Job Summary

• To take full responsibility for the successful delivery of business/technical solutions in support of the strategic and operational objectives of Absa Bank Uganda and Absa Group Limited of:
• business-critical projects of high size and complexity, or
• major workstream\program of medium and complex projects, or
• support and guide project managers in their delivery
• In the delivery of programmes or projects they will follow and apply Absa Bank Uganda project practices, standards and methodologies as defined from time to time.

Job Description

Accountability: PROJECT DEFINITION AND PLANNING

Outputs:

• Facilitate and oversee the defined business requirements sessions to ensure requirements defined meet their strategic objectives, including the development or assist in the development of Stage 1 and Stage 2 business cases for the related projects.
• Define scope, goals, timeline, budget; align with business and regulatory goals and agree project structure.
• Ensure business case has the sign off from Project Sponsor, Chief Finance Officer and Country Management.
• Prepare and agree detailed project/sub project responsibilities.
• 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 and secure resource requirements for the Project from the Sponsor

Accountability: EXECUTION & DELIVERY OVERSIGHT

Outputs:

• Monitor development, testing, and deployment; remove roadblocks; ensure timelines are kept.
• Manage large scale Program and Project Management, leading small to medium teams of part-time, dedicated team members and BAU resources to deliver change in one country or across several countries.
• 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 Change Enablement Lead, Value stream Leads or Programme Manager to control and monitor the initiation, progress and delivery of the program or 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.
• Control/co-ordinate the work of the project team, 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 delivery of projects.
• Prepare current and accurate forecast of costs, cashflow, timescales and resource requirements and agree with the Project Change Working Group.
• Identify all products and tasks associated with their completion.  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 for all changes to the project as necessary.
• Ensure that both Absa Bank Uganda & Absa Group and operational support staff, where appropriate, are adequately trained and prepared for implementation of the solution, 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.
• Establish the correct structures to control the ongoing operational service, through the establishment of Service Management Groups and Service Level Agreements.
• Within the context of a Programme, confirm any plans for the external procurement of resources and services with the Programme Manager.
• Manage the process of procuring the external supply of resources 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.
• Prepare a quality plan for each project that outlines the overall approach to quality, identifies 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.
• Manage the full lifecycle of development from full business case, the handover of project deliverables, completion of the project to post-project review ensuring quality deliverables throughout.
• Define controls for resource, schedule and quality to ensure compliance implementing self health-checks and improvements to ensure effective control is always maintained.

Accountability: STAKEHOLDER & TEAM MANAGEMENT

Outputs:

• Agree resource plans with the Programme Manager (Programme) or Accountable Executive and manage the recruitment of staff, contractors and external consultants, as appropriate.
• Manage and lead project teams, aid less experienced staff and project managers by giving guidance and supporting on the job training, as appropriate.
• Acts as task manager for Implementation Managers in-country as appropriate.
• Regular review of individual and project team performance targets.
• Delegates effectively, allowing project team members to take responsibility for performance.
• Proactively and creatively develops project team’s skills encouraging learning and knowledge transfer and recognising achievements.
• Identify any training needed to support project implementation planning delivery of training within project timescales.
• Contribute to the performance assessment of staff undertaking sub-project work and project managers working with them.

Accountability: REPORTING & COMMUNICATION

• Update leadership, provide project status reports, pro-actively escalate issues as needed.
• Provide regular and accurate progress reports and updates on the Absa Project Tool and updated management, board reporting as required.

Accountability: RISK & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Identify and mitigate risks; ensure regulatory compliance and data security.
• Ensure that all tasks are carried out comply with departmental procedures, mandatory quality standards and agreed architectural framework.
• Identify and manage all program/project issues and risks including their appropriate escalation and contingency management, facilitating risk mitigation discussions with respective program\project owners.
• Manage compliance with Absa Bank Uganda & Absa Group project practices and methodologies while being proactive with any & Absa Regulators compliance requirements and constraints.

TECHNICAL SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Proven change/Programme management skills and certification, including agile ways of work, OKRs management.
• Agile ways of working – experience leading cross-functional teams using Agile frameworks (e.g., Scrum), managing product backlogs, facilitating sprint planning, and ensuring timely delivery of digital solutions in a highly regulated environment.
• Digital skills – such as using project management software (e.g., Q-Metry, Jira), reporting dashboards (e.g., Power BI), and digital communication platforms (e.g., MS Teams).
• Planning – strong skill in producing, monitoring and delivering on project plans.
• Innovative problem solving – ability to challenge the status quo, negotiate and drive beneficial change.
• Value-based business perspective – appreciation of the Absa Bank Uganda and Absa Group strategy and of commercial consequences of change/Programme management decisions. Delivery for value, tracking and reporting on value.
• Managing resources – mobilizes and manages corporate resources against a value-based agenda.

Competencies:

• Commercial / Entrepreneurial
• Drive for results
• Relationship /Partnership approach
• Technical skills/knowledge
• Planning and Organising
• Team building/player
• People and capability

KNOWLEDGE & Expertise

• Proven Project & Change Management skills, expertise with relevant certification (PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner)
• Solid work experience in a Fintech, MNO or other financial services organization
• Experience of employing change management best practices and disciplines
• Experience of managing activity across the whole of a project lifecycle, using current technology, structured methods and a quality process
• Experience in managing the human change aspect during execution and delivery.
• Exposure to governance, control and risk management
• Proven ability to effectively work across cross cultural teams at all levels
• Ability to negotiate/influence at senior level

Preferred

• Knowledge of the Absa Group Change Governance Framework
• Good understanding of value-based management principles
• Good understanding of people change management principles
• Experience of appropriate change/programme management software

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• PMP certification or PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Minimum 2 – 5 years business change experience or experience leading a team through a period of rapid change
• Demonstrable track record of successful delivery of one or more business change projects (not necessarily in the finance sector)
• Educated to degree or MBA level to be able to meet the intellectual demands of the job, or can demonstrate equivalent experience

Preferred

• Project Management experience gained in a complex Financial Service environment or a Fintech.
• Human Change Management Certification is a preferred.

Education

National Diplomas and Advanced Certificates: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)