
Dennis Vocke
Verified Expert in Project Management
Project Manager
Berlin, Germany
Toptal member since January 21, 2022
Dennis is a seasoned senior project manager and consultant with 20+ years of experience leading complex digital transformation and enterprise IT initiatives in multi-cultural environments. With hands-on software development expertise and deep knowledge of enterprise systems, supply chains, and logistics, he effectively bridges the gap between business goals and technical execution. With an Executive MBA, PMP, and Scrum certifications, there is almost nothing he can't hold with.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Budget Management
- Client Presentations
- Leadership
- Mentorship
- Process Design
- Project Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Team Building
Work Experience
Project Manager
Operation HOPE Inc.
- Built a visual project management plan in Miro that enabled all team members and clients to keep track of all assets and courses and provided reliable and transparent feedback mechanisms.
- Created the outline and content for 10 courses spanning topics from technical hard skills (Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.) to organizational development and soft skills (coaching, public speaking, active listening, etc.).
- Managed a distributed team to accomplish all agreed-upon deliverables on time and within budget.
Senior Consultant
Freelance Clients
- Designed and implemented a bottom-up governance model, improving collaboration between globally distributed product owners and technical experts across multiple departments.
- Streamlined supplier-side processes, optimizing the engagement model between product owners and development teams, reducing communication bottlenecks, and increasing project efficiency.
- Conducted a comprehensive assessment of the global data center landscape, identifying blind spots in infrastructure management and introducing an optimized process for risk mitigation and capacity planning.
- Facilitated high-impact workshops for up to 400 participants, focusing on cross-functional collaboration, governance best practices, and technical decision-making frameworks.
- Led problem-solving sessions for the leadership team, applying root cause analysis to identify critical operational inefficiencies and recommending data-driven solutions.
- Analyzed and reviewed contractual frameworks, developing structured supplier engagement strategies that improved transparency and compliance.
- Designed and executed a change management strategy, ensuring alignment between leadership, end-users, and IT teams to drive adoption and minimize resistance.
- Created executive-level presentations for C-suite stakeholders, translating complex technical challenges into actionable insights and strategic roadmaps.
- Conducted a market analysis of available software solutions, benchmarking features, usability, and scalability to identify the best-fit tool for the organization’s operational needs.
- Led the software implementation, configuring the platform, setting up user access controls, defining workflows, and automating key processes to improve operational efficiency.
ERP Implementer (9 countries rollout)
Doctors Without Borders, Netherlands
- Led the ERP rollout (Microsoft Dynamics ERP) across nine countries, ensuring seamless financial and supply chain system deployment in complex, high-pressure environments.
- Designed and conducted ERP training sessions in English, French, and German, equipping global teams with hands-on system knowledge.
- Developed standardized pre-deployment documentation, ensuring mission-specific readiness and minimizing disruptions during implementation.
- Executed a feasibility study in South Sudan, evaluating the existing infrastructure and recommending tailored ERP deployment strategies.
- Negotiated cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring finance, procurement, and logistics teams aligned on system adoption and process integration.
- Developed an innovative communication strategy, including an eight-part newsletter that prepared country teams for ERP adoption before deployment.
- Provided post-implementation support, resolving critical system issues, optimizing workflows, and documenting best practices for future deployments.
- Oversaw the validation and migration of financial data from legacy systems to a centralized ERP, ensuring data integrity across nine diverse regulatory environments.
Senior Project Manager
Doctors Without Borders, Germany
- Managed a $424,000 website relaunch project, aligning cross-functional teams and external vendors.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams of over 20 and external suppliers to maintain consistent alignment with project scope, requirements, and objectives.
- Prepared, managed, and facilitated all steering committee meetings, including agile workshops.
- Developed and executed risk mitigation strategies, ensuring on-time project delivery.
- Created a stakeholder matrix and communication plan and facilitated stakeholder meetings.
- Established PMO pilot processes, setting new organizational project standards.
- Led digital transformation efforts, migrating infrastructure from on-premise to SharePoint.
- Delivered high-impact C-level presentations and strategy recommendations.
Participant
Antler
- Led ideation workshops to generate startup concepts, focusing on problem validation and solution fit.
- Developed a web-based project management app, implementing an MVP in a short sprint cycle.
- Managed the product development process, including backlog prioritization, sprint planning, and execution.
- Produced and hosted an 8-part podcast series, interviewing startup founders, investors, and program participants to explore founder journeys and startup challenges.
- Engaged with investors and mentors, refining business models based on their feedback and market insights.
- Presented startup pitches to venture capitalists and angel investors, incorporating lean startup methodology into business case development.
- Facilitated strategic discussions on business viability, identifying and resolving potential roadblocks early.
Supply Learning Management Advisor
Doctors Without Borders, Netherlands
- Led an in-depth analysis of the learning needs of 1,500+ global supply chain employees, identifying skill gaps and areas for process improvement.
- Conducted 50+ expert interviews with international staff and country directors to tailor training solutions to real-world operational challenges.
- Developed a strategic training framework, incorporating blended learning models, e-learning modules, and hands-on training sessions.
- Mapped the existing learning infrastructure, recommending LMS improvements and integration strategies for a centralized training ecosystem.
- Designed and delivered multilingual webinars to an international audience of 50+ participants per session, covering supply chain best practices, ERP usage, and operational efficiencies.
- Implemented a training tracking system, ensuring compliance with organizational learning goals and continuous professional development (CPD) requirements.
- Collaborated with field teams to introduce a mentorship program, pairing experienced supply chain professionals with new hires.
Project Coordinator
Doctors Without Borders, Netherlands
- Directed project planning and execution, providing basic healthcare services for a target population of 30,000+ people in a volatile region.
- Managed a $1.7 million operational budget, ensuring cost efficiency and optimized resource allocation in a challenging, high-risk environment.
- Led and mentored 100+ staff members, developing training programs and capacity-building initiatives for local healthcare and logistics teams.
- Implemented an innovative motorbike transportation system, facilitating the transfer of 100+ critical patients per month to medical facilities.
- Designed and enforced a comprehensive security strategy, negotiating safe access for teams in conflict zones while coordinating with armed actors and international NGOs.
- Expanded healthcare activities, securing funding and resources to increase outreach, delivering primary care to 5,000 additional beneficiaries.
- Developed and implemented a remote management system, allowing secure operational oversight in areas where direct field presence was not possible.
- Established partnerships with local and international stakeholders, fostering collaborative humanitarian efforts and resource-sharing agreements.
Logistician
Doctors Without Borders, Netherlands
- Managed all supply chain, human resources, finance, bookkeeping, remote salary payment, and fleet management for the project.
- Led the recruiting and training of 20+ new employees to drive organizational success and strategic planning.
- Oversaw and maintained communication equipment and storage and coordinated international orders to cover six months for 30,000 patients.
- Pioneered construction for a new base, including design, budgeting, and management. Managed maintenance of five health posts and the main health centers.
Head of Post-production
CZAR Film
- Directed post-production operations for 50+ international TV commercials while managing, recruiting, and training a high-performing team of four employees to ensure production success; expanded staff by 200%.
- Proactively negotiated framework contracts with freelancers to drive cost savings; oversaw budgets of $1.2 million.
- Evaluated procedures to identify opportunities for improvement, resulting in streamlining processes across departments, redesigning workflows, and expanding technical facilities.
Assistant Producer
Freelance
- Delivered high-quality production services, supporting the execution of 40+ projects across five continents.
- Prepared and maintained budgets of up to $2.4 million while orchestrating and leading presentations to foster open communication with project staff.
- Organized travel arrangements for teams of up to 120, coordinating flights, hotels, and transportation.
Project History
Website Relaunch | Doctors Without Borders Germany
https://www.aerzte-ohne-grenzen.deLed the end-to-end project management of a $424,000 website relaunch, coordinating cross-functional teams and external vendors to ensure timely, risk-mitigated, and stakeholder-aligned delivery.
I spearheaded the full-scale relaunch of Doctors Without Borders Germany’s website, overseeing a 12-month Agile development process. My role involved aligning product owners, developers, designers, and external agencies, ensuring all project milestones met budget, scope, and timeline expectations. I led risk assessments and mitigation strategies, proactively identifying potential bottlenecks and optimizing workflows. Additionally, I facilitated steering committee meetings and executive stakeholder communications, ensuring alignment on strategic goals. The project included a seamless Drupal 8 transition, improving site functionality, accessibility, and security. By implementing agile sprints and retrospective techniques, I maximized efficiency and fostered a collaborative team culture, successfully delivering a high-impact digital transformation.
Worldwide ERP Implementation | Doctors Without Borders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zhr8NSVYp8&t=2sImplemented an in-house-developed ERP system for supply chain and finances in nine countries of the Global South.
Served as an implementation lead in the worldwide deployment of an in-house ERP system, designing and delivering presentations for on-and-off-the-job training in English, French, and German in nine countries. Evaluated and led mission-specific needs and generated documents detailing needed pre-deployment structures. Played a key role in the execution of the feasibility study in South Sudan and proposal of the implementation strategy.
Enterprise Software Implementation and Compliance Advisory for Doctors Without Borders Germany
http://www.aerzte-ohne-grenzen.deLed the assessment, selection, and implementation of a new enterprise software solution, ensuring GDPR compliance, stakeholder alignment, and operational efficiency for Doctors Without Borders Germany.
As a Doctors Without Borders Germany consultant, I conducted a comprehensive business and usability analysis to identify the best-fit enterprise software solution for the organization’s evolving needs. I led stakeholder interviews across multiple departments, ensuring that both functional and compliance requirements were met. Based on my research, I developed a weighted decision matrix, presenting strategic recommendations to leadership for the selection of a scalable and cost-effective platform.
Beyond selection, I ensured GDPR compliance and risk mitigation, conducting data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) and negotiating data processing agreements (DPAs) with vendors. I managed the end-to-end software implementation, overseeing configuration, workflow automation, and user onboarding. Additionally, I designed and delivered hands-on training sessions for key staff members, ensuring smooth adoption and long-term sustainability. My role was instrumental in aligning technology with humanitarian operations and enhancing data security, efficiency, and usability across teams.
Enterprise IT Governance and Strategic Advisory for C-level Leadership at Daimler Truck AG
http://www.daimlertruck.comDeveloped a bottom-up governance model to enhance global alignment between decentralized experts, streamlined supplier engagement, and provided strategic advisory to C-level leadership on IT governance and operational efficiency.
As a senior consultant at Daimler Truck AG, I designed and implemented a governance framework that optimized collaboration between globally distributed product owners, technical experts, and leadership. I facilitated high-impact workshops for 400+ stakeholders, standardizing best practices and knowledge-sharing across business units. A key focus was supplier-side process optimization, where I structured engagement models to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability between Daimler and its development partners.
Additionally, I conducted a strategic assessment of Daimler’s global datacenter landscape, identifying blind spots and risk factors that influenced operational decision-making. My role involved direct interactions with C-level executives, translating complex IT challenges into actionable business strategies. Through data-driven insights, executive presentations, and governance metrics, I empowered leadership with clear decision-making frameworks, aligning IT operations with corporate objectives.
Executive Coaching in an AI Startup
Coached two founders in a German AI startup to develop their communication and decision-making skills.
Engaged by the founding team of a well-funded AI startup in Hamburg to address persistent challenges in communication and decision-making. The co-founders were experiencing recurring conflict and unproductive dynamics that were impeding strategic alignment and team cohesion.
Through a targeted series of coaching sessions and facilitated workshops, I introduced principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to both the leadership and their immediate teams. The program focused on fostering constructive dialogue, increasing emotional intelligence, and reducing reactive patterns.
In parallel, I implemented practical tools and frameworks to support fact-based decision-making, helping the founders and their teams distinguish between subjective perceptions and actionable data. As a result, the organization saw measurable improvements in collaborative problem-solving, decision clarity, and interpersonal trust.
This intervention not only stabilized internal dynamics but also strengthened the leadership’s capacity to guide their teams through high-stakes situations with greater confidence and alignment.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Executive MBA
European School of Technology and Management (ESMT) - Berlin, Germany
Master's Degree in Computer Science
Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena - Jena, Germany
Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance
Skills
Tools
Slack, Miro, Microsoft PowerPoint, Jira, Trello, GitHub, Microsoft Project, AngularFire, Office 365
Paradigms
Agile, Scrum, Organizational Change Management (OCM), Requirements Analysis, Agile Project Management, Rapid Prototyping, Change Management, Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), Agile Product Management, Instructional Design, Planning Poker, Acceptance Testing, Mobile App Design, Proptech, Agile Leadership, Implementation Project Management, Team Development, Design Thinking
Platforms
SharePoint, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), iOS, Android, WordPress, Drupal 8, Blockchain, Monday.com
Industry Expertise
Asset Management, Higher Education
Other
Microsoft Teams, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Facilitation, Stakeholder Management, Presentations, Workshop Facilitation, Analysis, Communication, Training, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Planning & Execution, Motivation, Leadership, Project Management, Pitch Preparation, Client Presentations, Project Coordination, Client Coordination, Financial Presentations, Stakeholder Interviews, Knowledge Management, Cost Estimation, Mobile Apps, Media Production, Discovery Workshops, Training Workshops, Culture Management, No-code Development, Client Management, Client Relationship Management, Team Leadership, Client Interviews, Client Relations, Digital, Projects, Business Process Analysis, Process Documentation, Roadmaps, Evaluation, GAP Analysis, Consulting, Management Consulting, Change Impact Assessment, Assistance, Certified Project Manager, Executive Support, Mobile/Web Project Management, Technical Project Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Estimation & Planning, Education, Microsoft, Training & Training Content Development, Training Content, Team Management, Management Coaching, ERP Implementation, Stakeholder Analysis, Retrospective Techniques, Software Design, System Implementation, Budgeting, Strategic Partnerships, Financial Analysis, Healthcare Supply Chains, Mentorship, Customer Success, Client Success, Executive Coaching, Process Design, Data Migration, Team Building, Budget Management, User Stories, Requirements & Specifications, Project Scoping, Mobile App Development, Software Development, MVP Design, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Project Timelines, Feature Backlog Prioritization, Supply Chain, Career Coaching, Feasibility Studies, Workshops, Training Videos, Communication Strategy, Bug Analysis & Reporting, Culture, Cross-cultural Management, Strategic Planning, Coaching, Budget Controls, Pitch Decks, Podcasting, Ideation, Ideation Workshops, User Journeys, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Web Project Management, Project Budget Management, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Technical Project Management, Website CMS, Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), Web Development, Software Project Management, User Requirements, Dashboards, Remote Team Leadership, HTML, Smartsheet, Cross-functional Collaboration, Documentation, New Product Rollout, Business Strategy, Strategy, Cross-departmental Collaboration, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Digital Project Management, Project Scheduling, Structured Facilitation, Discovery Management, Project Discovery, Enterprise Systems, Process Optimization, Process Mapping, Process Flow Design, Process Development, Workflow, Customer Journey, Angular, Ionic, PMO, Scrum Master, Detail-oriented, Prototyping, Project Estimation, Discovery, Vendor Management, Edtech Design, Digital Strategy, Business Transformation, IT Project Management, Resource Management, Business Analysis, Third-party Management, Backlog Management, Agile Coaching, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Executive Reporting, Business Leadership Coaching, Procurement, Enterprise SaaS, Agile Sprints, Sprint Planning, Security, Hiring, Accountability, Accounting, Human Resources (HR), 3D, 2D Graphics, Animation, Travel, Quality Assurance (QA), Optimization, IT Deployments, User Onboarding, Planning, Project Initiation, Project Planning, Business Requirements, Data Privacy, Data Protection, Requirements Matrices, Contract Negotiation, Negotiation, Project Development, Scope of Work (SOW), Product Owner, Product Vision, Requirements, Learning Strategy, Learning, Contract Drafting, Strategic Initiatives, Hiring Process Development, Startup Funding, Angel/Seed Funding, Rapid Development, User Journey Maps, Personas, User Personas, Notion, Design, User Experience (UX), Project Tracking, Project Management Office (PMO), Airtable, Cryptocurrency, Build Processes, Best Practices, Project Management & Delivery, Delivery, Process Analysis, Reporting, Project Delivery, Risk, PMO Development, Project Management Professional (PMP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), IT Consulting, Creative Problem Solving, Community Management, Governance, IT Governance, User Workshops, Impact Assessment, ITIL 4, IT Service Delivery, Vendors & Suppliers, Contract, IT Contracts, Organizational Behavior (OB), Data Analysis, Business Ethics, Corporate Strategy, Operations, Economic Thinking, PHP, SharePoint UI, Market Research, Software Implementation, software setup, IT Projects, Complex Problem Solving, non violent communication, Data-driven Decision-making, Licensing, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), CRM Systems
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