Program Manager – Old Mutual Recruitment


Website Old Mutual

Position Summary:

This role is responsible for the coordinated management of multiple and/ or related projects. This role is tasked with setting up and managing programmes to support and align to the organisation’s strategic goals and long-term goals. The role incumbent may run a Programme Office and will work closely with project managers. A key component of this role is strategic stakeholder management, both internal and external to the organisation. The person will also be responsible for the line management of assigned team members. The responsibility will include day to day management, staff development and coaching.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Getting alignment and co-operation across the business (functional and hierarchical) for program implementation
  • Facilitate cohesiveness and optimise the management of resource constraints between projects
  • Undertake strategic engagements with key stakeholders (sponsor/ business owners) to understand the business strategy, objectives and problem statement(s) driving the potential program/ projects that needs to be undertaken
  • Negotiate rates, define terms of the contracts
  • Monitor and track against project/ program plans with project managers over program life cycle
  • Identify and resolve non delivery/ quality issues with the vendor, escalating to executive level where resolution is not possible within agreed tolerances.
  • Evaluate and manage the accumulative and systemic effect of risks across all projects within the program by engaging in both a bottom up and top down risk identification process.
  • Undertake effective opportunity management on the program by identifying, understanding and exploiting opportunities that arise which can save costs, realise efficiencies or benefits
  • Demonstrate effective leadership for the program that gives direction to the team and drives of accountability and delivery
  • Resolving strategic and impactful conflicts or commitment breakdowns to clear the way for program progression. Navigate and influence politically and organisationally sensitive decisions with key stakeholders
  • Team effectiveness
  • Determine the approach to achieving quality including quality standards, controls and governances, processes and measures and build these into the project plan.
  • Support, guide and encourage the program team
  • Monitor and track programme level tasks/ activities through the life of the programme
  • Manage vendor deliveries and costs to contract terms and conditions for program deliveries.
  • Manage programme risks or issues at a strategic level
  • Follow procurement governances and policies when compiling and running RFI and RFP processes. Screen and select vendors.
  • Provide thought leadership for pragmatic program execution
  • Execute on quality components through duration of the project. Correct and/or escalate non-compliance to quality components timeously.
  • Work closely with the Change Manager to drive the execution of the change management plan for the programme.
  • Undertake ongoing articulation, testing/ validation key program assumptions. Lead the change/ adjust scope if needed.
  • Drive and be overall accountable for quality delivery across all projects within the program
  • Manage scope and an integrated change control process by undertaking the following:
  • Develop and execute an overarching programme stakeholder engagement and communication plan which a strong focus on driving the following;
  • Manage scope creep of the program within the wider context of ensuring that benefits are delivered.
  • Develop and define governance structures ensuring compliance with the enterprise governance requirements and ensure adherence to all governance structures and approval protocols for programme decisions
  • Based on the conceptual solution, undertake preliminary high level program scoping
  • Facilitating a guiding coalition of engagement and consensus building

Required Education & Experience:

  • Agile/Lean/Safe certification advantageous
  • Relevant Project Management certifications (e.g. PMI/PRINCE2/Lean/Safe)
  • 8-10 years’ Project Management experience (minimum)
  • Advanced Microsoft Office skills (Powerpoint, Exel, Work MS Project)
  • Proven track record in effective relationship building
  • Working knowledge of Project Portfolio Office (PPO) advantageous
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • 5+ years Agile Project Management experience