Rodney deJong
Verified Expert in Project Management
Project Manager
Montreal, QC, Canada
Toptal member since April 8, 2019
Specializing in the delivery of services, Rodney is a project manager with a passion for helping his clients succeed. He does this by understanding the business value of technological solutions and acting as a trusted advisor and change agent throughout the customer journey. When Rodney starts a project, he takes the time upfront to build a strong relationship by being responsive, establishing quality communication channels, and being available.
Project Highlights
Expertise
Work Experience
Technical Project Manager
Blackfish Media LLC
- Achieved significant milestones in transitioning to a headless eCommerce platform, contributing to the company's substantial revenue growth goals.
- Partnered with an external development agency and a Toptal DevOps engineer to supervise the implementation of a new testing environment.
- Delivered agile training and provided servant leadership to multiple scrum teams, steering them to high-performance standards.
- Orchestrated the migration from a monolithic eCommerce system built on Checkout Champ (WordPress) to a headless architecture using Elastic Path.
- Coordinated and directed sprints, offered weekly updates with priorities, and solicited feedback to ensure project alignment and progress.
- Compiled and maintained comprehensive technical documentation to support the transition and ongoing operations.
Senior Project Manager
Lululemon Athletica
- Accomplished significant milestones in the 9-month, $1.2 million data transformation project, enhancing ERP integration for payroll.
- Orchestrated a comprehensive data transformation project to support ERP integrations for payroll, ensuring seamless data flow and system compatibility.
- Collaborated with external development teams and internal stakeholders to oversee the implementation of the data transformation processes.
- Identified and addressed scoping gaps in the existing infrastructure and processes, crafting detailed Jira timelines for sprints.
- Utilized Azure SQL Database and Azure Data Lake Storage to optimize data storage solutions, enhancing data accessibility and performance.
- Implemented Azure Logic Apps to automate workflows and streamline integration processes, reducing manual intervention and error rates.
- Leveraged Azure Data Factory to design and implement data pipelines, ensuring efficient and secure data movement and transformation.
- Aligned project dependencies, facilitated decisions, and ensured architectural harmony between internal and external teams.
Agile Project Manager | Scrum Master | Agile Coach
Volvo Cars
- Delivered agile training to three project teams, providing servant leadership to guide and coach high-performance standards.
- Led the practice of relentless continuous improvement, inspection and adaption, collaboration, and trust to empower teams to excel in delivering high-quality software.
- Collaborated with internal and external teams to manage project dependencies, drive decisions, and align on architecture.
- Engaged with the release management team to successfully deliver hotfixes, Salesforce platform refresh, and eCommerce upgrades.
- Participated in SAFe PI planning activities to execute strategic initiatives that deliver high business value to internal and external customers.
- Led the socialization and implementation of an agile practice within the Volvo USA digital organization.
Senior Project Manager
The City of Burnaby
- Delivered an automated chatbot using data ingestion and business process definitions to guide city constituents in applying for building permits in an automated way.
- Presented innovative solutions for a client's pain points to gain buy-in and implement critical change strategies.
- Generated and presented timely reporting on project statuses and performances.
Scrum Master | Senior Technical Project Manager
5 Lakes Professional Services
- Collaborated with the CEO to develop a business motivation model to ensure alignment of tactical initiatives and product outcomes to strategic goals.
- Introduced and championed Agile, including scrum ceremonies from the top down.
- Implemented automated test frameworks, delivering automated regression and unit testing.
- Championed business-driven development—improving test code coverage by 30% over six months.
- Coached and mentored the development team to meet their team charter commitments and get user stories done efficiently.
- Facilitated discovery workshops that enabled the development of a pragmatic IT road map—delivering value based on solid analysis techniques.
- Implemented an integrated change management framework to deliver key projects which positively impacted business by streamlining and automating processes to become more scalable and cost-effective.
Senior Project Manager
Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR)
- Built out an Azure ecosystem by incorporating good governance and best practices.
- Collaborated with senior business analyst and lead cloud architect to develop and execute cloud assessment frameworks to deliver a repeatable methodical approach, enhancing the level of organizational cloud maturity.
- Applied security risk mitigation strategies aligned with YVR cybersecurity policies.
- Empowered, led, and motivated cross-functional teams within the network, infrastructure, database, and applications departments to deliver project milestones on time and within the $3 million budget.
- Implemented integrated PM processes to manage risk, budget, schedule, communications, and quality.
Manager, Consulting Services
Infor
- Streamlined the processes and ensured consistency by introducing standardized tools and templates adherent to PMI best practices.
- Implemented effective upward management of key clients, stakeholders, and senior management, including the standardization of KPI reporting metrics driving increased program margins, aligned schedules, reduced rework, and enhanced quality.
- Introduced agile principles to drive team performance and create cross-functional collaboration in delivering continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provided strategic leadership and direction to a dynamic team of ten consultants and project managers to deliver positive customer experiences aligned with organizational objectives.
- Managed a diverse technical solutions portfolio across multiple partners, vendors, and verticals.
- Identified, analyzed, and managed risks to scope, schedule, budget, and quality of multiple project workstreams.
- Served as an effective change agent driving process and system transformations.
- Facilitated collaboration across cross-functional teams to promote compliance with customer requirements.
Senior Project Manager
Elastic Path
- Delivered complex eCommerce solutions to our enterprise clients and partners.
- Deployed the $1.2 million Salesforce CRM and service cloud solution implementation across sales and support business units.
- Effectively provided leadership to Breville's initiative to integrate Adobe Experience Manager, a $2.1 million project.
- Was hand-selected to lead the integration of an eCommerce platform into a CRM system into Johnstone Supply, resulting in successful completion with established timelines and budget parameters.
- Spearheaded the implementation of an eCommerce platform for Herschel Supply Company valued at $1.8 million, encompassing the front-end integration of Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and the ERP financial systems on the back end.
- Stimulated time and cost savings for users and partners through the identification of key internal process gaps.
- Oversaw a diverse and complex portfolio of IT projects, ensuring delivery alignment within time, cost, and quality expectations.
- Led cross-functional teams, on-premise and remotely, to deliver quality project outcomes.
- Extended our eCommerce platform to deliver responsive mobile solutions across multiple touchpoints.
Project Managment Consultant
Sohonet Consulting
- Served as a technical SME, providing consultation and advisory in the implementation and administration of Microsoft technologies.
- Managed the implementation of Cisco VoIP and various other network-related projects.
- Managed a portfolio of network infrastructure projects, providing systems support across multiple domains and trusts.
- Exceeded SLAs in break-fix, IMAC, network, and application support consistently.
- Mentored and developed cross-functional teams, resulting in operational excellence.
Project History
Herschel Supply Company
https://herschel.ca/Led the successful delivery of an enterprise eCommerce solution enabling the worldwide brand Herschel to transact globally.
Elasticpath Community, Developers, and Partner Portal
https://elasticpath.auth0.com/Delivered a customer portal, mobile, and SSO solution—enhancing the user experience and enabling their success.
Project Deliverables
• Scalable SSO solution
• Responsive mobile application solution
• Front-end UX
• Data stores
• Back-end system integrations
Salesforce Service and Community Implementation
Led the successful upgrade of Salesforce Service Cloud and the introduction to the Salesforce Community.
• Utilized triggers and custom objects to build an effective user workflow that streamlined level-1 incidents to help the team focus on more complex issues.
• Integrated an SF community portal that provided online resources which helped drive issues to quick resolution via self-service.
• Built out a Java front end with an integration to the Salesforce API, offering a more personalized customer experience in line with entitlements.
• Implemented an Auth0 SSO solution allowing customers to sign on to multiple support resources with a single username and password.
• Integrated Marketo—allowing business development to increase sales by adding additional sales value to customer offerings.
Toronto Dominion Bank/Securities
Spearheaded the successful completion of an ITS cloud migration strategy for TD Bank/Securities.
• Applied PM governance and best practice in highly regulated enterprise organizations.
• Deconstructed off of track inflight projects to improve efficiencies, get stakeholder buy-in on milestones, and motivate teams to deliver.
• Understood stakeholder goals and effectively negotiated plans that satisfy and move the projects forward.
• Provided accurate and timely project reporting and status to clients and other key stakeholders.
• Stayed ahead of the curve with change management to accurately create and maintain project processes and plans as disruptive technologies come online.
• Proactively managed risk throughout all phases of the project.
5 Lakes Dental Services Digital Platform
https://www.fivelakespro.com/Delivered internal and external facing dental insurance platforms to streamline and automate business processes.
Project Specifics:
• Coached and mentored the product owner to build-out requirements for a robust HIPAA compliant dental insurance verification platform.
• Collaborated with the CEO to develop a business motivation model to ensure alignment of tactical initiatives and product outcomes to strategic goals.
• Implemented an integrated change management framework to deliver key projects which positively impacted business by streamlining and automating the process to become more scalable and cost-effective.
• Introduced and championed agile from the top-down, implementing automated test frameworks and Azure governance best practice contributing to an empowered team who then delivered better software faster.
Vancouver Airport Authority
https://www.yvr.caBuilt an Azure ecosystem enabling the protection of mission-critical workloads.
Project Specifics:
• Successfully built out an Azure ecosystem incorporating governance best practices, network infrastructure deployment with mitigated risk postures, and robust disaster recovery solutions, delivering value in line with the YVR strategic plan, including business continuity with reduced RPO and RTO.
• Collaborated with a senior business analyst and lead cloud architect to develop and execute cloud assessment frameworks to deliver a repeatable methodical approach, enhancing the level of organizational cloud maturity.
• Empowered, led, and motivated cross-functional teams within the network, infrastructure, database, and applications departments to deliver project milestones on time and within the $3-million budget.
Aeroplan (AIMIA) | Air Canada Travel Loyalty Program
Led the upgrade and enhancements of the Aeroplan web and mobile app offering an improved customer experience and conversions.
Project Specifics:
• Created new customer workflows with an improved UX/UI offering a richer customer journey and a superior customer experience.
• Enhanced the performance by reducing page-load time and increasing the conversion rates of the online store.
Salesforce Employee Self-serve Portal
Launched and managed several releases of the digital personnel management system on the Salesforce platform.
Education
Advanced Java Development in Computer Science
British Columbia Institute of Technology - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Certificate of Business Analysis in Business Administration
University of Toronto - Toronto, Canada
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
UBC - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Certifications
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Microsoft
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft
Certified SAFe 5 Scrum Master
Scaled Agile
Advanced Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Skills
Tools
Jira Project Management, Office 365, Trello Development, Slack Development, GitHub, NetSuite, Salesforce Design, Microsoft Development, SQL, Project Management & Work Tracking Tools, Azure, Mockups, Confluence, Zoom Development, TargetProcess, Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), AWS, Hybris, Oracle ERP
Paradigms
Agile Project Management, Waterfall Project Management, Agile Team Leadership, Agile Project Management, Scrum Master Consulting, Agile Project Management, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Requirements Analysis, Kanban Project Management, Continuous Integration (CI), Agile Project Management, Azure DevOps, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Lean Project Management, Lean Project Management, HIPAA Compliance, Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
Platforms
Java EE, Android, Azure, Drupal Design, ERP Development, Cloud Engineering, Shopify, AWS, Joomla, Azure, Magento, Docker
Industry Expertise
Telecommunications, Software Project Management, Healthcare App Design, Hospitality, Airport Transportation, Banking Consulting, Dental Care, Travel & Leisure, Digital Marketing Product Management
Other
Project Tracking, Stakeholder Management, Scope Management, E-commerce marketing, IT Project Management, Customer Service Management (CSM), PMP Project Management, PMI Project Management, Scrum Master Consulting, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Requirements & Specifications, Project Consultation, Virtual Project Management, Scrum Project Management, Product Owners, Scrum Coaching, Risk Management, Team Leadership, PMI Project Management, Customer Success, Digital Project Management, Hybrid Project Management, Remote Team Leadership, E-commerce Project Management, Web Application, IT, Waterfall Methodology, Project Scheduling, Operations, Planning, Sprints, User Stories, Project Management & Delivery, Backlog Management, Technical Leadership, Communication Coaching, Tools, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Software Development Management, Project Timelines, Risk Assessment, Project Planning, Client Management, Project Delivery, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Negotiation, Time Management, Discovery Workshops, Virtualization, Cloud Storage, Technical Design, Omnichannel Marketing, Technical Documentation, Workflow, Backlog Grooming, CRM Systems, Java, Cloud Computing, Program Management, E-commerce Project Management, Amazon S3, Hibernate, Network Migration, Cloud Migration, Waterfall Modeling, Management Consultants, Salesforce API, Payment Gateways, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP), Salesforce Service Cloud, Design Consulting, Microsoft Azure, Communication Management, QA Testing, SSO Engineering, Digital Project Management, Payment Processing, Project Discovery, eCommerce Payments, Mobile Apps, Business Analysis Consulting, System Integration, SAFe 4 Advanced Scrum Master, Mobile Project Management, Agile Program Management, Machine Learning, Product Management, Product Development, CRM, SaaS, Artificial Intelligence, Technical Design, Integration, Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), Process Optimization, Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), Business Consultant, Vendor Selection, Project Coordination, Project Management Operations, Detail-oriented, Creative Problem Solving, Migration Engineering, Product Roadmaps, R&D, Jira Administration, Data Migration, Refactoring, Web3, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Learning Management Systems (LMS), Roadmaps, Drop Shipping, Azure, Strategic Planning & Execution, Cloud Security, Data, Networking, Cloud Services, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), Healthcare IT, Healthcare Management Systems, Aha!, AWS Lambda, XML, SharePoint Development, HRIS, Business Transformation, SAFe Project Management, Data Transformation, Business Process Modeling, Cybersecurity, Fraud Prevention, Healthcare EDI, Service Delivery Management (SDM), Healthcare & Insurance, Customer Journeys, ITIL, Inventory Management, Wellness, Agile Certified Practitioner, Agile Coaching, Azure PaaS, Business Modeling, Business Model Canvas, UX Development, IT Infrastructure, Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Azure, Backup & Recovery, Business to Business (B2B), Business Continuity, Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCDR), High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Application Security, Azure IoT Hub, Legacy Software, API Integration, Systems, Performance Testing, Performance Tuning, CRM APIs, Mobile Project Management, Software Design, Release Management, PI Planning, Product Discovery, IT Service Delivery, Dashboard, IT Strategy, Cloud Engineering, CSS, HTML, Chatbot Development, Azure Bot Framework, RESTful Microservices, GTM Marketing, LLM, Marketing Technology (MarTech), Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Web Scraping, Python, Affiliate Marketing, Headless Commerce, System Migration, Elastic Path, Payroll & Benefits, Datadog, Azure Data Factory
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