Country Program Manager

Selby Jennings; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 2,000,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Selby Jennings is seeking a Managing Director, Country Program Manager (Core Banking Transformation) for Hong Kong. The role leads end-to-end delivery of a major core banking modernization, bridging regional leadership with local stakeholders and ensuring delivery within regulatory requirements.

You will oversee planning, governance and change adoption, coordinating across business, technology, risk and finance to ensure successful implementation and executive visibility.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in large-scale banking transformation programs.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in IT, CS, Business, Engineering or related field.
• Strong governance, budgeting, risk mgmt, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Fluency in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Responsibilities

• Lead country-wide delivery of core banking transformation from initiation through stabilisation.
• Establish and maintain program governance, reporting, and executive steering.
• Align local business priorities with regional transformation objectives.
• Manage scope, budget, resources, timelines, risks, and dependencies.
• Coordinate business, operations, technology, risk, compliance and finance teams.
• Oversee vendors, system integrators, and testing/training activities.
• Provide regular updates to senior management and regional leadership.

Skills

Executive communication

Multilingual (English, Cantonese, Mand

Leadership & stakehold er management

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree or above in IT/CS/Business/Engineering

Job description

Managing Director, Country Program Manager (Core Banking Transformation)

Company Overview

Our client is a leading international banking and financial services institution with a strong presence across Asia-Pacific and an extensive global network. The organisation supports corporate, institutional, and public sector clients through a broad range of banking and financing solutions. The firm is undertaking a major multi-year core banking modernisation program and is seeking a senior transformation leader to drive delivery at the country level. This is a high-impact role with significant visibility among regional and local executive stakeholders.

Role Overview

The Country Program Manager will be responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of a large-scale core banking transformation initiative within the local market. Acting as the key bridge between regional program leadership and local stakeholders, this individual will oversee planning, execution, governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and change adoption to ensure successful implementation aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the country-wide delivery of the core banking transformation program from initiation through implementation and stabilisation.
• Establish and maintain strong program governance, reporting frameworks, and executive steering committees.
• Drive alignment between local business priorities and regional transformation objectives.
• Manage program scope, budget, resources, timelines, risks, and dependencies.
• Coordinate business, operations, technology, risk, compliance, and finance teams to ensure successful execution.
• Oversee system implementation partners, vendors, and system integrators throughout delivery.
• Lead country-level testing, training, change management, and business readiness activities.
• Provide regular updates to senior management and regional leadership, escalating risks and key decisions where required.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 20+ years of professional experience with extensive exposure to large-scale banking transformation programs.
• Proven track record leading complex core banking implementation, migration, or modernisation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of corporate banking operations, banking technology platforms, and regulatory environments.
• Deep experience managing large cross-functional teams across business and technology functions.
• Expertise in program governance, vendor management, budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience operating within regional or global matrix organisations.
• Strong knowledge of both Agile and Waterfall delivery methodologies.
• Outstanding communication, leadership, and influencing skills with executive stakeholders.
• Fluency in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Nice to Have

• PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2, SAFe, or equivalent project/program management certifications.
• Experience working with international banking groups across multiple jurisdictions.
• Exposure to system integration partners and enterprise-scale platform migrations.
• Experience delivering regulatory-driven transformation initiatives.

Desired Skills and Experience

Our client is a leading international banking and financial services institution with a strong presence across Asia-Pacific and an extensive global network. The organization supports corporate, institutional, and public sector clients through a broad range of banking and financing solutions. The firm is undertaking a major multi-year core banking modernization program and is seeking a senior transformation leader to drive delivery at the country level. This is a high-impact role with significant visibility among regional and local executive stakeholders.