Job Title: Program Manager

Location: Hybrid, Johannesburg]

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Program Manager to lead complex, multi-year technology programs, preferably within the dynamic Fintech or SaaS sectors. This pivotal role demands a visionary leader capable of driving large-scale initiatives from inception to successful delivery, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and business objectives. The successful candidate will be instrumental in shaping our product and technology roadmap, managing significant budgets, mitigating risks, and fostering high-performing cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Program Planning & Execution: Define, scope, and lead complex, multi-year technology program, ensuring clear objectives, deliverables, and alignment with overall business strategy. Translate strategic goals into actionable programme plans and roadmaps.
• Stakeholder Management: Cultivate and manage relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including senior leadership, C-level executives, product teams, engineering, operations, and external partners. Ensure transparent communication and alignment on program status, risks, and strategic impact.
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Proactively identify, analyze, and manage program risks and dependencies. Develop and implement robust mitigation strategies to ensure program stability and successful delivery.
• Budget & Resource Oversight: Take full ownership of program budgets, including forecasting, tracking, and reporting. Optimize resource allocation across multiple projects within the program to maximize efficiency and achieve financial targets.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and inspire cross-functional teams of 10+ individuals (including product managers, engineers, designers, and QA specialists). Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Delivery Against Milestones: Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of program milestones and outcomes, consistently meeting or exceeding defined performance indicators and business requirements.
• Process Improvement: Champion best practices in program management, driving continuous improvement in methodologies, tools, and processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Vendor & Partner Management: Oversee relationships with external vendors and partners critical to program success, ensuring contracts, service level agreements, and deliverables are met.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in program management, specifically leading complex, multi-year technology programs.
• Domain Expertise: Demonstrated experience within the Fintech or SaaS industries is highly preferred, showcasing an understanding of industry-specific challenges and opportunities.
• Certifications:
• • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
  • Agile certifications (e.g., SAFe Agilist, CSM, CSPO, PRINCE2 Agile).
• Education: A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master's degree is advantageous.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams of 10 or more.
• Technical Acumen: Strong understanding of software development lifecycles, various program management methodologies, and modern technology stacks.

Desired Soft Skills:

• Exceptional Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical and business concepts clearly and concisely to diverse audiences, including C-level executives.
• Advanced Negotiation & Influence: Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills, capable of driving consensus and resolving conflicts effectively among stakeholders.
• Strategic Problem-Solving: A proactive and analytical approach to identifying problems, evaluating solutions, and making data-driven decisions under pressure.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, managing multiple priorities and adapting to changing program requirements.
• Executive Presence: Professionalism and confidence in engaging with senior leadership and representing the program's interests.
• Team Player: A collaborative mindset with a strong commitment to team success and individual development.