Senior Project Manager at Absa Bank Limited

Job Summary

• To provide project management services and to develop, maintain and enhance operational business relationships.

Job Purpose:

• Reporting to the Head of Change, the role holder is expected to take full responsibility for the successful delivery of business and technical solutions in support of the strategic and operational objectives of Absa Bank Kenya Plc.

The delivery can involve:

• A business-critical project of large to medium size and complexity, or
• A major work stream of a large and complex project, or
• Smaller and/or less complex projects, or
• A combination of the above.
• In the delivery of projects, follow and apply Absa Bank Group Limited project practices, standards and methodologies as defined from time to time.
• Collaborating with various stakeholders in ensuring that the project is delivered on time, to budget, quality and in compliance with Absa Bank project policies, standards and methodologies.
• In the delivery of programmes or projects will follow and apply Absa Bank project practices, standards and methodologies as defined from time to time and ensure that all activities and duties are conducted in full compliance with regulatory requirements and Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework.

Key Accountabilities

Project Definition and Planning- 30%

• 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.
• Confirm business case and Project Charter sign-off from Project Sponsor and Steering Committee.
• Define scope and plan the project and agree structure and deliverables based on the agreed/signed off business Requirements.
• Prepare and agree detailed project responsibilities.
• 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
• Agree and secure resource requirements for the Project.

Project Management, Governance and Risk Management- 50%

• Manage large scale projects, leading a project team and dedicated resources to deliver projects in-country or across Africa.
• 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
• 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.
• Control/co-ordinate the work of the project team, allocating tasks, monitoring progress, ensuring awareness of responsibilities, and securing commitment to successful project delivery.
• Prepare current and accurate forecast of costs, cash flow, timescales and resource requirements and agree with the Project Steering Committee
• Identify and manage all programme/project issues and risks including their appropriate escalation and contingency management
• 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.
• 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.
• Provide regular and accurate progress reports and updated plans on a regular basis but at least on monthly basis for the project Accountable Executives, impacted senior stakeholders and if appropriate the Programme Manager/Project Steering Committee.
• 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.
• Establish the correct structures to control the ongoing operational service, through the establishment of Service Management Groups and Service Level Agreements.
• Within the context of a Programme, confirm any plans for the external procurement of resources and services with the Programme Manager.
• Participate in the process of procuring the external supply of resources and services when called upon.
• Ensure that all service contracts are in place (signed and executed) before project is implemented
• 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.
• 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.
• Ensure that all tasks carried out comply with departmental procedures, mandatory quality standards and agreed architectural framework.
• 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.
• Manage compliance with project practices and methodologies while being proactive with any resourcing and financial constraints.
• Define controls for budgeting, resourcing, scheduling, and quality of project to ensure compliance
• Implementing self-health-checks and improvements to ensure effective control is always maintained.
• Standards to be employed and/or developed in the preparation of all products and plans for the process of quality assurance, review, and control.

Controls and Communication-5%

• Coordinate stakeholders’ engagement to advise on governance requirements of all Transformational initiatives.
• Keeping the stakeholders regularly informed of the position for their initiatives against agreed plans and remediation areas if any.
• Managing the communication aspects of all governance exceptions and progress with problem management activity.
• Ensure that all activities and duties are conducted in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Absa Bank Policies and Policy Standards.
• Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role.
• Ensure adherence to the Group IT security policy and controls in accessing any system
• Comply with Operational risk and rigor with respect to protecting our people, customers, assets and the organization.
• Ensure all requests are properly authorized and signatures verified before processing.
• Participate in snap checks and enhance the same if an opportunity arises.
• Ensure to support audits are being conducted.

Staff Management- 15%

• Agree with resource plans with the Accountable Executive and or project steering committee and manage and lead sub-project team.
• Set work scope and targets for the sub-project work-streams and monitor, control and support sub-project   manager’s performance.
• Identify any training needed to support project implementation, planning delivery of training within project timescales.
• Contribute to the performance assessment of staff undertaking sub-project work.
• Provide coaching and guidance to sub-project staff to ensure high standards of deliverables. Encouraging contribution and feedback from the team.

Preferred Qualification

• PRINCE2 or PMP Certified (candidates not possessing this would be expected to achieve Certification status within 6 months.

Preferred Experience

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

Knowledge and Skills

• Communication & presentation skills
• PowerPoint design and data visualization skills
• Project Management
• Planning – skill in producing, monitoring and delivering on project plans.
• Managing resources – mobilizes and manages corporate resources against a value-based agenda. Proven Project Management and Change Management skills and expertise
• Experience of applying project management best practices and disciplines (e.g., Prince2, MSP or equivalent)
• Experience of managing activity across the whole of a project lifecycle, using current technology, structured methods and a quality process
• Exposure to governance, control, and risk management
• Proven ability to effectively work across teams at all levels
• Ability to negotiate/influence stakeholders at senior level.