PMP Certified IT Delivery and Automation Manager with 20+ Years of Experience

Asgar Ali Sayed

Email: ali.aitechs@gmail.com Phone: +1-224-428-4509; Chicago, IL, USA

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asgar-ali-sayed/

Objective

PMP certified seasoned IT Delivery and Automation Manager with over 20 years of multinational experience in leading and managing cross-functional teams to deliver successful projects on time and within budget using both Waterfall and Agile methodologies and Scrum framework. Seeking to leverage my demonstrated expertise in project management, portfolio management and delivery management, risk management, vendor coordination, and stakeholder communications to drive efficiency, innovation, and growth for Frictionless Solutions Inc.

Summary

Results-oriented IT Delivery and Automation project manager with a rich history of managing complex projects for international giants in the Telecom, Pharmaceutical, Banking, and Transportation & Logistics sectors.
Proficient in project planning, resource management, risk mitigation, and process optimization.
Skilled in managing global teams and coordinating activities across multiple geographical locations.
Adept at leading Agile iteration planning and test automation.
In-depth experience in ETL, Data Warehouse, BI Reporting, Data Migration, and pharmaceutical projects.
Well-versed in CMMI Level 5 quality processes and best practices.

Professional Experience

IT Delivery and Automation Manager | Frictionless Solutions Inc. | Chicago, IL, USA | Sep’2022 till Date
/
/ Key Responsibilities :

· Manage end-to-end lifecycle activities for complex pharmaceutical projects using project management tool Teamwork.

· Mange integrated multinational teams from U.S. for executing day-to-day activities.

· Collaborate with clients and cross-functional teams to define project objectives, scope, and deliverables.

· Develop project plans, schedules, and budgets to ensure successful execution.

· Monitor and report on project status, risks, and issues, implementing effective risk mitigation strategies.

· Provide estimations and prepare Business Risk Assurance Strategy for prioritized testing strategies.

· Plan and execute Regression, System, and Integration Testing.

· Implement automation processes for test execution and reporting to improve productivity.

· Lead Agile iteration planning meetings for activity planning and scope finalization.

· Perform people management tasks, including resource allocation and goal setting.

· Post appraisal, perform compensation review and recommendations.

· Make strategic decisions on risk management, conflict resolution, employee hire, retention, and separation.

IT Delivery and Automation Manager | Extreme Agile Private Ltd. | Noida, U.P., India | May’2021 till Aug’2022

Key Responsibilities :

As an IT Delivery and Automation Manager, assumed a pivotal role overseeing multiple aspects of the company, with a strong emphasis on effective managerial leadership, innovative project management, and strategic human resources management. My tenure was marked by a series of notable achievements:

· Leadership to International Project and product Management: Played a pivotal role in

orchestrating and leading international software development projects and product

management for pharmaceutical clients ensuring effective execution of IT projects within

schedule and budget, and maintaining high standards of service delivery using tools like

Teamwork, Microsoft 365, Microsoft SharePoint, skype, Visual Studio Code, PHP,

GitHub, Adobe Acrobat and MySQL while following both waterfall and Agile

methodologies with a scrum framework, adapting to project needs.

· Offshore Transition, Team Building and Cost Efficiency: Transitioned large and complex

pharmaceutical projects to offshore development centers resulting in a 30% cost reduction

while simultaneously building a skilled offshore team.

· Automation, Process Improvement, and cost savings: Implemented Automated Test

suite using Excel Macros, Selenium, UiPath and Katalon Studio, streamlining the testing

process, and enhancing software quality. A standout achievement was the automation of a

complex medical billing project, resulting in a remarkable improvement of 75% productivity,

15% accuracy and yearly cost saving was $250,000 (approx.) using Python and PHP

on the Windows system.

· Stakeholder Engagement and Project Definition: Demonstrated effective collaboration

with stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and vendors. His adeptness in defining project

objectives and requirements contributed to successful project outcomes.

· Recruitment, separation, and People Management: oversaw the development and

implementation of recruitment, training, and retention strategies to ensure that the company

attracted and retained top talent in the IT field.

Demonstrated effective people management through resource allocation, goal setting,

training, appraisals, compensation review, and fostering team growth aligned with project

goals.

· Strategic Decision-Making: Crafted persuasive proposals and conducted meticulously.

feasibility analyses for automation opportunities. These data-driven decisions positioned the

organization for sustained success.

The accomplishments underscore extensive experience and effective managerial skills in

leading multinational software development projects. The contributions not only resulted in

cost savings, improved productivity and efficiency but also maintained the highest standards of quality in

project delivery.

Dynamic Tech Strategist and Programmer Analyst | Extreme Agile Private Ltd. | Noida, U.P., India | Mar’2017 till Apr’2021

Key Responsibilities:

As a dynamic technology strategist and seasoned Programmer Analyst with a track record of spearheading end-to-end Software solutions for pharmaceutical clients. Leveraged advanced technical expertise, industry insights, and leadership acumen to optimize Healthcare Professional (HCP) engagement, streamline Speaker Bureau operations, orchestrate Live and Virtual Speaker programs, and flawlessly execute conferences. Performed the following job duties:

· Strategic Solution Development: Analyzed, engineered, and implemented customized, configurable technology solutions tailored to the unique needs of pharmaceutical clients. Simplified intricate end-to-end processes and elevated client engagement, resulting in streamlined Speaker Bureau initiatives and enhanced HCP interactions and improved administrative process. Improved existing workflow and computer system capabilities by recommending and utilizing tools like Teamwork, Microsoft 365, Microsoft SharePoint, skype, Visual Studio Code, PHP, GitHub, Adobe Acrobat and MySQL while following both waterfall and Agile methodologies with a scrum framework, adapting to project needs etc.

· Regulatory Compliance: Applied comprehensive industry knowledge to develop compliant solutions, aligning with pharmaceutical regulatory standards. Facilitated seamless adherence to regulatory guidelines in Speaker programs and conferences.

· Innovative Problem-Solving: Pioneered innovative approaches to address complex challenges inherent in pharmaceutical operations. Introduced automated processes for test execution and reporting, increasing efficiency while ensuring adherence to strict quality standards.

· Leadership Excellence: Led cross-functional teams in planning, design, and execution of integrated test strategies. Mentored and coached team members, fostering technical growth and aligning efforts with project goals. Assisted and trained staff and users in implementing, testing, maintaining, monitoring end-to-end computer programs and systems, and resolving system malfunctions or issues.

· Process Optimization: Designed and executed robust Regression Suites to minimize risks and stabilize existing systems. Innovatively enhanced test productivity, resulting in improved software quality, accelerated project timelines.

· Effective Communication and stakeholder collaboration: Collaborated closely with stakeholders to gather precise business requirements, ensuring alignment between technology solutions and client objectives. Skillfully communicated project status and needs to both onshore and offshore teams.

· Quality Assurance Champion: Applied industry best practices for Test Planning, Execution, and Defect Management using functional testing software, enhancing software quality and maintaining compliance with pharmaceutical industry regulations.

· Client-Centric Focus: Orchestrated end-to-end event management for conferences, ensuring flawless execution of Live and Virtual Speaker programs. Elevated client satisfaction and reinforced the company's reputation as a trusted pharmaceutical solutions provider.

· Automated Test Suite: Implemented an Automated Test suite using Excel Macro, Selenium, UiPath, and Katalon Studio.

QA Lead | Expert Technologies | Noida, U.P., India | July 2013-Feb 2017

Key Responsibilities:

· Gathered business requirements from stakeholders and communicated them to the team.

· Planned end-to-end activities for Regression, System, and Integration Testing.

· Developed Test Strategy and Test Plan documents.

· Designed and reviewed Test Scenarios and Test Cases.

· Implemented best practices for Test planning, Execution & Defect Management in Quality Center, ensuring compliance.

· Planned and designed a robust Regression Suite to minimize risk on existing systems.

· Managed test scope changes and defined Scope Lockdown.

· Improved test productivity through automation processes for execution and reporting.

· Contributed to Value Add, Quality, Productivity, and Process improvement activities.

· Conducted people management activities, including allocation, goal setting, performance appraisal, and feedback sharing.

· Managed escalations and troubleshooting for issue resolution.

· Reviewed important Test Artifacts for various phases of Project Life Cycles.

· Coordinated with Offshore-Onsite Teams.

· Managed and directed testing efforts for projects, ensuring comprehensive test coverage and high-quality software delivery.

· Mentored and trained team members to enhance technical and leadership skills.

· Prepared a business development Roadmap resulting in significant investment, transitioning the company into a private Limited Company (Extreme Agile Private Limited) with 200% increase in headcount.

Technical Test Lead | Infosys Ltd | Approx 5 Years in USA, 1.5 Years in Australia, and 3 Years in India

Dec’03-May’13|

Role: Starting as a Software Engineer in Infosys, while working on different projects operated in India, Australia, and in the USA, promoted to Test Analyst and later Technical Test Lead to achieve various enhancements and development project milestones successfully for Commercial Banking, Logistics, and Telecom domain.

Key Responsibilities:

· Led knowledge acquisition, performed gap analysis, and established a Test governance model with Offshore-onsite Coordination for Life Cycle Testing.

· Gathered business requirements from stakeholders, analyzed and communicated them to the team.

· Participated in Agile Iteration planning meetings to finalize the scope for different stories.

· Provided estimations and prepared a Risk-based prioritized Testing Strategy, including a Business Risk Assurance Strategy for month-to-month Production Releases.

· Planned end-to-end activities for Regression, System, and Integration Testing.

· Introduced best practices in Test planning, Execution & Defect Management to ensure compliance.

· Designed a robust Regression Suite to minimize the risk of impacting existing functionalities through monthly Releases.

· Managed test scope change and defined Scope Lockdown.

· Prepared executive and detailed status reports for informed decision-making.

· Managed test environment updates and code deployment schedules.

· Implemented automation processes to improve test productivity.

· Contributed to Value Add, Quality, Productivity, and Process improvement activities.

· Reviewed important Test Artifacts for different phases of Project Life Cycles.

· Coordinated with Offshore Team and performed QTP Automation feasibility analysis and testing.

· Handled costing and estimation, created Test plans, Test Strategies, Test Scenarios, and Test Cases.

· Conducted Data Migration Testing and managed Defect Management.

· Provided daily status and defect reports and coordinated with the Onsite team.

· Resolved escalations and troubleshooting issues efficiently.

· Mentored team members, set goals, conducted performance appraisals and provided feedback.

· Led the launch of a Chip-based Credit card for a major commercial Banking client in the USA as the Lead Integrated Project Manager.

· Played a lead role in achieving CMMI 5 Certification for the projects.

· Successfully transitioned a large and complex commercial banking project to an offshore development center, achieving 30% cost savings.

· Earned client satisfaction and appreciation for delivering projects within Budget, schedule, and with high quality.

CERTIFICATIONS

PMP (Project Management Professional)- Certificate - Issued Mar 2024
Professional Google Project Management Certificate - Issued Nov 2022
AI Product Management Specialization – Issued Aug 2023
Agile Scrum Master Certification - Issued Dec 2022
Agile Leadership Specialization Certificate - Issued Jan 2023
Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate
Interpersonal Communication - Issued Jan 2023
Generative AI for Business Leaders – Issued in 2023
Build AI Apps with ChatGPT, Dall-E, and GPT-4
Intro to ChatGPT and Generative AI Certificate- Issued Jul 2023
Brainbench Certifications: Software Testing, Software Quality Assurance, Software Configuration Management,

Business Communication, Data Warehousing Concepts

SKILLS

Project management methodologies Waterfall, Agile with Scrum framework
Project management tools (MS Project, JIRA, Trello, Teamwork)
Requirements gathering and analysis
Risk management and mitigation
Vendor management and outsourcing
Change management.
Team management and leadership
Budget management
Process improvement and quality assurance
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Multilingual: English, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic

ACADEMIA

Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics & Instrumentation from Vidyasagar University, India in 2003

PERSONAL DETAILS

Date of Birth : 15 Feb 1980

Address : 6418 N Maplewood Ave, UNIT 202, Chicago, IL-60645

Email : ali.aitechs@gmail.com

Phone : +1-224-428-4509