Programme Manager at Discovery Limited

Key Purpose

• The Agile Programme Manager will be responsible for the end-to-end Project/Programme Management Delivery which includes the support of project/programme management related processes, standards, policies and methodologies. Performs the duties of a scrum master, including but not limited to agile planning, agile organizing, facilitating stand-ups and managing of resources to bring about the successful completion of tasks, projects and programmes. Manages the sequence of activities in an agile manner and allocates resources to complete the project & programme life cycle. Has the authority, accountability and responsibility for managing projects and programs to achieve the business vision and objectives. Acts as an evangelist of the discipline, using opportunities to promote the benefit of a structured & organised approach to change and coordinated effort.
• This role, agile Programme Manager plays a major role in building relationships with the client, team and business. You will be an effective advocate of the market facing team in the project and programme development lifecycle and will interface with several teams, Business Analysts, Developers, Testers, Actuaries, Product Specialists, development teams locally and abroad (different time zones), testing teams, executives and most importantly the client to implement initiatives that support and drive engagement in the Vitality wellness program. The incumbent will spend 70% of their time on Programme Management duties, and 30% on Scrum Mastering duties (70/30 split). It is therefore vital for the incumbent to have experiences on both.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to:
Interaction with People:

• Understand, interpret and translate strategic objectives into projects with measurable outcomes
• Managing the day-to-day operations of the project management team by providing hands-on approach across projects and programmes
• Plan, allocate, organize and control tasks and projects to the Project Management team
• Train and coach project leaders and stakeholders on the project management process, related principles and methods
• Provide mentorship regarding best practices for project management and programme management
• Interact with business stakeholders at all levels of the organization

Documentation:

• Create agile project plans
• Document, update and communicate weekly and monthly progress updates
• Document, update and communicate project risks and mitigations
• Document and communicate lessons learned
• Create a standard set of principles and methods, practices, and templates for managing various projects across the business

Process:

• Lead agile activities
• Produce estimates for proposed work to inform enhancement costs
• Perform risk analysis on proposed development initiatives
• Identify and drive process or other solutions to improve business results, product performance and client satisfaction
• Employ critical thinking and problem-solving skills during planning & execution of solutions

Technology:

• MS Project
• MS PowerPoint
• MS Excel
• MS Word

Project knowledge:

• Getting things done and delivering on the quadruple constraints (Scope, time, budget, and Budget)
• Coordinate projects with business, Product Analysts, Actuaries, Business Analysts, Project managers, stakeholders and technical resources
• Understand project plans and milestones
• Help identify dependencies on projects as part of project planning and delivery
• Involved in project estimation processes, planning, execution and testing
• Creative thinker who comes to the table with alternative solutions when first-ask options prove to be too costly or complex.
• Review the project schedule with senior management and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities; revise the schedule as required
• Determine the objectives and measures upon which the project will be evaluated at its completion
• Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the organization on the progress of the project
• Ensure that all project personnel receive an appropriate orientation to the organization and the project
• Contract qualified consultants to work on the project as appropriate
• Execute the project according to the project plan
• Monitor the progress of the project and adjust as and when necessary to ensure successful completion of the project
• Review the quality of the work completed with the project team on a regular basis to ensure that it meets the project standards
• Ensure that the project deliverables are executed on time, within budget and at the required level of quality
• Monitor and approve all budgeted project expenditures
• Manage all project funds according to established accounting policies and procedures
• Evaluate the outcomes of the project as established during the planning phase

Key skills and expectations:

• Be optimistic, outgoing, confident, curious and self-driven
• On time delivery with rigorous attention to detail is a must
• Facilitates stand-ups and project meetings
• Manage multiple concurrent tasks, projects and programmes
• Gathers requirements from business on big and small projects
• Drafts and gets Risk registers and Risk mitigations
• Ability to use JIRA
• Drives, oversees and reviews post project reviews
• Produce an accurate Project/Programme plan from all stakeholders
• Accurately document actions, decisions, issues and risks clearly defining project objectives
• Presentations and walk-through discussion. Obtain sign-off on documents
• Perform project estimation for BA tasks
• Make recommendations to client on projects and programmes
• Present to senior stakeholders and team

Personal Attributes and Skills
Personal Attributes or Competency Profile

Discovery Person

Values Driven:

• Committed to integrity and ethics in business
• Behaves consistently with Discovery Values

Optimistic:

• Motivated by a positive future
• Energised by challenges

Learns on the Fly:

• Embraces the unfamiliar
• Experiments to find solutions

Resilient:

• Recovers quickly from setbacks
• Grows from negative experiences

Instils trust:

• Follows through on commitments

People Savvy:

• High EQ with low ego

Drives Results:

• Energises self and others to achieve
• Consistently exceeds goals

Problem Solver:

• Looks beyond the obvious
• Finds sustainable solutions
• Process and customer experience focus
• Risk Mitigation
• Solutions driven

Education & Experience
Education

Education / Qualifications / Accreditations with Professional Body

Required

• Matric
• NQF Level 7: Relevant Bachelor’s Degree (Preferably in Project and Programme Management)

Technical Required

• Planning and Execution
• Business writing skills
• Communication (Presentation and facilitation skills)
• Stakeholder management
• Jira
• Scrum master skills

Preferred (would be advantageous)

• Process
• Project Coordinator/Administrator

Work Experience

Work Experience

• At least 7 years’ experience in a Project Management role
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Programme Management role
• At least 2 years’ experience as a Project Coordinator/Administrator
• Sound experience in applying and implementing project management methodologies.