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James, Project Management Specialist III at Boeing: Advize Career Interview
A strategic career progression, marked by diverse internships and a transition from industrial engineering to project management, led to a Project Management Specialist III role at Boeing.
This professional's daily work involves juggling multiple spacecraft projects, coordinating across various engineering disciplines and company divisions to ensure on-time and within-budget completion.
Success in this demanding role hinges on quickly learning through active listening, collaboration, proactive organization, and efficient resource management, particularly within a complex, large organization like Boeing.
The aerospace industry's constant innovation, coupled with the impact of working on cutting-edge technology for both commercial and governmental projects, are highlighted as key motivators.
A crucial lesson learned is the importance of adaptability and working effectively with diverse teams.
Entry-level positions often begin in technical roles before transitioning to project management, emphasizing the value of transferable skills and a curious, proactive attitude.
A lack of diversity in the industry is acknowledged, with a call for proactive change and pursuing opportunities to increase representation.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
James Moody
Project Management Specialist III
Boeing
Purdue University, 2014
NA
Industrial, Supply Chain Management
Aerospace & Defense
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
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Career path of a Project Management Specialist at Boeing
James's career path showcases a strategic progression from early inventory and procurement roles in high school, through six internships across diverse sectors (medical, automotive, HVAC, and aviation), culminating in a full-time industrial engineering position at an aerospace company. After six and a half years in industrial engineering, "most recently before coming to Boeing," James transitioned into project management, demonstrating a clear trajectory toward their current Project Management Specialist III role.
Main Responsibilities of a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing
James, a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing, is responsible for ensuring "all of those parts and projects were on track" for the creation of various spacecraft, encompassing six product types including electronic components. This involves coordinating across multiple engineering disciplines and company divisions—from finance and procurement to design and operations—to maintain schedules, ensure timely funding and parts acquisition, and confirm correct design and on-time production.
A Day In The Life Of A Project Management Specialist At Boeing
A day for James, a Boeing Project Management Specialist III, begins with "firefighting"—prioritizing projects based on deadlines and addressing immediate issues. The role then involves proactively monitoring schedules, anticipating potential problems, and managing capacity to ensure smooth project execution, a process James describes as "making sure things were moving along".
Most Important Skills For A Project Management Specialist At Boeing
James, a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing, emphasizes the importance of "learning quickly," not through inherent intelligence, but through active listening and asking questions. This proactive approach, combined with flexibility and a willingness to collaborate effectively across diverse teams ("working with people how they want to be worked with"), are key to success in this demanding aerospace role.
Favorite Parts of Being a Project Manager at Boeing
James's biggest challenge as a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing is "being organized and then thinking Time," juggling multiple projects without constant oversight, requiring proactive organization and anticipation of potential issues. This necessitates not only self-management but also coordinating others' efforts and knowing "who knows the answer," highlighting the importance of networking and resourcefulness in a complex role.
Challenges of Working in the Aerospace Industry as a Project Manager
James's biggest challenge as a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing is "being organized and then thinking Time," juggling multiple projects without constant oversight, requiring proactive organization and anticipation of potential issues. This involves not only self-organization but also coordinating others and knowing "who knows the answer," highlighting the importance of networking and efficient resource management in such a complex role.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Aerospace, According To A Project Manager At Boeing
James, a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing, most enjoys the "amount of innovation" in the aerospace industry, citing work on fighter jets, commercial airplanes, and satellites—"basically, if it comes off the ground, James has worked on it." This allows James to be on the "Forefront" of advancements, observing differences in technology between various governments and commercial sectors globally, and contributing to projects with significant real-world impact.
What a Project Management Specialist at Boeing Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Aerospace Industry
Success in the aerospace industry, according to James, a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing, hinges on "being curious" and a willingness to learn; this involves actively listening to experts and understanding how seemingly disparate aspects of a project impact the overall goal, even if it is outside of one's immediate responsibilities, because "we're building aircraft...these things are millions and millions of dollars".
Entry-level Positions For Aspiring Project Management Specialists At Boeing
James, a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing, emphasizes that transferable skills, not specific prior experience, are key to success across industries; the ability to "learn along the way" and not be intimidated by the unknown, as evidenced by their varied internships and career progression from pizza maker to aerospace project manager, is what truly matters.
Significant Career Lesson From A Project Management Specialist At Boeing
Entry-level project management roles at Boeing typically begin on the technical side, often within engineering or a related aerospace field, as "it's kind of hard to lead...if you're like fresh out of water". Individuals gain experience in a technical role, learning "on the job," before transitioning to project management; a curious and attentive attitude is valuable even without prior specialized knowledge.
College Experiences That Helped A Project Manager At Boeing Succeed
James, a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing, learned the significant lesson of adapting to diverse teams, stating "learning how to work with people wherever they're at". This adaptability, crucial in navigating the varied groups—management, operations, finance, procurement, and engineering—found within a large organization like Boeing, allowed James to excel in their career.
How Identity Has Influenced A Project Management Specialist At Boeing's Career
James, a Project Management Specialist III at Boeing, emphasizes the crucial skill of adapting to diverse teams, stating that "everybody's not gonna think like you," highlighting the necessity of learning to work with individuals from various backgrounds and experience levels to succeed in a project management career. This involves making it "easy for people to help you," fostering collaboration across different departments and skill sets.
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