East Africa Cluster Lead - Senior Project Manager at JLL

Role Purpose

• This role works for our multinational banking client across their commercial offices and retail branches in Kenya and the wider East Africa region. The main outcome of this position is to lead multi-disciplined real estate project solutions for the client, with direct accountability for end-to-end project delivery, and to act as the on-the-ground delivery anchor for Kenya and East Africa — flexing to meet whatever Kenya and regional project requirements arise. The role combines hands-on senior project delivery with leadership of a small delivery team and day-to-day client and stakeholder relationship management.

What This Job Involves

Project Delivery

• Be responsible for all aspects of project management (programme, budget, quality, scope, internal & external procurement & risk) for retail banking and commercial office projects, across planning, design, construction, occupancy and closeout.
• Lead the most complex projects in the Kenya / East Africa portfolio and remain adaptable to changing Kenya and regional project requirements.
• Develop the client brief and Project Execution Plans to suit the specific requirements of each project.
• Manage (internal & external) design teams in the development of design solutions to meet the client's expectations and budget.
• Manage and liaise with the local government and regulatory approvals process with support from consultants and contractors.
• Administer complex contracts, proactively managing and confirming the compliance of contractors/consultants to contract terms and conditions.
• Lead the compilation of tender documents and critically review tender returns, contract negotiations, award of contracts and client reporting.
• Develop project documentation, programme and master cost plan with cost management support.
• Monitor and report on the contractor's progress against the contract programme; ensure both the contractor's design and the built product comply with the contract.
• Steer and manage schedules, budgets and change orders, whether client or contractor driven.
• Deliver projects within the agreed framework of risk, sustainability and environmental considerations, while maintaining focus on time, cost and quality.

Team & Stakeholder Leadership

• Lead and develop a small East Africa delivery team, including direct line management of one Project Manager, plus oversight of 3rd-party delivery resources/teams. Responsible for tracking performance, motivating the team and building delivery capability as the portfolio grows.
• Act as the primary point of contact for the client and stakeholders in Kenya and East Africa — owning relationship management, expectation setting and clear, proactive communication.
• Build and maintain the project picture for the region — keeping leadership and stakeholders informed of status, risks and decisions.

Governance & Reporting

• Develop Weekly Project Status Reports and other deliverables required at relevant project stages.
• Strongly own the project management tools for assigned projects and maintain their completeness and accuracy; report on cloud-based project management software.
• Participate in and contribute to PMO oversight of the cluster in terms of governance, assurance and performance trends.
• Travel as necessary across Kenya and East Africa for the delivery assurance of projects.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct line management of one Project Manager.
• Manages 3rd-party project delivery resources/teams. Responsible for tracking performance and motivating team members.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree, preferably from an Architecture or Civil background, from a reputed local or international university.
• Minimum 6+ years of relevant project management experience in fit-out, corporate interiors or commercial real estate delivery, with a strong track record of leading projects end-to-end.
• Demonstrable experience delivering retail banking, financial services or similarly regulated corporate projects strongly preferred.
• Kenya / East Africa market experience and familiarity with the regional regulatory, consultant and contractor ecosystem.
• Experience managing consultants, contractors and complex contracts across the full project lifecycle.
• Some experience leading or mentoring a small team preferred.
• PMP or LEED AP qualification preferred.

Key Competencies

• Senior delivery discipline and ownership — sees issues, owns them, solves them.
• Strong client-facing stakeholder management; able to operate credibly as the regional point of contact with senior client representatives.
• Adaptable and resourceful — comfortable flexing to meet evolving Kenya and East Africa requirements.
• People leadership — able to manage, motivate and develop a small delivery team and 3rd-party resources.
• Commercially astute — cost control, tendering, contract administration and change management.
• Precise, audit-ready documentation and reporting habits.
• Fluent English required.