Senior Project Manager

VML Enterprise Solutions; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

VML Enterprise Solutions is seeking an experienced Project Manager with commerce experience to lead complex eCommerce initiatives in South Africa. You will guide teams, manage budgets, and ensure on-time delivery within defined business cases.

You will collaborate with senior stakeholders, apply both Agile and Waterfall approaches, and drive continuous improvement in delivery processes across the organization.

Qualifications

• Proven software development Project Management experience.
• eCommerce experience within a retail environment.
• Understanding of the SDLC and release management.
• Ability to define, manage, and deliver to customer expectations within strict deadlines.
• Ability to handle ambiguity and drive change.
• Experience leading teams at different lifecycle stages.
• Familiarity with modern software development practices and lean methods.
• Strong negotiation and budget management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication.
• PM qualifications and certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Run complex projects using Agile or Waterfall methodologies.
• Provide solutions to blockers and ensure smooth workflow.
• Produce status reports on milestones, risks, and issues for stakeholders.
• Manage multiple workstreams and interdependencies.
• Lead teams and mentor junior project managers.
• Maintain project budgets and resource plans.
• Develop client relationships and manage expectations.
• Stay up to date with industry practices and process improvements.

Skills

PM experience

eCommerce

SDLC

customer expectations

team leadership

agile delivery

budgeting

MS Office

communication

English proficiency

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

Who We Are

WPP Enterprise Solutions designs, builds, and operates the growth systems that competitive businesses rely on. In a world where Al is reshaping how companies drive growth, we lead clients in business transformation and marketing modernisation, connecting strategy directly to execution. Our 12,000 experts in engineering and platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX work within a unified global operating unit across 40+ markets. WPP Enterprise Solutions works alongside best-in-class partners including Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, as well as innovators in AI, to deliver growth solutions tailored to the needs of our clients’ businesses. VML, part of WPP, supports WPP Enterprise Solutions by helping brands activate transformation through creativity and experience.

Who We Are

WPP Enterprise Solutions designs, builds, and operates the growth systems that competitive businesses rely on. In a world where Al is reshaping how companies drive growth, we lead clients in business transformation and marketing modernisation, connecting strategy directly to execution. Our 12,000 experts in engineering and platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX work within a unified global operating unit across 40+ markets. WPP Enterprise Solutions works alongside best-in-class partners including Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, as well as innovators in AI, to deliver growth solutions tailored to the needs of our clients’ businesses. VML, part of WPP, supports WPP Enterprise Solutions by helping brands activate transformation through creativity and experience.

Project Manager with Commerce experience and a technical background required to join our eCommerce Team in South Africa.

The opportunity

We look for an experienced Project Manager who leads teams to deliver high-quality, complex projects on budget and within a specified timeframe to achieve the potential benefits defined in the business case. You will work closely with the Programme Manager/Account Director to achieve productivity goals and contribute to the organisation’s overall success.

What you’ll be doing

• Effectively run complex projects using Agile or Waterfall methodologies
• Support the efficient flow of work by providing solutions to issues and blockers
• Produce accurate status reporting regarding project milestones, deliverables, risks, and issues, communicating to various audiences including key stakeholders and sponsors
• Manage several workstreams successfully, ensuring the teams understand what is expected of them in terms of output and quality
• Manage the interdependencies between the various workstreams
• Inspire and lead teams with little Agile experience, suggesting process and practical improvements as appropriate
• Motivate teams to achieve individual and team objectives, to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timeframes
• Focus on improving delivery processes
• Provide support to Junior Project Managers within your account
• Review and update the project resource plan on a regular basis, keeping tight control of project budgets
• Foster close relationships with senior management and business stakeholders, and be seen as a credible, reliable expert
• Develop customer confidence by understanding their needs and delivering first‑class solutions
• Set and manage client expectations, including resolving client escalations with diplomacy
• Chair meetings/reviews with multiple stakeholder requirements
• Keep up to date with emerging industry practices

What we want from you

• Proven software development Project Management experience
• eCommerce experience, ideally within a retail environment
• A good understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and release management
• Ability to define, manage, and deliver to customer expectations within strict deadlines
• Ability to deal with ambiguity, embrace and react to change with enthusiasm and critical thinking
• Experience leading and managing teams at different stages of the team’s lifecycle
• Experience with modern software development practices
• Strong understanding of agile delivery techniques and lean ways of working
• Experience managing people and financial budgets (including project budgeting, monitoring financials, reporting, etc.)
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Packages, especially MS Excel and MS PowerPoint
• Solid time management & organisational skills
• Excellent negotiation skills and an ability to handle sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy
• Relevant Project Management qualifications
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

If you know some of this, even better

• BA/BS degree with a major in information management, marketing, communications, business, or other closely related areas is an advantage

What we can offer you

Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.

How We Use AI In The Recruitment Process

To ensure more focused and engaging conversations, we leverage AI in our recruitment process exclusively for secure, objective note‑taking, never for evaluative judgments. This allows our team to be fully present with you. You are always welcome to request a transcript of these notes or opt out of this feature at any time. Opting out will not impact the outcome of the interview process

WPP Enterprise Solutions designs, builds, and operates the growth systems that competitive businesses rely on. In a world where Al is reshaping how companies drive growth, we lead clients in business transformation and marketing modernisation, connecting strategy directly to execution. Our 12,000 experts in engineering and platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX, work within a unified global operating unit across 40+ markets. WPP Enterprise Solutions works alongside best-in-class partners including Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, as well as innovators in AI, to deliver growth solutions tailored to the needs of our clients’ businesses. We have received distinction as a leader in Commerce Services and CX Strategy Consulting by the Forrester Wave™

To find out more, visit enterprisesolutions.wpp.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

WPP Enterprise Solutions is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting‑edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence and world‑class partnerships – all united by our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

WPP (VML/WPP Enterprise Solutions) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.