PMO Demand Planner at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

To support the PMO Manager with the day-to-day portfolio delivery and to assist with the design and implementation of project management methodology, standards, and tools to drive and facilitate the successful delivery of projects within the Finance Management Portfolio.

Job Description

Outcomes/Deliverables                                               

Portfolio Demand Support:

• Perform weekly Portfolio and Project analysis on exceptions, exporting raw data for use in Reporting and tracking data quality, project plans and schedules to identify and resolve critical path and dependency conflicts.
• Gauge progress and identify performance variances to facilitate focus and intervention on critical areas by utilizing the PlanEx Portfolio tool and other project management techniques
• Support the PMO Manager for the production of Project and Portfolio management reports  to ensure all stakeholders are informed of the most current view of the Programmes health with regard to planned activities against actuals status and are made aware at the earliest opportunity of potential risks and issues to the health of the change roadmap.
• Assist in compiling training manuals and guidelines as well as assist with building and maintaining governance  templates to be used across the portfolio.

Resource Planning Management

• Act as the main point of contact between the FM Change PMO team and the Central Resourcing centre to ensure effective tracking of new Resource onboarding, as well as Extensions and PO top ups informing the PMO Manager with any issues or deviation of the process for effective management of allocation of resources and 3rd Party suppliers across the portfolio ensure successful delivery.
• Assist in sourcing CVs from preferred suppliers as and when the need arises.
• Responsible for maintaining a forward Resource forecast of demand across the Portfolios, including Projects and Change Requests and the capacity planning of the delivery teams and 3rd Parties, tracking resource utilization vs. allocation, and monitoring impact of slippage on resource allocations within the defined portfolio.
• Drive follow up and tracking of all identified resource requests, approvals and will ensure that continuous follow ups are done from beginning to end.

Knowledge Management Library: 

• Manage a project knowledge database ensuring that all relevant project documentation, templates, and training material are saved and available for use across the portfolio.

Policies and Procedures:

• Ensure the agreed project management methods, standards and processes are maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure Project Change Risk Policy Standards are adhered to

Key Tasks and Accountabilities:

• Ensure all critical resources and task dependencies are identified and related risks are assessed, communicated, prioritized, and managed.
• Develop, track, and maintain dependencies across programmes & projects across the portfolios and recommend appropriate actions where there are areas of concern.
• Facilitate the supply of accurate Reports and data to support effective prioritization decisions, providing information regarding constraints, business required dates and slippage.
• Liaise with all parties to ensure programme & project planning submissions are issued in a timely manner to be reviewed prior to planning meetings with the PMO Manager.
• Facilitate the resolution of resource requirement conflicts and racking between the CRC and  the portfolio projects and changes.
• Operate within the Finance Management Programme Office governance processes, supporting the PMO Manager to ensure the right practical balance between control, timely delivery, and quality.
• Act as an objective and honest champion for the Finance Change PMO and the SI Portfolio.

Role / Person Specification:

• Minimum B-degree (NQF level no.7) Desired Post Graduate Degree qualification preferred
• 2+ years professional financial management and project experience
• Must have previous exposure or experience in Project Administration, Project Management or Portfolio management experience.
• Must have knowledge of Project management methodologies

Knowledge and skills: 

• An experienced Demand Planner/Programme Planning support person within a fast-paced Team.
• Tenacious, flexible, passionate, resilient and results driven with a persuasive personality.
• Must have a sense of urgency, be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and committed with the ability to use their own initiative and every so often think out of the box.
• Experience working with 3rd parties or vendors and resource onboarding.
• Experience of planning and scheduling in a fast paced, Project management office and be able to understand and work with a skill-diverse team.
• Advanced experience in MS Project and Excel is essential.
• Advanced knowledge Word, Powerpoint and Visio would be an advantage.
• Proven ability to apply sound logic when translating information into a logical sequence of events (planning), which require fully linked dependencies.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Experience of analysing project plans, dependency management and resource usage across a programme portfolio would be advantageous.
• Proficient in portfolio, programme and project risk and issue management
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders.
• Displays excellent relationship, influencing and all-round communication skills.
• A working knowledge of project methodologies such as PMBok and Agile.
• Experience of portfolio management tools such as PlanEx and Coupa (CCW).
• Knowledge of Human resource and onboarding policies and procedures

Closing Date: 16th, March 2022