Senior Project Manager

Caraffi; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 92,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Caraffi is seeking a Transformation Project Manager to mobilise Transition State 2 of a major core banking and digital modernization programme in the West Midlands. You will report to the Programme Director and drive high‑impact technical discoveries, vendor alignment, and multi‑workstream delivery.

The role is an initial 6‑month contract with immediate start, on‑site two days per week and hybrid working. You will lead discovery with third‑party vendors, maintain strict governance, and translate

Qualifications

• Substantial project management track record delivering core IT, infrastructure, software, or digital banking platforms within UK Financial Services.

Responsibilities

• Mobilise and direct Transition State 2 workstreams across digital deposits, core platform migrations, and technical branch assessments.
• Lead high-intensity discovery phases with third-party vendors and system integrators to secure structured delivery commitments.
• Maintain rigorous vendor governance under fixed-price, milestone-governed Statements of Work (SOW).
• Translate high-level customer journeys and architecture principles into functional project specifications and discovery plans.
• Deliver robust governance, including business cases, cost-benefit analyses, RAID management, and board/Steering Committee reporting.
• Manage multiple concurrent project initiatives independently within an evolving transformation environment.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Governance

Executive reporting

Digital banking

Job description

Transformation Project Manager – Core Banking & Digital

Location: West Midlands - 2 days a week on-site

Contract Length: Initial 6 months (part of an 18–24 month transformation roadmap)

Immediacy of Hire: Immediate start

Overview:

A financial services institution in the West Midlands is seeking a Transformation Project Manager to mobilise Transition State 2 (TS2) of a major core banking and branch modernisation programme. This role reports directly to the Programme Director, driving high-impact technical discoveries, vendor alignment, and foundational multi-workstream delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Mobilise and direct Transition State 2 workstreams across digital deposits, core platform migrations, and technical branch assessments.
• Lead high-intensity discovery phases with third-party vendors and system integrators to secure structured delivery commitments.
• Maintain rigorous vendor governance under fixed-price, milestone-governed Statements of Work (SOW).
• Translate high-level customer journeys and architecture principles into functional project specifications and discovery plans.
• Deliver robust governance, including business cases, cost-benefit analyses, RAID management, and board/Steering Committee reporting.
• Manage multiple concurrent project initiatives independently within an evolving transformation environment.

Requirements to Be Successful:

• Substantial project management track record delivering core IT, infrastructure, software, or digital banking platforms within UK Financial Services.
• Proven background managing third-party system integrators and commercial vendor contracts under strict deliverable milestones.
• Strong technical and functional fluency across end-to-end discovery and design phases.
• Established experience preparing formal SteerCo/ExCo governance, project controls, and executive reports.
• Capacity to operate autonomously as a consultative self-starter with minimal orientation.