Manager - PM/PMO

Key Areas and ResponsibilitiesJob Summary / Overview A Manager in PMO focuses on strategic leadership, decision-making, stakeholder management, and team leadership. The Manager sets the PMO's direction, manages the budget, and develops processes.Key Responsibilities and Daily Activities Lead and manage end-to-end delivery of transformation projects that align with our strategic objectives, from concept through to implementation and benefit realization. Lead the planning and implementation of transformation projects, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic goals and objectives. Work closely with cross-functional teams including IT, product development, operations, and external partners to deliver projects on time and within budget. Manage and oversee the entire project lifecycle, from ideation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure, ensuring high-quality deliverables. Drive innovation in product development and technology solutions by staying abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging teams to innovate and optimize processes for better efficiency and effectiveness. Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and reports for transformation initiatives, providing regular updates to senior management. Ensure projects adhere to frameworks, and all documentation is maintained appropriately for each project. Identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle. Cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders, effectively communicating project goals, progress, and outcomes. Mentor and develop team members, providing guidance and support to strengthen capabilities across the transformation team. Anticipate and mitigate project risks, and resolve issues that arise, to keep projects on track. Facilitate the Scrum process from initiation through to delivery, ensuring adherence to Agile principles and practices, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives. Act as a servant leader and coach for the Scrum Team, helping them self-organize and work collaboratively to achieve high performance and deliver value to the business. Remove impediments or guide the team to remove impediments, thereby enabling the team's progress towards their sprint goals. Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team, encouraging them to identify and implement changes that increase productivity and enhance product quality. Work closely with Product Owners to ensure a well-groomed and prioritized product backlog, ensuring clear communication of product vision and scope to the team. Facilitate stakeholder collaboration as requested or needed, acting as a bridge between the team and external entities, including other teams and customers. Monitor and report on project progress and team performance against deliverables and timelines to stakeholders, using Agile metrics such as velocity and sprint burn-down. Champion the adoption of Agile and Scrum practices across the organization, providing training and support to teams and individuals new to the Agile environment. Ensure that the team adheres to the organization's Agile framework, recommending improvements and adjustments to processes as needed. Protect the team from outside interruptions and distractions and ensure that the team's capacity and velocity are optimized for project success. Stay abreast of new trends and tools in Agile practices and Scrum methodologies and facilitate the adoption of innovations that can benefit the team.Skills and Competencies Technical Skills: Proficiency in project management software tools, such as Microsoft Project, Jira, and Azure DevOps (or similar).  Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop detailed project plans and monitor key performance indicators.  Expertise in managing project changes, scope adjustments, and risk mitigation. Behavioral Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and negotiate at all levels.  Strong leadership skills and innovative mindset; able to drive continuous improvements and process optimizations.  Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making abilities.• Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and manage stakeholders from diverse cultural backgrounds.  Ability to maintain executive presence in boardroom meetings and senior management presentations.  Experience with client interactions, business development, cost negotiation, and pre-sales activities for more senior roles is an added advantage. QualificationsBachelor's degree in business administration, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. Master's degree or MBA preferred. Proven experience (10+ years) in transformation delivery, product development, or a similar role in a technology-driven environment. Strong project management skills, with qualifications such as PMP, Agile, or equivalent, being highly desirable. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage complex projects involving cross-functional teams. In-depth knowledge of digital transformation technologies and methodologies. Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to think strategically and execute methodically. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Experience in change management and driving adoption of new technologies and processes.