Senior Project Manager

Firstrand Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 80 000 - 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading banking group in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to drive Visa and Mastercard implementation initiatives across banking segments. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional presentation and communication skills, with a strong track record in project management and stakeholder engagement. This role demands critical thinking and the ability to navigate complex challenges independently. The position offers an opportunity to shape strategic decisions in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to translate data into compelling narratives.
• Experience in managing complex projects with minimal supervision.
• Ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of Visa and Mastercard implementation initiatives.
• Develop comprehensive project delivery plans.
• Oversee risk identification and change control processes.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams for cohesive delivery.
• Govern project oversight through formal governance frameworks.
• Influence senior management for strategic decision-making.
• Provide mentorship to junior project team members.

Skills

Presentation Skills

Communication Skills

Critical Thinking

Analytical Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Tools

MS Project

JIRA

Confluence

Asana

ClickUp

Trello

Job description

Description This role demands exceptional presentation and communication capabilities, with a proven ability to translate data and insights into compelling narratives that inform strategic decision-making across the FirstRand Group.

The incumbent must demonstrate confidence and clarity in verbal presentations, effectively engaging stakeholders at all levels.

Operating within FirstRand's owner-manager culture, the Senior Project Manager is expected to exercise independent judgment, take full ownership of delivery outcomes, and proactively address challenges with minimal supervision.

Critical thinking, analytical rigour, and a solution-oriented mindset are essential to navigate complex issues and drive innovation.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end execution of Visa and Mastercard-based implementation initiatives across core retail, commercial, and corporate banking segments within transactional banking environments.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project delivery plans, ensuring execution within defined scope, budget, quality standards, and timelines.
• Oversee risk identification, mitigation strategies, issue resolution, and change control processes throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate and align cross-functional teams, including business stakeholders, technical leads, external vendors, and subject matter experts, to ensure cohesive delivery.
• Govern project oversight through structured steering committees, formal governance frameworks, and client-facing progress reporting mechanisms.
• Direct requirements elicitation, gap analysis, and solution design activities to ensure alignment with strategic business objectives.
• Knowledge of merchant onboarding workflows, KYC requirements, and terminal provisioning.
• Ensure seamless integration with existing systems, adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements, and implementation of industry best practices.
• Provide mentorship and leadership to junior project team members, serving as a subject matter expert in core banking transformation.
• Influence senior management and key stakeholder groups to secure alignment, support, and strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify risks, opportunities, and challenges, and recommend actionable, data-driven solutions.
• Resolve complex delivery challenges independently, operating effectively within an owner-manager culture.
• Utilize advanced proficiency in project and task management tools such as MS Project, JIRA, Confluence, Asana, Go2PPO, ClickUp, and Trello to manage execution and reporting.
• Apply strong financial acumen to interpret business and financial metrics, enabling the identification of strategic insights and value drivers.
• Leverage critical thinking and analytical capabilities to diagnose root causes and formulate innovative, sustainable solutions.
• Facilitate strategic discussions that drive improved decision-making and enhance organizational performance.