Khaleen Monaro

Years with MIL: 1

What were you doing before joining MIL?

Before joining MIL I enjoyed a varied career. I’ve worked in the foreign service, developing national policy on trade and development, even participating in the Doha Development Round of negotiations at the WTO; in the security field, developing policy relevant to transnational organized crime; in the development sector at USAID, managing democracy and governance program; and finally as a consultant focused on process modernization and process improvement in the telecoms and publishing industries.

Why did you decide to join MIL?

A year ago, I moved to DC in search of new challenges and the Shared Services Provider (SSP) field is still relatively new. Estimates vary from a low of 50% to a high of 75& of ERP projects end in failure. I felt the novelty of the SSP environment would significantly stack the cards against federal projects with their inherent bureaucracies and regulations. In addition to the responsiveness of the back office and the warm and engaging culture that was quite evident, MIL presented the unique opportunity for me to witness some growing pains of the budding sector and challenge of myself.

What are you working on now?

The components under my purview are in every stage of implementation, ranging from pre-discovery to design and development, to O&M.  I am the IV&V SME for risk, requirements, data management, and contract management. I monitor each project to verify and validate processes and program deliverables against best practice in these areas, and also contribute to the evaluation of organizational change, business process reengineering, and configuration management. In a typical day I get the opportunity to stir several pots. Just today, I reviewed a service design document against ITIL best practice; provided counsel on the necessity of certain input in an SLA; evaluated the need for and staffing of the PMO; identified a potential risk to the security framework; and continued to monitor and report on project re-scoping for a project in transition to a new service provider.

What are the best aspects about your current job?

I enjoy a wide variety of responsibilities in my job, which I crave. Besides the variety, I enjoy the novelty of the field. It’s hard to find best practice in the SSP environment. So in a sense, I feel like I’m helping to create that best practice. Even when results differ from the plan, I still consider this program to be a great learning opportunity that will one day shape the way we manage and evaluate all SSP ERP projects.

Why do you enjoy working at MIL?

I came for the experience and was surprised by the people. My team, led by Jason Hannah, has been extraordinarily supportive! I can count on my manager to be an advocate for me internally and externally. It’s great to know that while I’m out slaying ERP dragons, someone is always watching my back. Every effort is appreciated, from the “timesheets day!” text messages to the fight to keep my team adequately staffed.

What is the best piece of career advice you can offer someone in your field who is either applying to or beginning a career at MIL?

Absolutely take advantage of the MIL Skillsport! Sometimes it may seem like a challenge to find the time to take advantage of the training opportunities that MIL provides, but it should be a priority. Within one month of completing a course on project scheduling and Microsoft Projects, I had to review the Integrated Master Schedule for one of the DHS projects. That training provided the basis for my recommendations on the identification of project milestones, incorporating project resources, and adding constraints and dependencies. That course significantly improved the rigorous analysis that was used to advise the CFO on the likelihood and risks of the proposed Go-Live dates, which carried significant cost implications.