Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager page is loaded## Senior Project Managerlocations: Johannesburgtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todaytime left to apply: End Date: November 30, 2025 (11 days left to apply)job requisition id: R31296# **Job Description**This role demands exceptional presentation and communication capabilities, with a proven ability to translate data and insights into compelling narratives that inform strategic decision-making across the FirstRand Group. The incumbent must demonstrate confidence and clarity in verbal presentations, effectively engaging stakeholders at all levels. Operating within FirstRand’s owner-manager culture, the Senior Project Manager is expected to exercise independent judgment, take full ownership of delivery outcomes, and proactively address challenges with minimal supervision. Critical thinking, analytical rigour, and a solution-oriented mindset are essential to navigate complex issues and drive innovation**Roles and Responsibilities:*** Lead the end-to-end execution of Visa and Mastercard-based implementation initiatives across core retail, commercial, and corporate banking segments within transactional banking environments.* Develop and manage comprehensive project delivery plans, ensuring execution within defined scope, budget, quality standards, and timelines.* Oversee risk identification, mitigation strategies, issue resolution, and change control processes throughout the project lifecycle.* Coordinate and align cross-functional teams, including business stakeholders, technical leads, external vendors, and subject matter experts, to ensure cohesive delivery.* Govern project oversight through structured steering committees, formal governance frameworks, and client-facing progress reporting mechanisms.* Direct requirements elicitation, gap analysis, and solution design activities to ensure alignment with strategic business objectives.* Knowledge of merchant onboarding workflows, KYC requirements, and terminal provisioning.* Ensure seamless integration with existing systems, adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements, and implementation of industry best practices.* Provide mentorship and leadership to junior project team members, serving as a subject matter expert in core banking transformation.* Influence senior management and key stakeholder groups to secure alignment, support, and strategic decision-making.* Demonstrate the ability to identify risks, opportunities, and challenges, and recommend actionable, data-driven solutions.* Resolve complex delivery challenges independently, operating effectively within an owner-manager culture.* Utilize advanced proficiency in project and task management tools such as MS Project, JIRA, Confluence, Asana, Go2PPO, ClickUp, and Trello to manage execution and reporting.* Apply strong financial acumen to interpret business and financial metrics, enabling the identification of strategic insights and value drivers.* Leverage critical thinking and analytical capabilities to diagnose root causes and formulate innovative, sustainable solutions.* Facilitate strategic discussions that drive improved decision-making and enhance organizational performance.**Required Skills & Experience:*** 8-10 years significant experience required in the end-to end management of large-scale strategic (and tactical) projects through the leadership and coordination of a large project team.* 5+ years of overall IT SDLC and BDLC delivery experience with 8+ years in project management roles.* Proven ability to work with diverse stakeholders in a local and international payments integration environments.* Experience in a Portfolio Management Office (PfMO), Program Management Office (PgMO), or Project Management Office (PMO) that involves overseeing and coordinating multiple cross-functional projects that often have interdependencies.* Experience in delivery of multi-product and multi-country banking capability rollouts and merchant growth take-Ons.* Support for yearly planning activities that involves assisting in the development and execution of strategic plans that align with the organization's goals.* Support the scoping, design, execution of the processes and key initiatives to run, growth, protect the business and the organization.* Support annual and ad hoc planning processes within the department, by working closely with each business unit department and collaborate with Technology, Operations, Finance & FP&A for a budget definition, prioritization and resource allocation.* Implement the measurement, reporting and analysis of PMO Scorecard Performance (vs. KPIs), creating and automating reporting and performing analysis where possible.* Have a firm understanding of commercial banking and a good