Project Manager jobs in South Africa

Business Unit : Project Management Office

Role : Senior Project Manager

Level : Senior

Reporting to : PMO Executive

Employment Type : 4-year Contract

Location : Hybrid (Remote and on site at office in Centurion and customer premise in Hatfield Pretoria)

Environment experience : Government, Public Sector or Critical Infrastructure

Availability : ASAP

Our client is a managed services company that implements various types of IT projects including monitoring and cyber security projects. They utilise best of breed technologies to provide these services, including hardware, infrastructure, licensing and maintenance with highly skilled resources. Their project management team is responsible for managing and delivering external (clients) and internal projects.

Role Description and Purpose :

The Project Manager will oversee the planning, execution, monitoring, and successful completion of a 4 (four) year program. This position is critical to ensuring that the program adheres to the contractual and governance frameworks that have been established. The Project Manager will ensure compliance with South African legal, regulatory, and governance requirements while delivering measurable outcomes aligned with the client’s strategic objectives.

The role demands a skilled leader who can manage complex projects in a highly regulated environmen t, navigate stakeholder dynamics, mitigate risks, and drive operational excellence through innovative solutions.

The project manager be directed by the existing program manager and will be supported and assisted by an existing project administrator.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Planning and Execution :

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive project schedule, including detailed timelines, resource allocations, and deliverable milestones.
• Provide resource requirements plan to client, the company and contractors
• Project Manage the on-time delivery of defined programs, projects and deliverables.
• Coordination of 7+ parallel projects with phased handovers
• Collaborate with client and third-party vendor for the successful implementation of the program and projects.
• Schedule and facilitate all project engagements and meetings, including :
• Setting meeting agendas
• Meeting Minutes and / or Notes
• Tracking of action items discussed in meetings
• Ensuring the correct role players attend meetings

Stakeholder Management and Communications :

• Act as the primary liaison between the Company, the client and other stakeholders.
• Act as the primary liaison between the Company and its appointed sub-contactors
• Lead stakeholder meetings to provide progress updates, resolve escalated issues, and ensure alignment on program objectives.
• Foster a collaborative environment to address stakeholder concerns and incorporate feedback into program delivery.
• Communications to project stakeholders and project teams as per the communications plan
• ACX Internal PMO reporting and forums as required

Risk and Issue Management :

• Implement the Risk Management Plan (RMP) and Issues Management Plan (IMP).
• Maintain and Update Risks and Issues registers.
• Identify potential risks early, define mitigation strategies, and implement proactive measures to minimize disruption.
• Address and resolve operational challenges, including resource constraints, technical setbacks, and vendor performance issues.

Governance and Compliance :

• Implement governance structures as outlined in the program charter, SOW and MSA, ensuring alignment with legal and regulatory obligations.
• Facilitate audits and reviews to ensure compliance with data sovereignty and program governance policies.
• Ensure that all aspects of a project are documented and updated as required, including :
• Scope or Statement of Work Document
• Project Plan
• Resource Plan and RACI
• Project Contact List
• Project Update Reports
• Risk and Issues Register
• Variance Requests
• Completion Certificates for sign-off and billing

Performance Monitoring and Reporting :

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate program success and adherence to deliverables.
• Generate detailed progress reports, dashboards, and presentations for the Program Steering Committee, the Company PMO forums and other stakeholders.
• Provide timely updates on project financials, scope changes, and operational performance metrics.
• Create and maintain up to date set of project documentation, including project schedules, presentations, reports and communications
• Budget management (Human resources and financial) R500M program value.

Quality Assurance and Acceptance

• Oversee quality assurance processes to ensure that all deliverables meet the agreed-upon standards and acceptance criteria.
• Integrate continuous improvement practices by leveraging feedback loops, data insights, and lessons learned from program phases.
• Get client sign-off on project deliverables to drive closure of active project phases and projects
• Facilitate Operational Handovers to relevant Customer Service Teams (CST)
• Facilitate Operational Handovers and processes between project and client operations teams.

Training and Knowledge Transfer :

• Coordinate training programs and knowledge transfer initiatives as specified by the program charter.
• Ensure all relevant stakeholders, including operational teams are equipped with the necessary skills to manage and sustain the program post-implementation.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Business Management, or a related field.
• Project management certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) is mandatory.
• Advanced degrees or certifications in governance, compliance, or IT service management are advantageous.
• Minimum 8 years of project management experience, with at least 5 years managing large-scale IT infrastructure or IS / ICT programs.
• Experience in managing high value projects / program (R300M+) for an extended period.
• Proven track record in delivering projects within a highly regulated environment (e.g., government, public sector, or critical infrastructure).
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex stakeholder dynamics and multi-vendor projects.

Technical and Professional Skills :

• Must have proven experience with running high value, complex projects and / or programs
• Require expert MS Project skills and be able to generate operational and analytical reports from the schedules (such as project status, slippage, resource consumption, milestones / deliverables due).
• Experience with Timesheet Management
• Strong understanding of IS / ICT systems, including real-time monitoring solutions, infrastructure upgrades, and operational management.
• Knowledge of South African statutory and regulatory frameworks, such as PFMA, PPPFA, and data sovereignty requirements.
• Proficiency in risk management, quality assurance, and performance monitoring.
• Candidate must have a good understanding of technical IT terms and concepts and have technical IT experience.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the day-to-day operations of a program and project.
• Demonstrate a solid knowledge of Project Management methodologies and concepts
• Demonstrate a systematic and structured approach to project management
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office Programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, MS Teams)
• Candidate must be self-motivated and able to work independently
• Strong attention to detail
• Self-confidence is a must
• Must be able to operate under pressure and adapt to a fast-paced environment.
• Proven track record of successful delivery of long term (3yr+) projects or contracts
• Ability to multi-task
• Candidate must be comfortable to professionally participate and present during meetings, at various levels, such as Steering Committee and Executive levels.
• Ability to work in a complex and changing environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal in English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player.
• Excellent leadership abilities to drive team alignment and program delivery.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for stakeholder engagement and reporting.
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with diverse teams and external stakeholders.
• Analytical thinking for complex problem resolution.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and manage conflicting demands effectively.

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