Maaire Gyengne Francis,
Hybrid Project Manager
Ghana • --• LinkedIn
Visionary and resourceful professional with over 8 years proven expertise in spearheading multiple technology-driven projects and driving cross functional collaboration globally, leveraging in-depth knowledge of business analyst/project management methodologies, tools, and techniques. Expert at validating new processes with business stakeholders and product owners, experience in managing project lifecycle and development cycle, including Agile/Scrum ceremonies, user story development, product backlog and User Acceptance Testing Cycle (UAT). Passionate about contributing to continuous improvement and development of best practice in products. Skilled at maintaining compliance with company policies, procedures, and building regulations.
Areas of Expertise
Agile Project Management
Scrum Frameworks
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Project Lifecycle Management
Software Product Knowledge
Product Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Microsoft Office Products
Business Process Mapping
Critical and Analytical Thinking
Jira, MS Project, Excel & Trello
Budgeting & Resource Mgmt
Professional Experience
Almond Careers and Consulting, London, United Kingdom 2023-present
IT Hybrid Project Manager (2024-present)
Led a £95,000 project to develop a user-friendly languages learning website. Oversaw the creation of an MVP, focusing on features for Admin, Tutors, and Students.
Conducted a comprehensive analysis of client requirements to define project scope.
Developed a detailed project plan, splitting tasks into manageable groups for efficient execution.
Worked closely with the UK-based client to understand their vision and goals. Translated client needs into actionable tasks, maintaining effective communication throughout the project.
Orchestrated the development of key features for Admin users, including Terms and Policies, Jobs Management, FAQ, Student Records, Contact Us, and Events.
Provided guidance to the development team, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. Implemented a rigorous testing process to ensure the MVP met high-quality standards. Conducted regular reviews and refinements to enhance the overall user experience. Facilitated communication between Admin, Tutors, and Students to optimize user interactions, Addressed feedback from stakeholders to continuously improve the platform.
Hybrid Project Manager (2023 – 2024)
Led a team to developed a cutting-edge web portal, revolutionizing their appointment booking and medication management processes. Orchestrator, shaping the overarching vision and roadmap for the program backlog ensuring alignment between stakeholders and development teams. Support and collaborate closely with stakeholders and product owners, facilitating a clear understanding of the needs and priorities. Define and outline the project scope, objectives and success criteria, incorporate metrics to measure the effectiveness of our integrated care solution implementation at Almond Careers using agile scrum methodologies.
Managed project budgets ranging from £30000 to £80000, achieving cost savings £20000 through effective resource allocation and negotiation with vendors.
Developed a comprehensive project plan, specifying timelines, tasks, and resource allocation with quantifiers, aiming for a minimum of a 10% increase in efficiency and a 15% reduction in costs compared to baseline projections.
Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders, including IT teams, all personnel, and software vendors, maintaining transparent communication channels to achieve a 20% improvement in collaboration efficiency.
Supervised the execution of the project plan, monitoring task progress to ensure timely completion within the established budgetary constraints, with a commitment to achieving a 90% completion rate of project milestones and a 5% cost savings compared to the initial budget.
Created a comprehensive RAID (Risk, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies) risk log that effectively identified project risk resulting in 20% decrease in risk and associated cost. Leveraging this log I proposed mitigation plans for identified risks, ensuring proactive risk management throughout the project lifecycle.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi Ghana2021 – 2022
Research Assistant
Coordinated end-to-end project to improve measurement and to drive innovation and competitiveness. Collaborated with industrial organizations and academia on joint research project. Utilised remote support tools to provide technical report. Demonstrated familiarity with software development tools and processes. Multitasked effectively, handling concurrent chat sessions indicating the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently. Delivered informative presentations on research findings.
Demonstrated significance of Ghana's commitment as signatory to Minamata Convention, aimed at safeguarding human health, particularly in context of small-scale mining. Managed project that revealed a significant increase in mercury contamination levels, emphasising the urgent need for government intervention.
Jozef Stefan Institute 2019 – 2021
Research Assistant
Authored a comprehensive report summarizing project findings, published on Slovenia National Digital Archives, SCI Journal, and presented research findings at international conferences, showcasing experience in collaborating with content teams and managing content build for external review. Acted as research lead to direct $2M project funded by European Union and United Nations Environmental Programme Minamata Mercury Project, demonstrating experience in managing projects.
Transferred the developed measurement infrastructure in the project to standard development organizations such as the Minamata Convention (2013) and Air Quality Directive 2004/107/EC, indicating knowledge of software products lifecycle and execution planning.
Succeeded in securing research funding of €33,000 by spearheading year-long research project, investigating mercury contamination in Europe's second oldest and largest former mercury mine and the cement production facilities in Salonit Anhovo amidst the global pandemic, showcasing adaptability to new challenges and the ability to manage production/process problems..
National Data Centre, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission 2018 – 2019
Intern/IT Project Lead
Managed computer network maintenance, troubleshooting hardware and software issues for smooth operations. Administered servers, ensured proper system configuration and maintenance. Oversaw hardware management, inventory, and new setups. Organized IT training, provided documentation, collaborated cross-functionally to address IT needs, and facilitated tech integration projects, engaging with stakeholders for system enhancement discussions.
Implemented security measures ensuring 95% of network reliability and infrastructure safeguarding. Achieved enhanced connectivity and reliability through effective network maintenance coordination.
Reduced downtime and increased operational efficiency through effective technical support team leadership. Ensured seamless operation of technological systems through collaboration with IT professionals. Ensured properly configured and maintained servers, performing routine updates and backups.
Successfully managed installation, configuration, and maintenance of systems and applications.
Developed comprehensive training programs and user guides, improving staff proficiency with technology. Contributed to enhancing documentation for common IT procedures, aiding in troubleshooting. Contributed to security awareness programs for agency staff, ensuring a secure IT environment.
Action Through Enterprise, Lawra, Ghana 2017 - 2019
Project Officer
Developed a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress. Measured project performance using specific tools and techniques. Attended conferences and training as required to maintain proficiency. Managed the operations of the basic assistance, education and food security projects. Monitored and reported on project status to ensure cost-effectiveness and schedule adherence. Led meetings with department executives to review project status and draft action plans to deliver proposed changes. Prepared project coordination documentation such as project proposals, business cases and risk register.
Created 15 employment opportunities for 40 vulnerable women from underprivileged communities, specializing in soap making, skin care products, beads, cultural artifacts, and various other ventures.
Achieved organization's goal, leading to expansion beyond Ghana to newly commissioned location in Kenya by making significant contributions to increase school enrolment for disadvantaged children; initiated policies that resulted in creation of several portfolios, generating employment opportunities for youth in region.
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), Ghana 2015 – 2016
Team Leader
Managed IPA technical assistance for differentiated learning(DL) scale-up in Ghana, drive multiple streams of work forward towards a common goal of evidence-based scale-up of DL in Ghana, directly supervised a highly functioning team to conduct technical assistance, cultivated relationships with local top-level decision makers in the healthcare sector, work together with global policy and communication team to lead and participate in strategic events, oversee project financial management including project budget creation and management.
Supported team of enumerators in achieving remarkable reduction in maternal mortality rate within Upper West Region, lowering it from 193 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017 to unprecedented record low of 18 deaths per 100,000 births in 2019.
Implemented study that successfully raised health awareness among women and households while highlighting prevalent challenges, such as logistical issues and equipment shortages faced by healthcare facilities.
Integrated Development Enterprise (IDE), USA/Ghana 2014 – 2015
Project Enumerator
Education & Credentials
Master of Science in Ecotechnology, 2021
Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School
Bachelor of Science in Geomatic Engineering, 2018
University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa
IBM(International Business Machines): CLM (collaborative lifecycle management) for SAFe Level 1(Certificate)
Stockholm University: Introduction to the Assessment and Management of Chemicals (Certificate)
Training and Courses
PMaspire: AI-based baseline PMO software. Manage critical projects, milestones, sub-tasked with WBS, also critical path dimension with AI base dashboard. Assess 10 types of detail reporting, view forecasting with budgeting, EVM, CPI, SPI, BAC, & EAC. And Manage risk, probably issues with standard parameters.
Project Management: Introduction to project management (Hays, UK).
Sustainable business through green HR (RMIT University, Australia): sustainable approaches to human resources (Green HR), and identify various types of sustainability models.
Foundations of Project Management (Google Certification): skills: organisational culture, career development, change management, project management and strategic thinking.
Agile Project Management: Project Management Institute: skills gained; Agile Methodologies and Agile Project Management.
Introduction to Computing: Lancaster University and Institute of Coding
Affiliations: Associate Member, AMIMarEST (Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology), 2023-present:
