Ruben Vrinzen, Project Manager in Utrecht, Netherlands
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Ruben Vrinzen

Verified Expert  in Project Management

Project Manager

Location
Utrecht, Netherlands
Toptal Member Since
April 9, 2019

Ruben is an experienced people manager with a background in the corporate and entrepreneurial world. As a Certified Scrum Master and PRINCE2 project manager, he has led over 300 people worldwide to deliver above expectations on an individual and a team level. With strong stakeholder management skills and a passion for cultures, he's most successful in managing multi-disciplinary teams in eCommerce and innovative startups.

Project ManagementAgile CoachingProgram ManagementAsanaKanbanChange ManagementAgile Project ManagementShopifyPMOProject Management Office (PMO)ScrumPRINCE2Startup ConsultingAgile Product ManagementJiraSalesforceSalesforce Delivery ManagementOperations Delivery ManagementAgile Program ManagementOil and Gas Project ManagementBusiness Delivery ManagementeCommerce Project Management

Project Highlights

Agile Project Manager
Led the launch of an improved online platform for online learning courses. Managed the development using Kanban.
Business and Digital Marketing Strategy
Advised CEO of 7-figure socially responsible brand, Ethnotek, on how to scale up by improving eCommerce and online marketing
Strategy New Startup
Efficient Print is a new startup in the highly competitive industry of online printing.

Expertise

Discovery WorkshopsKanbanManagementPeople ManagementShopifyStartupsStrategyeCommerce

Work Experience

Owner and Remote (Agile) Project Manager

2014 - PRESENT
Onwords
  • Served as the remote (project) manager on all assignments done by Onwords agency while executing some marketing activities.
  • Led the strategy, eCommerce, and online marketing implementation for Efficientprint.com, a new startup in Spain delivering an online printing platform.
  • Oversaw the building of a new platform for Nuts & Bolts Speed Training. Responsible for hiring and leading developers and UX/UI designers from start to completion.
  • Advised Ethnotek on continuous optimization of eCommerce on a technical level as well as a marketing and conversion rate optimization level. The conversion has gone from 0.9% to steadily above 2%.
  • Advised Top Car AutoReisen on the implementation of Kanban for continuous eCommerce optimization.
  • Led the development team of Forte Violen in launching a new business model into the world of violins and instruments. From user experience and design to development and first marketing initiatives.
  • Used Kanban as an Agile framework to drive, among others, projects like Nuts & Bols and Efficientprint.com to a success.
  • Led the lightning start of a Toptal Project into a successful continuation of the project by the Toptal project team. Continuing leading the team to delivery, from UX to development.

Founder & CEO

2014 - 2016
Chasing Spaces
  • Managed technical development of the market place, building an MVP to go to market as fast as possible.
  • Served big customers like Adidas and Unilever as well as local heroes like BOHO Amsterdam and Rose & Nine.
  • Led the successful application to join the Rockstart Accelerator Amsterdam. Only 10 starts-ups get selected out of hundreds of applications worldwide.
  • Implemented the Kanban way of working across the different departments of the startup.
  • Led the complete startup team.
  • Managed the P&L, legal, and accounting of the startup.

Sales Manager

2012 - 2014
Best Buy Europe/Carphone Warehouse
  • Managed the people and P&L of 20 Phone House stores within the area of the Hague, Leiden, and Haarlem (around 75 FTE). The region was in need of an immediate turnaround both financially and culturally.
  • Achieved financial uplift in the margin of 22.3% like for like while lowering headcount by 10%.
  • Implemented scrum rhythm and rituals in a sales environment which was the main driver for success.

Program Manager

2012 - 2012
Best Buy Europe/Carphone Warehouse
  • Developed and launched a new shop-in-shop concept resulting in six trial stores between two established retailers. The trial has resulted in a long term partnership agreement between the Carphone Warehouse and MediaMarkt Saturn Holding, tremendously increasing business on both sides.
  • Led key strategic business projects and programs within Phone House Netherlands, managing a team of project managers and store openers to achieve strategic direction and new business.
  • Oversaw the implementation of a time and attendance system across all stores using agile philosophies before industrializing the roll-out.
  • Collaborated with the CEO to finalize the details of the agreement and term sheet.
  • Headed stakeholder management within both companies.

Head of Store Formats

2011 - 2012
Best Buy Europe/Carphone Warehouse
  • Drove new business through the Wireless Store Formats program for the German, Dutch, and Spanish markets. Most significant capital investment in 2011.
  • Managed teams in the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain remote with incidental visits.
  • Worked in partnership with each market's board of directors, sponsor, and project teams to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the vision.
  • Initiated and implemented agile project management philosophy within the pan-European team.
  • Achieved the roll-out of over 300 stores within a year.

Project Manager Belgium and the Netherlands

2010 - 2011
Best Buy Europe/Carphone Warehouse
  • Implemented and rolled-out of a European program, improving the way we go to market.
  • Managed project managers in both countries, both remote and locally.
  • Used the Kanban technique for continuous management of commercial initiatives.
  • Launched the new Wireless World store concept in the Netherlands.
  • Managed the financial side of projects with investments over 3 million euros.

Project Management consultant

2009 - 2010
Conclusion Implementation
  • Led the development and implementation of the financial business model and administration for a new department delivering a service-oriented infrastructure to the Amsterdam local government.
  • Managed the development and implementation of project management support containing the development of, among others, capacity management, Wiki and Jira.
  • Managed and organized a Seminar Lean Management from concept to realization resulting in leads and new business.
  • Served as scrum master for technical development in absence of senior scrum master facilitating all scrum meetings.
  • Oversaw stakeholders management of the scrum project within Amsterdam local government.

Project Manager

2008 - 2008
De Lage Landen/Rabobank Group
  • Managed the set-up of a customer service desk for a customer base of 55,000 clients worth over €700 million.
  • Managed the change of back-end systems due to change in Spanish legislation.
  • Analyzed, improved, and implemented new dunning strategy for operations department using the Kanban technique.
  • Managed project teams in Spanish working at HQ Madrid, Spain.
  • Worked closely with the board of directors to strategize the roll-out of multiple projects.

Agile Project Manager

https://nutsandboltsspeedtraining.com/

Led the launch of an improved online platform for online learning courses. Managed the development using Kanban.

Nuts and Bolts Speed Training was delivering premium training to business professionals with regards to PowerPoint. After a successful two years, the founders of the startup wanted to scale up.

The project involved UX/UI designers, developers and marketers to re-launch the new platform increasing customer experience, as well as conversion rate.

My role was leading the overall hiring and management of the team using Kanban. The project launched successfully and has by now delivered over 3 million lessons worldwide.

Business and Digital Marketing Strategy

https://ethnotek.com

Advised CEO of 7-figure socially responsible brand, Ethnotek, on how to scale up by improving eCommerce and online marketing

Ethnotek.com is a social enterprise that brings to the market backpacks, slings bags, and accessories made by artisans worldwide.

A very complex and slow production of socially responsible products. The company wants to scale-up and needed advice on how to.

Getting on board UX/UI designers had an immediate impact on conversion and revenue. Remotely facilitating Funnel Strategy workshops lead to a plan on how to get the company to the next level. Setting up a lean organization with Agile mentality improved the way of managing a business aiming to constantly improve their performance as well as their social impact.

Strategy New Startup

Efficient Print is a new startup in the highly competitive industry of online printing.

In my role, I was responsible for strategy, eCommerce, and online marketing implementation for Efficientprint.com.

As one of the first of the team, I had the opportunity to take the intrapreneurial role and lead the strategy development of Efficient Print. Holding workshops both locally as well as remote with the board of directors and the internal team we designed a strategy and together created a new brand.

After the launch of the platform as an MVP, we continually optimized the platform for conversion and technical debt.
2006 - 2007

Master's Degree in Business Administration, Management & Strategy

University of Maastricht - Maastricht, the Netherlands

2006 - 2006

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Madrid, Spain

2002 - 2006

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Management & Strategy

University of Maastricht - Maastricht, the Netherlands

AUGUST 2016 - PRESENT

Google Adwords Certification

Google

FEBRUARY 2015 - PRESENT

Certified Scrum Master

Scrum Alliance

FEBRUARY 2010 - PRESENT

PRINCE2

APM Group

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