Platform Manager, Workspace Solutions

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.

Information Technology Solutions (ITS) is AARP's technology leader in positive social change and member value, enabling a more effective workforce and globally connecting employees, members, volunteers, partners and advocates to maximize engagement.

The Platform Manager – Workspace Solutions is the servant leader on a platform team responsible for the platform’s vision, strategy, outcomes, metrics, and alignment with organizational needs and AARP’s technology standards. This position is accountable for creating and socializing the platform strategy and associated outcomes within the enterprise and will be expected to deliver incremental business value in an agile environment. The Platform Manager – Workspace Solutions must be a multi-faceted technologist able to create a meaningful platform vision, orchestrate a variety of stakeholders to define shared priorities, manage a full platform lifecycle that balances short-term achievements with long-term goals, and build a sense of ownership within the team.

This person will manage other members of the team, including the Engineer(s) and Delivery Lead(s).

Management Responsibilities

Platform Strategy

• Define, lead, and communicate a strategy and vision for the platform team that aligns with broader enterprise goals around digital transformation, innovation, automation, rapid delivery, and cloud enablement.
• Develop platform strategy and positioning based on platform maturity from defining platform fit in the early stages to scaling the team and operations in later stages.
• Identify platform users, alternative platforms, business needs, and the macro environment for the platform by leveraging the platform management framework.
• Determine user needs and desires by leveraging customer/employee journeys and specifying the research needed to obtain additional user information.
• Create a platform strategy that describes the target capability areas and the method for achieving business goals that reflects a deep understanding of the platform, capability team focus areas, enterprise goals, and technology.
• Develop and implement a distributed governance capability to allow multiple independent delivery teams while still adhering to common architectural concepts and utilizing common (shared) components for standardization.

Lifecycle Management

• Lead platform management lifecycle from concept to roadmap to ongoing implementation/support.
• Promote a focus on improving the business value of AARP’s technology investments by delivering continuous improvement and lowering on-going operating costs of the platform.
• Define, track and communicate key platform performance indicators to inform success criteria and track business results.
• Creates return on investment (ROI) for investment proposals to obtain funding for new initiatives and significant enhancements.
• Create business-value based objectives and user stories for upcoming sprints.
• Evaluate business needs against platform functionality to determine platform applicability.
• Advise capability teams on platform best practices around design, toolsets and integrations.
• Follows ITS DR Policy and Standards.
• Creates DR Plan for identified technology solution.
• Devises testing strategy and/or test plan for the technology solution.
• Provides artifacts to ITRM to validate compliance with ITS DR Policy and Standards.

Team Management

• Lead, manage, and mentor the platform team to design, deliver, measure, and improve business outcomes using an agile approach.
• Adhere to baseline competencies in customer relationship management, strategy development, roadmap creation, rapid delivery, and operational support defined for all platform teams.
• Implements information security requirements in accordance with AARP policies and standards.
• Incorporates security requirements into ongoing sprints and operations.
• Addresses and remediates security risks as identified by the Security Team.
• Ensure the team focuses on work that aligns with the platform strategy and enterprise needs as defined by customer and/or employee journeys.
• Build the right mix of skills on the team and grow talent by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training team members.
• Collaborate with the team during complex discussions with business stakeholders, vendors, or technology, particularly when determining the technical requirements/capabilities needed to meet business goals.

Relationship Management

• Communicate platform vision, strategy and roadmap to business, ITS, vendor, and other relevant AARP stakeholders.
• Negotiate reprioritization of the platform roadmap and backlog with key stakeholders and leadership.
• Manage platform vendor relationship, including both professional services and licensing contracting.
• Promote platform functionality to key stakeholders across the enterprise.
• Publicize success stories within the leadership teams of the enterprise to foster the adoption of the platform and its benefits as widely as possible, enhancing overall ROI for the platform.

Technical Leadership / Active Practitioner

• Participate in a Community of Interest for platform managers across all capability (platform) teams to share information and strengthen understanding of business needs and technology-based business solutions.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Provide critical input to other capability and platform teams as needed to ensure alignment with broader enterprise architecture and strategic objectives.

Domain Responsibilities

• Manages a team that is responsible for designing, implementing, and operating the physical network cabling, analog phone and fax lines, audiovisual systems, and multimedia platforms, including digital signage and IPTV, for all AARP workspaces.
• Manages cross-functional teams tasked with delivering strategic technology projects; often requiring collaboration with a variety of support teams and drive them from conception to completion.
• Analyzes business processes and identifies new opportunities for projects, procedures, or tools that will improve the maturation of workplace capabilities, including integrations with HVAC, lighting, building security, and audiovisual systems.
• Delivers large-scale technology infrastructure deployments and upgrades to AARP workspaces in Washington DC and more than 50 facilities nationally.
• Manages service providers for network cabling, multimedia platforms (Haivision), and audiovisual systems. Coordinates daily with a multitude of third-party vendors for building maintenance, lighting, HVAC, printers, and physical security and ensures adherence to contract and corresponding SLAs.
• Effectively communicates complex technical information to a non-technical audience orally and in writing.

Desired Education and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field

Work Experience

• 5+ years of workspace technology/infrastructure management experience required.
• 10+ years of IT management experience a plus.
• Product management experience desired.
• A demonstrated ability to work within a team and build consensus towards a strategic direction.
• Strong technical expertise in executing proofs of concept and experimentation with development teams as well as product delivery and support.
• Knowledge of business processes in finance, accounting, contract management, and marketing.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams on large-scale technology projects and programs.
• Strong vendor management experience.
• Experience managing teams in virtual workspaces.
• Infrastructure management skills and an understanding of GPON network infrastructure and integrated services.
• Possess an understanding of HVAC systems, network cabling, backup power systems, access control, and other components included in or connected to the GPON and switch network infrastructure.
• Possess detailed knowledge of audiovisual and multimedia systems, including the Microsoft Surface Hub and IPTV
• Must demonstrate strong communications skills orally and in writing.

AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.

At AARP, the health and well-being of our candidates, employees, and members is a top priority. As a result of the COVID pandemic, all interviews will be held virtually and all non-essential employees will continue to work remotely until further notice. AARP has established social distancing policies to ensure the safety of our essential employees.

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.