Senior Manager: Programme Management

Absa Group; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services provider in Gauteng is seeking a Programme Manager to oversee Advanced Analytics initiatives. The role involves aligning projects with organizational goals, engaging stakeholders, and leveraging extensive experience in project management and change strategies. The ideal candidate must have over 10 years of expertise in SDLC, advanced analytics, and Agile methodologies. Competitive candidates will have a graduate degree and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in SDLC, PDLC, and Project/Programme Management processes.
• Experience facilitating Agile ceremonies.
• Ability to drive adoption and stakeholder buy-in.

Responsibilities

• Define programme scope and goals for AI projects.
• Manage planning and governance reports.
• Track outcomes and ensure timely execution across projects.
• Optimize resources while identifying risks.
• Monitor benefits realization for measurable value.
• Develop change strategies and communication plans.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Thinking

Interpersonal & Emotional Intelligence

Analytical & Problem-Solving

Education

Graduate degree in relevant fields

Certifications in PMP, PgMP, SAFe, etc.

Tools

Azure DevOps

JIRA

Job description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

Programme Manager to drive the delivery of Advanced Analytics initiatives to ensure outcomes align with organizational goals. Specialized in People Change Management; the candidate will enable seamless transitions across the portfolio by minimizing disruption and maximizing employee engagement and adoption of CDAIO’s capabilities and data products to deliver sustainable business value. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of proven expertise in SDLC, PDLC, and Project/Programme Management processes, with proficiency in PROSCI techniques generally in advanced analytics, data management and governance, and big data-AI platforms environments. We are an Agile environment, hands‑on experience facilitating Agile ceremonies on tools such as Azure DevOps or JIRA and managing cross functional dependencies is imperative.

Job Description

Programme Management

• Strategic Alignment: Define programme scope, goals, and success criteria to ensure AI projects align with organizational objectives.
• Integrated Planning & Governance: Drive planning, manage CRAIDs, and prepare governance reports and SteerCo packs and presenting at applicable governance bodies.
• Pace Setting & Delivery Oversight: Participate in programme increments, track outcomes, and ensure timely execution across projects.
• Resource & Risk Management: Optimize budgets and resources while proactively identifying and mitigating risks and issues.
• Benefits Realization: Monitor and track benefits realization to deliver measurable business value beyond project outputs.
• Change Strategy & Engagement: Develop & execute change strategies and communication plans to drive adoption and stakeholder buy‑in.
• Training Enablement: Design centralized training plans and scalable resources (e‑learning, videos) for execution by business change managers.
• Leadership Support: Coach and equip leaders and managers to guide teams through transitions effectively.
• Culture & Resistance Management: Embed new behaviors into organizational culture and address resistance empathetically.
• Impact Monitoring: Conduct impact assessments and track adoption metrics to refine strategies and ensure success.

Soft Skills

• Leadership: Proven ability to inspire, influence, and unite cross‑functional teams and senior stakeholders, fostering collaboration and a shared sense of purpose.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written skills, adept at simplifying complex concepts and tailoring messages to diverse audiences for clarity and impact.
• Strategic Thinking: Skilled at connecting the big picture to actionable plans, translating business objectives into coordinated, results‑driven initiatives.
• Interpersonal & Emotional Intelligence: Builds strong relationships through active listening and empathy, navigating organizational dynamics to reduce conflict and strengthen collaboration.
• Analytical & Problem‑Solving: Expert in data‑driven decision‑making, anticipating challenges, diagnosing root causes, and delivering innovative, practical solutions.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree; any relevant degree in Project/Programme Management, Management Information Systems, Finance, Business Administration, Psychology, Human Resources, Data Management or Data Science from a recognised university
• Certifications; any relevant certification such as PMP, PgMP, SAFe, CCMP, DAMA, Data Science, AI and Analytics

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised