Senior Program Manager - Engagement & Operational Readiness

Reserve Bank of Australia; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Reserve Bank of Australia seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead the Engagement and Operational Readiness Stream within the Core Modernisation Program, coordinating change and readiness across multiple initiatives. Reporting to the Program Director, you will guide a team of change specialists to prepare the organisation for people, process and operational impacts.

You will develop and execute integrated change and readiness plans, engage senior stakeholders, and ensure benefits realization

Qualifications

• Demonstrated program management experience leading change and operational readiness for large-scale technology modernisation and application migration programmes.
• Proven ability to manage complex delivery environments with multiple projects, interdependencies and competing priorities.
• Substantial stakeholder engagement experience with senior business and technology executives.
• Exceptional communication and engagement skills, with the ability to connect people to purpose and outcomes.
• Strong people leadership and facilitation capability with transparency.
• Experience with Agile and waterfall delivery methodologies in complex technical environments.
• Experience in banking, financial services, utilities or operational government environments.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent industry experience.
• Relevant Agile, Scrum or project management certifications (CSM, CSPO, PSM II, A-CSM, PMBOK, PRINCE2) would be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Engagement and Operational Readiness Stream and develop integrated change management plans.
• Build and manage relationships with senior business and technology stakeholders and ensure timely decision‑making.
• Oversee procurement and vendor management activities to support program outcomes.
• Ensure benefits are realised and transitions into operational management are completed.
• Identify and respond to issues, risks and opportunities to achieve program outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Bank policies, systems and processes.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Communication

Agile & Waterfall

Technology modernisation

Certifications

Education

Tertiary qualifications

Job description

Join the Reserve Bank at a time of pivotal transformation. Lead engagement and operational readiness for a major modernisation program. Two-year fixed‑term contract with a flexible, hybrid work environment.

About the business/role/team

The Reserve Bank of Australia is undertaking the Core Modernisation Program, a major upgrade of the Bank’s core technology infrastructure. We are seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead the Program’s Engagement and Operational Readiness Stream. Reporting to the Program Director, Deputy Head of IT, you will lead a team of change specialists responsible for preparing the Bank for the people, process and operational impacts of the planned changes. You will work closely with senior business and technology stakeholders, operational teams, peer program managers and the technology and application migration streams to ensure the changes are successfully implemented, embedded and transitioned into business‑as‑usual operations.

About the role

Lead the Engagement and Operational Readiness Stream, addressing the human and operational impacts of planned changes and supporting the realisation of program benefits. Develop and execute integrated change management and operational readiness plans, including readiness maturity assessments and pre- and post-go-live assessments. Lead and develop a team of change specialists delivering improvements across technology, process and people capabilities while maintaining the Bank’s high standards of security and availability. Develop and oversee robust, achievable plans across multiple concurrent initiatives with complex interdependencies across the broader portfolio. Build and manage effective relationships with senior business and technology stakeholders, ensuring alignment, transparency and timely decision‑making. Work collaboratively with peer program managers leading the technology and application migration streams. Oversee relevant procurement and vendor‑management activities to support the delivery of program outcomes, policy compliance and value for money. Ensure agreed benefits are realised and program deliverables are effectively transitioned into operational management. Identify and respond to issues, risks and opportunities, supporting the team to achieve agreed program outcomes. Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Bank’s policies, systems and processes for delivering complex change.

About you

• Demonstrated program management experience leading change and operational readiness for large‑scale technology modernisation and application migration programmes.
• Proven ability to manage complex delivery environments involving multiple projects, interdependencies and competing priorities.
• Substantial stakeholder engagement experience, including working with senior business and technology executives and navigating competing demands and expectations.
• Exceptional communication and engagement skills, with the ability to connect people to purpose, outcomes and the broader case for change.
• Strong people leadership and facilitation capability, including situational leadership, conflict resolution, empowerment, continuous improvement and increasing transparency.
• Experience working with Agile and waterfall delivery methodologies in complex technical environments.
• Experience in critical operational sectors such as banking, financial services, utilities or operational government environments.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent industry experience.
• Relevant Agile, Scrum or project management certifications, such as CSM, CSPO, PSM II, A‑CSM, PMBOK or PRINCE2, would be highly regarded.

Be More

Working for an organisation that truly makes a difference to the people of Australia, we can offer development and career opportunities in a collaborative environment that supports your growth, wellbeing and promotes flexibility. Your individual growth and success drives the RBA forward as an organisation. Be more means you can do more, for yourself and for Australia.

Why RBA?

The RBA makes an important contribution to the Australian economy through the pursuit of national economic policy objectives and associated activities in financial markets and banking. We also issue Australia’s banknotes and operate infrastructure critical to the payments system, all of which contribute to the welfare of the Australian people. Made up of specialists across a wide range of fields, our people, values and culture play a critical role in achieving our objectives. Striving to be Open & Dynamic, we consider and incorporate different perspectives, work across teams and are transparent with each other, while delivering quality together and focusing on outcomes by prioritising, testing, learning and refining as we go. The RBA values integrity while striving for excellence in the work they perform and the outcomes they achieve. We encourage intelligent inquiry and treat one another with respect while promoting the public interest through our efforts. We know it is the growth and success of our people that drives the RBA forward.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion through key initiatives. We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people living with disability and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to making the recruitment process fair and equitable for all candidates.