Senior Project Manager (Rewards Programme Specialist)

Job Summary

Our client, a prominent player in financial services, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Project Manager to lead complex, strategic rewards programme initiatives. This role is accountable for delivering multiple large-scale projects of moderate to high complexity, with a focus on the full lifecycle management of rewards programmes—including rewards models, rule changes, partnership strategy, and vendor onboarding.

The ideal candidate is an Agile-savvy Project Manager with 8–10 years’ experience, a strong track record in the rewards environment, and the ability to thrive in dynamic, evolving environments. You will establish the delivery framework, govern cross-functional workstreams, and ensure on-time, on-budget, and on-scope delivery. This is a hybrid role based in Cape Town, reporting into a Programme Lead.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the overall project delivery framework, including governance forums, roles, responsibilities, and collaboration tools (project plan, RAID log, dashboards).
• Develop and manage a consolidated project plan with clear milestones, timelines, and interdependencies across business, technology, compliance, and operations.
• Coordinate and facilitate workshops with stakeholders, delivery teams, and external vendors; document decisions, action items, and outputs.
• Track progress across all teams and provide consolidated weekly/monthly status reports using RAG indicators to senior leadership.
• Manage dependencies, risks, and issues across business and technical teams, maintaining clear ownership and mitigation plans.
• Oversee contracting and engagement with external service providers or vendors as required.
• Drive change management plans to support adoption and communication of new capabilities.
• Baseline scope, timelines, success metrics, and secure resources (people, systems, budget) in alignment with compliance, risk, and operational readiness.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Education & Certifications (Essential):

• Relevant tertiary degree in Finance, Information Technology, or Computer Science.
• Project Management Professional (PMI-PMP / PgMP / ACP / CAPM) OR PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner OR SAFe Lean Portfolio Management.

Experience (Non-negotiable):

• 8–10 years’ experience in project management with a strong track record of leading and completing complex projects.
• Proven delivery of multiple complex, strategic rewards projects (this is non-negotiable).
• Hands-on exposure to rewards programme lifecycle management, including rewards models, rule changes, partnership strategy & onboarding.
• Ability to work in complex, dynamic, and evolving environments.

Preferred Experience:

• Rewards programmes and data analytics initiatives.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

Behavioural Competencies:

• Stakeholder management, decision-making, facilitating change, influencing, building partnerships.
• Customer orientation, cultivates innovation, results-driven with a collaborative approach.
• Ensures accountability, manages conflict and obstacles effectively.
• Independent self-starter with situational adaptability and ability to manage ambiguity.