Program Manager - Business Process Improvement

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 in Gauteng seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead a major business process improvement initiative across operations. You will identify inefficiencies, design optimized future-state workflows, and drive sustainable improvements that reduce costs and increase operational excellence.

You will oversee multi-department projects, manage budgets and resources, and guide change management efforts to ensure adoption by stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of program or project management experience with process improvement.
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Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a portfolio of projects aimed at improving business processes across departments.
• Lead assessment of current state processes, identify pain points, and define optimization opportunities.
• Design and implement future state processes that are efficient and scalable.
• Manage cross-functional teams, consultants, and stakeholders to ensure delivery and adoption of new processes.
• Develop and execute change management plans to minimize resistance.
• Establish KPIs to measure effectiveness and track progress against targets.
• Oversee program budgets, resources, and vendor management for process improvements.
• Communicate program status, risks, and outcomes to senior leadership.

Skills

Project management

Process mapping

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Operations Management/Engineering or related field

Master's degree or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt desirable

Tools

BPMN tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a large-scale manufacturing and distribution company, is seeking a results-oriented Program Manager to lead a strategic initiative focused on business process improvement across their operations. This role is critical for identifying inefficiencies, streamlining workflows, and implementing sustainable process enhancements that drive operational excellence and cost savings. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in process re-engineering, change management, and program leadership within a complex operational environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape operational strategies and drive significant improvements, based in Tembisa, Gauteng .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a portfolio of projects aimed at improving business processes across various departments.
• Lead the assessment of current state processes, identify key pain points, and define opportunities for optimization.
• Design and implement future state processes, ensuring they are efficient, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.
• Manage cross-functional teams, external consultants, and stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery and adoption of new processes.
• Develop and execute comprehensive change management plans to ensure smooth transitions and minimize resistance.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of process improvements and track progress against targets.
• Oversee program budgets, resource allocation, and vendor management related to process improvement initiatives.
• Communicate program status, risks, and outcomes to senior leadership and relevant stakeholders.

Requirements

• Over 8 years of experience in program or project management, with a strong focus on business process improvement, re-engineering, or operational excellence.
• Proven track record of successfully leading complex, multi-departmental initiatives.
• Deep understanding of process mapping tools and methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, BPMN).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Experience in change management and driving organizational transformation.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree or relevant certifications (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Black Belt) are highly desirable.
• Ability to work effectively in a demanding, fast-paced operational environment.
• Demonstrated experience in managing budgets and resources for large programs.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary package, performance-based incentives, and comprehensive medical and retirement benefits. We are committed to employee development, providing opportunities for advanced training, certifications, and career growth within the organization. This role is physically located at our primary operations center in Tembisa, Gauteng , offering direct engagement with core business functions.