Analysis, Mobile Applications, Product Research, Fintech, Product Design, User Interface (UI), UX Documentation, Business to Consumer (B2C), Product Strategy, User Research, Software as a Service (SaaS), Research, App Integration, UX Wireframes, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Prototyping, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Software Development, Voice of the Customer (VoC), Story Mapping, Implementation, Strategy, NPI, Customer Experience, Solution Design, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Growth Strategy, Growth, Sprint Planning, Scrum Product Owner, Supply Chain, Vendors & Suppliers, Backlog Management, Scope Management, Communication, Native Mobile Apps, Mobile Apps, Mobile App Testing, Vendor Management, Startups
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