Global Leadership Advisory Project Director

Duke Corporate Education; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke Corporate Education in South Africa seeks a Project Director to lead high-value advisory engagements across geographies, managing deliverables, timelines and finances while advising clients on strategic people initiatives and leadership development.

Office-based with regular travel to client sites, the role requires strong consulting background and ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and maintain executive relationships. Travel-ready candidates with PM certification are preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy, people consulting, organizational transformation, or HR advisory, preferably from one of the big 4.
• Minimum 8 years of project management experience; formal PM certification required.
• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders.
• Resilient and adaptable, comfortable working in dynamic environments.
• Excel at developing clear, impactful presentations that interpret client needs, communicate insights and support strategic recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and influence project teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency with project management tools and software.
• Must be able to travel regularly.

Responsibilities

• Consult with clients to interpret strategic needs and translate them into impactful solutions, including leadership development or change management initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional project teams, providing guidance to ensure milestones are met.
• Develop and manage actionable project plans, budgets, contracts and timelines.
• Oversee project accounting, including budget tracking, variance analysis and financial reporting.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior client stakeholders, including multinational FTSE 500 organizations.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure quality and progress.
• Prepare and deliver project updates and presentations to clients and internal teams.
• Develop clear, impactful presentations that interpret client needs and support strategic recommendations.
• Identify and manage project risks and issues, driving timely resolution.
• Analyze project accounting data, including variance analysis, to evaluate performance and outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Client relations

Budget management

Presentations

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in business

PM certification

Tools

Project management software

Job description

Duke Corporate Education in South Africa seeks a Project Director to lead high-value advisory engagements across geographies, managing deliverables, timelines and finances while advising clients on strategic people initiatives and leadership development.

Office-based with regular travel to client sites, the role requires strong consulting background and ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and maintain executive relationships. Travel-ready candidates with PM certification are preferred.