Took an AI-enabled content analytics capability from R&D prototype through to a globally implemented, productionised solution. Stood up the product teams, processes and delivery approaches to enable this to scale across multiple teams and clients to deliver multi-million-pound revenue for RAPP as a key product offering.
Ross Dean
Technical Programme Manager
Introduction
Building websites at the age of 14 and managing dedicated servers by 16 ignited a lifelong obsession with technology. Today, that hands-on foundation drives my work as a Technical Programme Manager. With over 14 years of global delivery experience, I specialise in navigating digital ecosystems, spanning engineering, data science, MarTech and AI, turning complexity into reality.
I am relentlessly curious and continually look to drive efficiency using an analytical mindset. Accustomed to working in high-pressure environments with complex requirements and ever-changing priorities, I always maintain focus on quality and results-driven outcomes. I am an effective leader, experienced in enabling and empowering cross-continental, multi-disciplinary delivery teams to ship high-quality work at velocity.
Career Highlights
Worked with technical SMEs to implement SDLC principles, including CI/CD pipelines, code management, code security scanning, penetration testing and data compliance.
Worked closely with the CTO and Head of Product to build and prioritise a complex product roadmap, breaking the work into key initiatives. Increased team velocity to ship new features at a greater pace and set up the foundations to scale the team headcount from single to double digits in 6 months.
Set up a PMO & Ops function within Rapier Communications, including standing up commercial, resource management and ops processes. Implemented and embedded Jira for effective roadmapping, workflow management and delivery.
Drove real operational change within Three Mobile’s CVM (Customer Value Management) team whilst on secondment for 8 months, embedding myself within a team of 14, collaboratively driving the stand-up of new processes, documentation and ways of working to enable effective campaign delivery and team throughput.
Implemented the analytics datamart and reporting for CRM activation, enabling the CRM team to implement KPIs and measurement frameworks consistently and reliably across all of their campaign activations.
Delivered a Salesforce implementation for a blue-chip client with complex regulatory requirements around data tokenisation, as well as integrating multiple data sources to enable complex business requirements and needs, working directly with Salesforce and third-party partners.
Credentials
PM & Programme Management
Cloud Infrastructure
SDLC
Experience
Technical Programme Director @ RAPP
- Implemented the operating processes for RAPP Labs (in-house R&D team), working to establish a consolidated roadmap and backlog across key capabilities and products and implementing delivery through agile principles.
- Managed global leadership upwardly through sprint reviews, monthly updates and collateral.
- Took a key AI-enabled analytics capability (Content Intelligence) from R&D into a fully productionised platform.
- Set up the programme structure to enable the delivery of a product backlog using onshore, nearshore and offshore resources.
- Implemented Content Intelligence from a POC through to a fully operational solution for Mercedes-Benz.
- Worked with technical SMEs to ensure compliancy guardrails were met to satisfy Omnicom and client compliance requirements (ISO, TISAX, etc.). Oversaw the implementation of CI/CD pipelines, code management, security scanning and data governance workstreams.
- Set up the programme structure for the management of Mercedes-Benz Global MarTech workstreams. Managed a team of tech strategists and technical consultants on the implementation of global MarTech solutions and products for Mercedes-Benz.
- Led Mercedes-Benz Global MarTech change management, implementing new operating processes, team structures and delivery approaches to enable effective delivery of the Mercedes-Benz content management and creation product portfolio.
Technical Project Director @ Rapier Communications
- Orchestrated the creation and prioritisation of the complex product roadmap from inception through to delivery with key stakeholders and SMEs.
- Set up a PMO function focused on the implementation and optimisation of product management and operational processes, allowing for more efficient delivery, resource and commercial management to scale the business headcount from single to double digits.
- Set up and implemented Jira for cross-disciplinary workflow management within the business using agile principles.
- Led a workstream to build robust product and technical documentation leveraging Confluence.
- Worked with the CTO to create the target operating model across the data and analytics team, improving ways of working across the delivery process to increase quality and speed of delivery.
- Worked with a third-party IT consultancy and the CTO to implement best-in-class IT and infrastructure management to ensure IT and data compliance. Oversaw the process to gain Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
- Oversaw the implementation of DevOps for the Rapier Platform using CI/CD principles.
- Project-managed the delivery of strategic projects including customer segmentations (creation and analysis), proposition design and the creation and implementation of CRM models (e.g., high value, risk/churn, etc.).
- Oversaw the project manager responsible for platform operations, accountable for platform data refreshes, releases and change management, all of which were defined by our PMO function.
Agency Secondment @ Three UK (MRM Secondment)
- Defined and implemented new processes and ops models within Three’s CVM and marketing functions.
- Set up campaign delivery processes and artefacts (briefing templates, campaign checklists, capacity management, etc.).
- Oversaw the setup of toolsets to enable effective delivery, e.g., Teams, SharePoint and Atlassian (Jira & Confluence).
- Set up robust project management methodologies on Three’s digital transformation workstream, including RAID logs, project plans and prioritisation backlogs. Held offshore vendors accountable for the compliant delivery of Adobe Marketing Cloud.
- Led the delivery of a Tableau analytics dashboard, consuming data feeds from multiple sources to enable effective campaign measurement using third-party vendors.
Project Director @ MRM
- Managed MarTech consultancy and operationalisation projects across Adobe and Salesforce Marketing clouds.
- Delivered strategic projects such as loyalty propositions, CRM and sales tools for Cigna, Halfords and Three.
- Managed analytics and test-and-learn integrations using tools such as Google Analytics and the Adobe Marketing Cloud suite (e.g., Adobe Analytics, Adobe Target and AEM), rolling out test and optimisation programmes.
- Managed hosting setup and management, migrations and on-going tech support.
- Managed multi-disciplinary project delivery teams of over 20 people from across continents, both inside and outside of the agency network.
- Led multi-lingual website platform delivery using AEM, Umbraco, WordPress and bespoke CMS solutions from brief to deployment, engaging strategy, UX, design, development and QA functions for Vauxhall, Microsoft, OnStar and SABIC.