Senior Project Manager at Absa Bank Limited

Job Description

Key Accountabilities and Time Split 

Project Definition and Planning: 30%

Outputs:

1. Support development of business requirements to meet their strategic objectives, including assistance in the development of business cases and project Charters for the related projects.
2. Confirm business case and Project Charter sign-off from Project Sponsor and Steering Committee.
3. Define scope and plan the project and agree structure and deliverables based on the agreed/signed off business Requirements.
4. Prepare and agree detailed project responsibilities.
5. Ensure all such investment is well funded and that the senior management are aware of their responsibilities in achieving the successful delivery of the associated projects
6. Agree and secure resource requirements for the Project.
7. Staff Management:15%

Outputs:

1. Agree resource plans with the Change and enablement Lead and manage the recruitment of staff, contractors, and external consultants, as appropriate.
2. Manage and lead project team, provide assistance to less experienced staff by giving guidance and supporting on the job training, as appropriate.
3. Acts as task manager for Implementation Managers in country as appropriate.
4. Regular review of individual and team performance targets.
5. Delegates effectively, allowing team members to take responsibility for performance.
6. Proactively and creatively develops team’s skills encouraging learning and knowledge transfer and recognizing achievements.
7. Identify any training needed to support project implementation planning delivery of training within project timescales.
8. Contribute to the performance assessment of staff undertaking project work.
9. Controls: 5%

Outputs:

1. Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Absa bank Policies and Policy Standards.
2. Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role.
3. Ensure adherence to the Group IT security policy and controls in accessing any system
4. Comply with Operational risk and rigor in respect to protecting our people, customers, assets, and the organization.
5. Ensure all requests are properly authorized and signatures verified before processing.
6. Participate in snap checks and enhance the same if an opportunity arises.
7. Ensure to support audits being performed.

Project Management: 50%

Outputs:

1. Manage large scale projects, leading a project team and dedicated resources to deliver projects in-country or across Africa.
2. Establish and maintain the correct structures to control and monitor the initiation, progress and delivery of the project and comply with the correct structures in line with Project Management Methodology
3. Actively participate in all phases and activities of the project and provide specialist guidance to the project team, particularly in project definition, requirements analysis, business and technical design and change control activities.
4. Control/co-ordinate the work of the project team, allocating tasks, monitoring progress, ensuring awareness of responsibilities, and securing commitment to successful project delivery.
5. Prepare current and accurate forecast of costs, cash flow, timescales and resource requirements and agree with the Project Steering Committee
6. Identify and manage all programme/project issues and risks including their appropriate escalation and contingency management
7. Identify all products and tasks associated with their completion.  Prepare and maintain detailed and accurate project and resource plans, with current estimates for activity completion.
8. Monitor and control the use of resources and funds against the original budget or, where appropriate the latest allocation.  Gain agreement for all changes to the project as necessary.
9. Provide regular and accurate progress reports and updated plans on a regular basis but at least on monthly basis to the project Accountable Executives, impacted senior stakeholders and if appropriate the Programme Manager/Project Steering Committee.
10. Ensure that operational support staff, where appropriate, are adequately trained and prepared for implementation of the solution, that the operational handover is well planned and managed, without any adverse effect on existing systems and processes, and that all SLA commitments are fully achievable.
11. Establish the correct structures to control the ongoing operational service, through the establishment of Service Management Groups and Service Level Agreements.
12. Within the context of a Programme, confirm any plans for the external procurement of resource and services with the Programme Manager.
13. Participate in the process of procuring the external supply of resource and services where called upon.
14. Ensure that all service contracts are in place (signed and executed) before project is implemented
15. Establish an agreed audit plan to monitor progress on a regular basis and to audit quality, as and when appropriate, throughout the life of the contract.
16. Prepare a quality plan for each project that outlines the overall approach to quality, identifies the standards to be employed and/or developed in the preparation of all products and plans for the process of quality assurance, review and control.
17. Ensure that all tasks carried out comply with departmental procedures, mandatory quality standards and agreed architectural framework.
18. Manage the full lifecycle of development from full business case, the handover of project deliverables, completion of the project to post-project review ensuring quality deliverables throughout.
19. Manage compliance with project practices and methodologies while being proactive with any resourcing and financial constraints.
20. Define controls for budgeting, resourcing, scheduling, and quality of project to ensure compliance
21. Implementing self-health-checks and improvements to ensure effective control is always maintained.
22. Standards to be employed and/or developed in the preparation of all products and plans for the process of quality assurance, review, and control.

Education and experience required

Proven project/programme management skills including tracking of task and benefits realization

Preferred

1. Familiar with Prince 2 methodology, PMI, or any other relevant Change/Project management methodology...
2. Knowledge of the Change Governance Framework.
3. Good understanding of value-based management principles
4. Experience of appropriate project/programme management software
5. Planning – strong skill in producing, monitoring, and delivering on project plans.
6. Innovative problem solving – ability to challenge the status quo and drive beneficial change.
7. Value-based business perspective – appreciation of the Absa strategy and of commercial consequences of project /programme management decisions.
8. Managing resources – mobilizes and manages corporate resources against a value-based agenda.

Knowledge and skills: 

Essential 

1. Proven Project Management and Change Management skills and expertise
2. Experience of applying project management best practices and disciplines (e.g., Prince2, MSP or equivalent)
3. Experience of managing activity across the whole of a project lifecycle, using current technology, structured methods and a quality process
4. Exposure to governance, control, and risk management
5. Proven ability to effectively work across teams at all levels
6. Ability to negotiate/influence stakeholders at senior level

Preferred

1. Knowledge of the Absa Change Governance Framework.
2. Good understanding of value-based management principles.
3. Experience of appropriate change/programme management software

Competencies:

• Commercial / Entrepreneurial
• Drive for results
• Relationship /Partnership approach
• Technical skills/knowledge
• Planning and Organizing
• Team building/player
• People Management capability.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)