Senior Programme Manager

Liberty is currently seeking a highly experienced Senior Programme Manager to join their Johannesburg-based team. This is a pivotal role for a professional who thrives in a high-stakes financial services environment and possesses the technical acumen to oversee complex portfolios of projects from inception to final delivery.

About the role

In this capacity, you will serve as a strategic leader tasked with orchestrating cross-functional teams and managing project managers to ensure that large-scale business solutions are delivered efficiently. Success in this position is defined by your ability to maintain strict adherence to project scope, budgetary constraints, and quality benchmarks.

You will be joining a sophisticated organisation within the broader financial services ecosystem, where the focus is on driving meaningful change and sustainable growth. The role requires someone who is comfortable navigating corporate complexity and can translate high-level strategic objectives into actionable, well-documented project milestones.

What you’ll do

The core of this position revolves around end-to-end delivery management. You will be expected to provide leadership across multiple workstreams, ensuring that your team remains aligned with the organisation's broader financial and operational goals.

Your daily responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating the execution of diverse project portfolios to achieve strategic business outcomes.
• Leading and mentoring project managers to maintain a high standard of output and professional development.
• Overseeing the full project lifecycle, including project definition, planning, resourcing, and maintenance.
• Communicating complex project information clearly to stakeholders, ensuring buy-in and progress transparency.
• Directing internal and cross-functional teams to ensure milestones are met within defined timeframes and resource allocations.
• Upholding strict governance and procedural standards to minimise risk and ensure high-quality delivery.

What they’re looking for

Liberty is looking for a candidate with a mature professional profile, specifically someone who has spent over a decade navigating the intricacies of project management and business support. Because this role involves driving significant organisational change, the employer requires a leader who can influence stakeholders and guide teams through periods of transition.

Key requirements include:

• **Educational Foundation:** A relevant first degree in a field such as Business Commerce or a dedicated Project Management qualification.
• **Deep Experience:** Extensive, proven experience in leading teams of project managers and successfully delivering large-scale change programmes within a corporate environment.
• **Technical Proficiency:** Advanced knowledge of project planning, reporting, and resource management tools.
• **Behavioural Excellence:** The ability to make firm decisions under pressure, articulate information to diverse audiences, and embrace the adaptive nature of modern financial services.

For South African applicants, a role at this level within a major financial institution typically commands a competitive salary package reflecting the high level of responsibility, often ranging from R1.2 million to R1.8 million per annum, depending on your specific expertise and seniority. Professionals in this field often find that a background in large-scale change management serves as a strong springboard toward executive roles in consulting, operations, or strategic programme direction. Success in this environment depends on your ability to balance technical rigour with strong people management skills.

Type of Qualification: First Degree
Field of Study: Business Commerce
Type of Qualification: First Degree
Field of Study: Project Management

Experience Required
Project Management
Business Support
More than 10 years
Significant experience required in leading a team of project managers in order to drive the delivery of large scale change programmes in order to enable the execution of strategic business solutions.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Adopting Practical Approaches
• Articulating Information
• Convincing People
• Directing People
• Documenting Facts
• Embracing Change
• Following Procedures
• Making Decisions
• Managing Tasks
• Meeting Timescales
• Producing Output
• Upholding Standards

Technical Competencies:

• Project Definition
• Project Maintenance
• Project Management (Project Mgmt)
• Project Planning
• Project Reporting
• Project Resourcing