Senior Project Manager

VML/WPP Enterprise Solutions; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP Enterprise Solutions in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced Project Manager with commerce experience to lead eCommerce initiatives and cross-functional teams in a dynamic South African environment.

You will oversee complex projects, manage budgets, and drive delivery through Agile or Waterfall methodologies while engaging with senior stakeholders and clients to ensure value delivery and alignment with business goals.

Qualifications

• Experience in ecommerce, ideally within a retail environment.
• 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 and adapt 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.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

eCommerce experience

SDLC understanding

Agile delivery

Team leadership

Budget management

Communication skills

English proficiency

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Education

BA/BS degree (advantage)

Tools

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

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

• 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
• 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 processexclusively for secure, objective note-taking , never for evaluative judgments. This allows our team to be fully present with you. You are always welcome torequest a transcript of these notes or opt outof this feature at any time. Opting out will not impact the outcome of the interview process

At WPP Enterprise Solutions

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™

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.

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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.