Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Resource Manager

💰 $85,000 - $125,000

OperationsProject ManagementHuman Resources

🎯 Role Definition

The Resource Manager is the strategic hub of our operational efficiency, acting as the critical link between project demands and our talented workforce. This role isn't just about filling slots on a chart; it's about strategic matchmaking. You are the architect of our capacity, ensuring the right people, with the right skills, are assigned to the right projects at the right time. By masterfully balancing project requirements, employee career development, and overarching business objectives, the Resource Manager directly impacts project profitability, client satisfaction, and employee engagement. You are a master negotiator, a data-driven forecaster, and a trusted advisor to leadership, providing the visibility needed to make smart, strategic decisions about our most valuable asset: our people.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Project Coordinator / Project Manager
  • Team Lead / Department Coordinator
  • Operations Analyst or Specialist

Advancement To:

  • Senior Resource Manager / Resource Management Lead
  • Director of Resource Management / Head of Workforce Planning
  • Director of Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Senior Project Manager / Program Manager
  • Operations Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Spearhead the end-to-end resource allocation process, meticulously matching project requirements with team member skills, availability, and career aspirations to ensure optimal project staffing.
  • Develop and maintain sophisticated, long-range resource forecasting models to proactively predict future staffing needs based on sales pipelines, project backlogs, and strategic business initiatives.
  • Act as the central point of contact for resolving complex resource conflicts and contention issues, skillfully negotiating with project managers and department heads to find equitable and effective solutions.
  • Monitor, analyze, and report on key resource management metrics, including utilization, billability, and availability, providing regular, insightful reports to senior leadership to drive data-informed decision-making.
  • Lead weekly resource allocation meetings, facilitating discussions with delivery and practice leaders to review upcoming project pipelines and confirm staffing assignments.
  • Maintain a comprehensive and accurate view of organization-wide capacity, highlighting current and future skill gaps or surpluses to inform hiring and training strategies.
  • Collaborate closely with Talent Acquisition and HR to translate resource forecasts into a strategic hiring plan, ensuring a pipeline of talent is available to meet future demand.
  • Manage and maintain the Professional Services Automation (PSA) or resource management tool, ensuring data integrity and accuracy for all project assignments and employee profiles.
  • Proactively identify and recommend process improvements within the resource management function to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and overall effectiveness.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to project managers, providing guidance on resource planning best practices and helping to define realistic resource needs during the project initiation phase.
  • Conduct regular skills assessments and maintain an up-to-date skills matrix or talent directory to provide a clear view of the organization's capabilities.
  • Analyze project profitability and team performance in relation to resource allocation, identifying trends and opportunities for improvement.
  • Manage the allocation of freelance and contract resources, from sourcing and vetting to onboarding and offboarding, ensuring compliance and budget adherence.
  • Facilitate smooth transitions for team members rolling off projects, minimizing unassigned time by proactively identifying their next assignment.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer strategic questions from leadership regarding workforce composition and deployment.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader operational strategy and annual planning process by providing data-backed insights on workforce capacity and cost.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate their strategic goals into tangible resource and workforce planning requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and other agile ceremonies to stay aligned with project teams and understand evolving resource needs in real-time.
  • Assist in the development and refinement of career pathing frameworks by providing data on skill demand and utilization.
  • Champion the importance of accurate time tracking and data entry across the organization to ensure the reliability of resource management data.
  • Contribute to the onboarding process for new hires, explaining the resource management function and their role within it.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Resource Management Software Proficiency: Deep expertise in using Professional Services Automation (PSA) tools such as Kantata, Forecast, NetSuite OpenAir, or similar platforms.
  • Advanced Data Analysis & Excel: Ability to manipulate large datasets, build complex formulas, create pivot tables, and develop sophisticated forecasting models in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
  • Reporting & Visualization: Experience with BI tools like Power BI, Tableau, or Google Data Studio to create intuitive dashboards and reports on key metrics like utilization and capacity.
  • Project Management Fundamentals: Strong understanding of the project lifecycle, project planning principles, and common methodologies (Agile, Waterfall).
  • Financial Acumen: Ability to understand the financial implications of resource decisions, including concepts like billability, margin, and project profitability.

Soft Skills

  • Negotiation & Influence: The ability to skillfully negotiate with and influence stakeholders at all levels, from team members to senior executives, to achieve optimal outcomes.
  • Conflict Resolution: Adept at navigating and resolving complex and sensitive staffing conflicts with diplomacy and a solutions-oriented mindset.
  • Exceptional Communication: Clear, concise, and persuasive communication skills (both written and verbal) to articulate complex resource situations and recommendations.
  • Strategic & Analytical Thinking: The capacity to see the bigger picture, connect disparate pieces of information, and translate data into actionable strategic insights.
  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: An unwavering commitment to data accuracy and a thorough approach to managing intricate scheduling and allocation details.
  • Poise & Professionalism: Maintaining a calm, confident, and professional demeanor, especially when mediating high-pressure situations.
  • Stakeholder Management: Excels at building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with diverse groups, including project managers, department heads, and HR.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or Operations Management. Project Management Professional (PMP) or a related certification is a strong plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management
  • Human Resources
  • Project Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-8 years of progressive experience, with at least 3-4 years in a dedicated resource management, workforce planning, or senior project coordination role.

Preferred: Experience in a dynamic, project-based environment such as a consulting firm, digital agency, or professional services organization is highly desirable.

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