Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Kathleen J. Barnett

Toronto

Summary

Project leader with proven success in delivering projects on time and within budget. Expertise in facilitating training sessions, managing cross-functional teams, and conducting process improvements. Strong focus on client service and effective communication with senior stakeholders. Exceptional written communication and report writing skills enhance project documentation and stakeholder engagement.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Project Manager/ Consultant

Rexall Pharmacies Inc.
09.2019 - 01.2025
  • Provided project management support to clients, executing projects from planning to completion. Daily tasks include managing budgets, training, resources, and relationships to achieve organizational objectives, as well as planning, developing and executing schedules to ensure timely completion of projects.
  • Worked with senior leaders and stakeholders to identify projects and deliverables that support business goals.
  • Developed Project plans,charters,resource allocation and specific project roles and responsibilities.
  • Drafting of all communication from senior leadership and executive team.
  • Issue and respond to Request for Proposals (RFP) as required to obtain technical support resources.
  • Assist in development and coordination of educational materials and scheduling of training sessions.
  • Worked to define and monitor each team member’s role and function and coordinate all team activities throughout the life cycle of a project
  • Support included facilitating meetings; building positive relationships with clients, vendors and management; tracking documentation and data collection and conducting follow-up on projects.
  • Demonstrated technical aptitude in implementing, administering and supporting tasks related to new software implementation.
  • Lead field team managers and internal cross functional team members (marketing, finance, procurement and store design) communications and task tracking.
  • Experience in analyzing complex problems and identified actionable resolutions including incorporating continuous improvement best practices into post implementation review.
  • Managed critical path for new facility openings including all communications to cross functional teams and senior leadership.
  • Awarded 3 Applause Awards by Senior VP, Director and Peers for work on various projects.

Project Manager, Merchandise Implementation Planning

The Home Depot, Toronto
08.2010 - 09.2017
  • Lead a cross functional team for the rollout of new product launches and full category line reviews. Responsible for the development of the project plans, including critical paths and budget based on the company's business development strategies. Liaison with vendor partners to secure product availability, vendor funding and managed overall relationships. Managed risks against delivery and reported weekly status to senior leadership.
  • Development of strategies to ensure flawless execution of merchandising projects in the field to ensure 'Better in-store execution and improved speed to market' obtained through consistent follow up and strict escalation policies.
  • Recognized for outstanding vendor relationship management resulting in seamless funding negotiations with minimal global sourcing delays.
  • Worked with procurement to order displays, signage and fixturing as required by store design team for planogram execution.
  • Reviewed planogram with merchant and analytics team to ensure correct facing and store sales forecasts.
  • Motivated a cross functional team to deliver and minimize project disruption for all store retrofits, re-designs and new store openings across Canada.
  • Conducted detailed Proof of Concept studies in store and at innovation center for use in creating 'How to Guides' for field merchandising teams for roll-out.
  • Excellent partnerships with teams and vendors to ensure transparent risk reporting.
  • Motivated teams to embrace new process change through change management methodologies.
  • Act as the integrator across a range of program contributors including internal groups, vendors, service teams and field partners by identifying and managing dependencies.
  • Maintains quality and fiscal control of projects. Provide metrics, measurement, evaluation and reporting as needed in support of capital projects.
  • Increased level of complexity and responsibilities during tenure due to excellence in delivery, Awarded - Homer Award for customer service excellence 2011.

Project Manager, Consultant - Loblaw Companies

Capgemini Canada, Toronto
07.2008 - 07.2010
  • Lead the planning and managed business inputs required for a supply chain transformation, including the consultant project resource team and procuring the network infrastructure inventory. Responsible for all inventory procurement for the 8 project sites. Developed and executed the communications plan. Facilitated weekly status updates and identified project risks. Identified opportunities to improve process including:
  • Established a distribution centre 'Learning Lab' on the client site for the client to observe and simulate with new hardware. Initiated and established the infrastructure and managed the training experience.
  • Initiated a post software implementation review to provide the client with 'lessons learnt' and foresight for future implementations.
  • Developed a communications structure between the 8 project sites to ensure consistency of project delivery and identify issues and provide resolutions.

Project Manager, Retail Operations

Sears Canada, Toronto
04.2007 - 07.2008
  • Developed new business strategies for the Parts and Repairs Services Division as a member of the project team focused on the Home Improvements Recharge initiative. Ensured Key Performance Indicators were aligned to strategic project objectives. Developed and executed all communications to the field organization and updated senior leadership team. Managed stakeholder relations to facilitate business decisions and control project risks. Managed cross functional teams to achieve excellence in project delivery.
  • Assisted with the development of new business strategies for the Parts and Repairs Services division increasing revenue and improving EBITDA, including the redesign of the existing business model.
  • Active participant on the project team for the Home Improvements Recharge initiative achieving the goal of doubling EBITDA from $8.7 million in 2006 to $20 million in 2008. Resulting from a focus on key businesses and introducing new products and services.
  • Developed In -Store Integration strategy roadmaps for Home Installed Service business
  • Assist in the design of a new integrated service model and implications for traditional service structure (training, compensation etc.)
  • Developed merchandising strategy for new concept stores

Marketing Analyst, Store Operations

Sears Canada, Toronto
12.2005 - 04.2007
  • Managed the relationship between Sears Canada’s Corporate Office and its Dealer stores. Developed business cases for dealer owned new store openings, retrofits and operational transitions. This included floor plan development, merchandise space allocation by category, coordination of annual strategic and tactical plans, marketing and in store display. Provided consistent monitoring tools, reporting processes, analysis of data for decision making. This all ensuring corporate standards were met and stores reached their profitability targets.
  • Ensured flawless execution of critical path initiatives for dealer store opening timelines – Coordinated and managed various cross- functional merchandising and support teams to deliver and execute tasks required to open new stores nationally

Education

Honors Bachelor of Business Administration - Communications Minor

Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario
01.2005

Skills

  • Project planning
  • Project planning and development
  • Project scheduling
  • Team collaboration
  • Project tracking
  • Customer relations
  • Stakeholder communications
  • Budgeting and forecasting
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Contract management
  • Data analysis
  • Agile methodology
  • Functional & business requirements

Certification

  • Introduction to Project Management. McMaster University for Sears Canada June 2007
  • Foundations of Project Management Course University of Toronto Aug 2018
  • PMP- Project Management Professional Certification Current

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual

Timeline

Project Manager/ Consultant

Rexall Pharmacies Inc.
09.2019 - 01.2025

Project Manager, Merchandise Implementation Planning

The Home Depot, Toronto
08.2010 - 09.2017

Project Manager, Consultant - Loblaw Companies

Capgemini Canada, Toronto
07.2008 - 07.2010

Project Manager, Retail Operations

Sears Canada, Toronto
04.2007 - 07.2008

Marketing Analyst, Store Operations

Sears Canada, Toronto
12.2005 - 04.2007

Honors Bachelor of Business Administration - Communications Minor

Wilfrid Laurier University

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Kathleen J. Barnett