Fixed Term: Intermediate Project Manager at Old Mutual Kenya

Job Description

This role is responsible for managing projects across businesses and functions, in order to meet strategic business objectives. The role incumbent is responsible for planning, executing and evaluating projects according to predetermined methodologies, timelines and budgets. Typically reporting into a Business Project Manager/ Programme Manager, this role is expected to recruit and manage project teams, ensuring quality control throughout the project lifecycle. He/she will be expected to work on medium complexity projects, typically projects with a single focus.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Scoping

• Understand the business requirements/brief and objectives/benefits for a new project, and based thereon contract with the project stakeholders on parameters that define the technical and business scope of the project.
• With the required background from business case/requirements, document the project scope within the PID

Change request & Change control

• Manage the change control process by undertaking the following:
  • Be aware of potential changes to the baseline scope of the project that may require the initiation of the change control process
  • Understand and communicate to project stakeholders the impact (i.e. time/cost) of these changes to the project
  • Initiate the change control process and get necessary approvals
  • Re-baseline changes to project schedule, plan, business case/benefits plan and costs
  • Ensure change log is updated.

Project planning & execution

• Assist with/ co-facilitate initiation engagement and agreement with SME’s/business owners (project stakeholders) surrounding business case translation into project components, approach, key stakeholders etc.
• Establishes the target project plan. 
• Undertake required analysis to formulate and sign-off the project schedule
• Utilise the outcome from the engagement session with Business owners/PM (project stakeholders) as well as the project schedule to augment the PID
• Monitor, control and manage the execution of the project according to the plan. 

Facilitate project meetings and undertake required reporting on project status and performance

Quality Management

• Confirm and adhere to the quality approach to achieving quality including quality standards, controls and governances, processes and measures and build these into the project plan. 
• Execute on quality components through duration of the project. Correct and/or escalate non-compliance to quality components timeously. 

Project Expense & Benefits Management

Undertake sound cost and benefits management and controls of the project through:

• Sound cost estimation based on effort estimation (project scoping).
• Refine cost options and engage with PM/ business owner (project stakeholders) to finalise the budget
• Establish a baseline to control the costs of the project throughout the project life cycle
• Undertake cost-benefit analysis to determine ROI for project.
• Track benefit metrics as agreed with PM/ business owner
• Update the project business case with the changing scenarios and plans. 
• Create a robust project budget. 
• Manage budget and monitor expenses and costs.
• Undertake forecasting and reporting on projected project costs. 
• Undertake monthly budget reconciliations, BVARS, Journals, corrections etc.
  • Instill and drive practices, culture and processes for cost saving and efficiency through the project life cycle

Risk, Opportunity & Issue Management

• Undertake ongoing identification, assessment and monitoring of all project risks/ opportunities/ issues to determine their relevance and impact on the project
• Communicate and create awareness of any relevant issues/ risks/ opportunity with the project team
• Facilitate a process with stakeholders to identify and plan sound risk mitigation and contingency solutions
• Communicate these to individuals in accordance with the escalation process.
• Monitor and ensure implementation of these plans

Monitor and drive these solutions to ensure their effective implementation, and update project plans if required

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop a stakeholder management plan that will effectively engage with key stakeholders/vendors relevant to the project over the project life cycle
• Execute the stakeholder management plan by engaging, communicating, influencing commitment/ alignment for decisions and actions that will ensure project success
• Manage competing demands from stakeholders and negotiate conflicts to find workable solutions
• Understand and ensure adherence to all governance structures and approval protocols for project decisions
• Plan and execute proper project communication processes/ management, largely within the project structure, over the course of the project life cycle including communication channels and methods that will be used to share the project performance data, project progress. 
• Ensure there is an appropriate change management plan and process followed for the project. 

Procurement & contract management

• Understand the terms and conditions of the vendor contract(s) being used on the project
  • Manage cost, quality and delivery of work, according to the contract terms over its duration

Ongoing vendor and contract management (at an operational level) oversight for the duration of the contract on the project.  Address and escalate any issues timeously. 

Team effectiveness

• Build and manage an effective project team in terms of:
  • Positive team culture, dynamics and values, and team conflicts. 
  • Resource allocation, skills identification and development
  • Contracting, monitoring, management and delivery of project tasks and outcomes
  • Recognition, motivation and support (wellness)

Coach and supervise junior PMs

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Leading with Influence: Influences and rallies people behind common goals and inspires others to exceed expectations. Actively supports the growth and performance of people around them. Communicates clear strategies and objectives for own function.
• Innovative (Perspective): Demonstrates ability to relate to challenges from a range of diverse but relevant perspectives. Generates creative/out-of-the-box solutions. Challenges the status quo and/or demonstrates ability to relate to challenges from a range of diverse but relevant perspectives. Generates new perspectives that allow a more creative approach to be followed. Willing to take calculated risks when introducing novel ideas.
• Execution: Displays consistent energy, drive and perseverance in order to deliver results. Demonstrates a willingness to take calculated risks to achieve stretch performance goals.
• Customer First; Puts the customer at the heart of business decisions and drives to improve value for customers. Builds inspiring customer relationships. Being a customer champion and being responsive to customer needs so as to improve our speed to market.
• Personal mastery: Learns and actively works to build self-awareness; develop through experience and feedback from others. Copes effectively with stress and has the resilience to take on stretching and challenging assignments which carry a risk of failure. Adjusts effectively to work within new work structures; processes; requirements, or cultures.
• Collaboration: Proactively establishes and maintains relationships. Values driven in relating to others. Engenders trust, respect and the building of meaningful relationships across a variety of contexts. Able to handle a wide range of relational challenges including conflict and confrontation to collaborate across boundaries.
• Strategic: Identifies, understands and acts on broader opportunities in order to drive longer-term value-adding change. Identifies and acts on market and/or competitor trends/opportunities to set, develop and drive out value adding change. Is able to understand, identify and act on broader opportunities in order to drive longer-term, value-adding change. Applies judgement effectively.  Identifies and acts on market and/or competitor trends/opportunities to set, develop and drive out strategic value adding change.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• Excellent communication, management and interpersonal skills.
• Builds strong relationships.
• Ability to run effective project meetings, workshops and conferences.
• Knowledge of different project management methodologies.
• Solid technical understanding.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Willingness to learn.
• Bachelor’s degrees in project management, business management or related field, graduate degree preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS

• University Degree, 3 years Relevant Experience, Accredited Project Management Certification e.g. PMI, Prince2, Agile