Project Manager at Absa

Job Summary

• Responsible for the planning, mobilisation, management and execution of a business-change project,
• through the entire Business Change Lifestyle (BCL) by using approved project-management principles.

Job Description

Accountability: Project Definition and Planning Activities

•  Work with business to define its requirements in order to meet its strategic objectives, including the development or assistance in the development of Stage 1 and Stage 2 business cases for the related projects.
•  Define, scope and plan the project and agree structure and deliverables according to the Absa BCL methodology.
•  Obtain sign-off for the business case from the Project Sponsor and Steering Committee.
•  Prepare and agree detailed project/sub project responsibilities with the Project Sponsor and or Project Owner.
•  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 resource requirements for the Project with the Project Sponsor and or Project Owner and secure them from available project resources or by outsourcing contractors.
•  Prepare a quality plan for each project that outlines the overall approach to quality, identify 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 the project concepts developed are in alignment with Medium Term Plans (MTPs) and enterprise architecture according to the Absa BCL methodology.
•  Calculate the project benefits and ensure that they are included in MTP
•  Complete all project/programme plans in a way that ensures compliance with Group Change policies, procedures, methodologies, standards, templates, etc.
•  Establish and maintain the correct structures to control and monitor the initiation, progress and delivery of the project or comply with the correct structures set up by the Programme Manager or Strategic Project Manager (SPM) to control and monitor the initiation, progress and delivery of the project.
•  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.

Accountability: Project Management Activities

•  Manage all elements of project execution namely timelines, actions, status reporting, status meetings, deliverables, risks and issues, expenditures, forecast of costs, cash flow, timescales and resource requirements etc. as detailed in the Absa BCL methodology and training.
•  Manage the activities of the project-team members, as well as line role-players and subject-matter experts assigned to the project as detailed in the Absa BCL methodology and training.
•  Co-ordinate the work of the project team by allocating tasks, monitoring progress, ensuring awareness of responsibilities and securing commitment to successful project delivery.
•  Comply with the appropriate structures established and maintained by the Programme Manager, to ensure the delivery of projects.
•  Write presentations and reports for various stakeholders to keep them informed of progress and status of the project i.e., Steering Committee, Management Meetings, Monthly Status reporting to EPO; and present them to the relative audience as may be required.
•  Manage relationships with line role players, business sponsors and -owners as detailed in the Absa BCL methodology and training.
•  Manage and run the routine project meetings i.e., team, vendor, testers, to ensure agendas are adhered to, actions agreed, owners assigned and thereafter recorded in project plans, reports and minutes.
•  Develop financial Business Cases to secure the project funding as detailed in the Absa BCL methodology and training.
•  Identify and manage all programme/project issues and risks including their mitigating actions, owners, appropriate escalation and contingency management as detailed in the Absa BCL methodology and training.
•  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 Project Sponsor and or Steering Committee for all changes to the project as necessary.
•  Provide regular and accurate progress reports and updated plans on a monthly basis to the respective Sector / BU Head of Change, Enterprise Programme Office (EPO), Sector Project Office, and if appropriate the Programme
•  Manager/Project Steering Committee in order for the various Group reporting requirements, financial management and reporting to Group Change Council (GCC)
•  Within the context of a Programme, confirm any plans for the external procurement of any resource/s and services with the Programme Manager in order to gain approval for the use thereof.
•  Manage the process of procuring the external supply of resource and services, and lead the negotiation of major contracts with external suppliers.
•  Ensure that all service contracts include a clear specification of the supplier’s responsibilities regarding scope and quality of the deliverables, as well as costs and timescales.
•  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.
•  Ensure that all tasks that are carried out comply with departmental procedures, mandatory quality standards and agreed architectural framework as detailed and required in the Absa BCL methodology and training.
•  Manage compliance with the ABSA Group project practices and methodologies while being proactive with any resourcing and financial constraints as detailed in the Absa BCL methodology and training.

Accountability: Staff Management Activities

•  Agree resource plans with the Programme Manager (programme) or Sponsor and manage the recruitment of staff, contractors and external consultants, as appropriate
•  Ensure that staff, where appropriate, are adequately trained and prepared for implementation of the solution, and 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.
•  Review and quality-assure the project team deliverables (business analysis & design) as detailed and required in the Absa BCL methodology and training.
•  Guide, mentor and lead the business analysis and design activities, and provide conceptual thought leadership to develop the project team and ensure success of project delivery. Improve the project team members business analysis and design skills through ongoing mentoring and coaching.
•  Manage and lead project team, provide assistance to less experienced staff by giving guidance and supporting on the job training, as appropriate.
•  Act as a task manager for Implementation Managers, where needed based on the project plan for rollout and implementation.
•  Conduct a regular review of individual and team performance targets to assess and ensure quality of project deliverables, adherance to timelines and maximise use of resources working on the project.
•  Delegate effectively, allowing team members to take responsibility for performance.
•  Proactively and creatively develop the team’s skills by encouraging learning and knowledge transfer and by recognising their achievements.
•  Identify any training needed to support the project implementation planning delivery of training within project timescales.
•  Contribute to the performance assessment of staff undertaking sub-project work by providing feedback to their respective line managers as and when requested.

Education

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

• Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.
• Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised