Programme Manager at Alexander Forbes

Alexander Forbes is looking for a Programme Manager to be reporting to the Manager of the programme management office (PMO), the Programme manager role is responsible to contribute to the overall success of the Technology team delivery and implementation of strategic and group-wide initiatives throughout the business.

Minimum Requirements...

Formal Qualifications

• Grade 12
• Bachelor degree in Information Technology - advantageous
• Project and Programme management diploma/6-12 month course based on the PMBOK/Prince methodologies
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification – advantageous
• PRINCE 2 Foundation and Practitioner certification – advantageous
• MS Word, MS Project, MS Excel and Modelling Tools

Required Experience

• Minimum 8-10+ years project/program management experience in an environment where technology integration, software development projects and financial regulatory projects in line with FSB requirements were to be delivered.
• 2 to 3 years experience undertaking strategic level tasks, assignments and projects.
• Exposure to the financial services industry, investment and long term insurance.
• Experience in an environment where formal project management processes are in place with additional exposure to the implementation of betterment of the processes and artefacts. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills used at all levels within the organisation.
• LISP business experience (advantageous)
• Employee Benefits experience (advantageous)
• Strong knowledge and experience of the testing life cycle
• Demonstrated thirst for keeping abreast of PM best practice (eg. Favourite blogs, sites, meet ups, events)

Key Performance Area

Group business analysis

• Manage the delivery of any strategic and enterprise wide project from inception to closure state following project management principles and processes.
• Continuously and proactively review existing project management standards and processes within the group for betterment and improvement contained within the limitations of the current environment.
• Define and draft the project plans/schedules, updating the plans and resources accordingly.
• Drafting and management of stakeholder acceptance of all other project management artefacts required during the various phases of the project.
• Effective financial management and reporting of the project.
• Effective resource management of all resources assigned to the project.
• Effective management of the formal change control process on all projects.
• Ensure all stakeholders are kept up to date with regular progress including the updating of project dashboards.
• Monitor and track the effective delivery of the project.
• Monitor and track the success criteria and goals of the project and ensure these are achieved and reported accordingly.
• Benefits realisation of all initiatives back to the relevant business cases.
• Draft, manage and monitor the associated project risks.
• Manage and communicate project closure and post- implementation reviews.
• Gain acceptance of all deliverables
• Conduct administrative closure of projects
• Obtain project sign off.
• Obtain a good knowledge of the existing business processes and business areas in order to add greater value to the delivery of projects
• Identify business opportunities & introduce new projects, innovations that will significantly and positively impact the respective area/ project/ initiative. .

Governance

• Review existing, co-ordinate and implement project management standards and process throughout the group.
• Be knowledgeable about group-wide regulatory programmes in order to deliver projects within the regulator frameworks.

Performance and relationship management

• Ensure that benefits and appropriate measurements are defined in Business Cases and are realised, by tracking it against project achievements.
• Facilitate and drive the execution of the agreed deliverables required for the project with the executive team and stakeholders, thus ensuring the appropriate level of traction of agreed strategic initiatives.
• Provide appropriate feedback on progress to all stakeholders and manage the risks associated with delivery.
• Building good relationships with all stakeholders in order to effectively deliver within the Alexander Forbes environment.

Problem solving

• Strong problem-solving of complex issues within the business
• Ability to analyse information and select best solution from a range of alternative solutions
• Exceptional attention to detail abilities are required

Leadership

• Where required provide leadership and guidance to other project management entities within the business
• Proactively identify and participate in opportunities within the group that will grow knowledge of the business and assisting the Optec group in achieving their objectives.

Decision making

• Ability to make decisions while exercising judgement based on precedents and consultation with stakeholders