Program Manager

Interswitch Group

Engineering & Technology

About Interswitch

Interswitch is an Africa-focused integrated digital payments and commerce company that facilitates the electronic circulation of money as well as the exchange of value between individuals and organisations on a timely and consistent basis. Our vision is to build an Africa where payment is a seamless part of everyday life.

Job Purpose

To plan and manage the delivery of Product Innovation projects, coordinate project resources and monitor progress and completion to ensure the on time and on specification delivery of new products. To develop and drive diligent implementation of high impact programmes across Interswitch, while continuously adapting to the growing needs of the business and building sustainable practices that can help grow and scale Interswitch’s products. To empower product management teams to efficiently deliver high-scale solutions and products to customers by breaking down high-level ambitions and strategies into tactical execution. To plan and manage the delivery of Product Innovation projects, coordinate project resources and monitor progress and completion to ensure the on time and on specification delivery of new products.

Responsibilities

P roject Scope Definition

• Manage the delivery of research, workshops and other activities to support the specification and agreement of projects and programme deliverables.
• Plan and deliver projects or programmes using an appropriate project management methodology to give assurance that intended outcomes are achieved.
• Partner with Product Managers to establish goals, roadmaps, and operational model for how to engage with other cross-functional teams within the business, to define initiative level programme roadmap with macro-view of all supporting work streams, and to drive overall programme to completion.
Facilitate regular programme or project status and design review meetings, ascertain that right stakeholder and cross-functional teams are involved, document decisions and actions items, and follow-up with owners on commitments to ensure that there is no deviation from the original project scope definition.

Stakeholder Management

• Plan and deliver stakeholder engagement activities to develop effective project working relationships and to ensure that stakeholder needs and concerns are identified and met.
• Serve as the bridge between critical business functions such product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and finance, aligning stakeholders and shepherding teams through the process of bringing strategic initiatives to life.
• Communicate with cross-functional stakeholders and executives on work standards, guidelines, processes, governance, and performance expectations, manage workflow through delegation and scheduled check in meetings, advise and facilitate process changes and feedback among the team.
Partner with Product Managers to establish goals, roadmaps, and operational model for how to engage with other cross-functional teams within the business, to define initiative level programme roadmap with macro-view of all supporting work streams, and to drive overall programme to completion.

Project Risk and Issue Management

• Evaluate portfolio performance against key metrics and standards, take corrective actions as needed, provide executives with portfolio-level transparency into status, dependencies, issues, and risks along with improvement recommendations across projects and programmes.
• Identify and evaluate risks, issues, dependencies, and constraints associated with the projects and programmes, escalating where appropriate.
• Predict obstacles, collisions and potential risks and develop, agree on and implement solutions to overcome and eliminate these.
Use structured change management methodologies to build acceptance of change and embed desired culture and behaviours.

Project Resource Management

• Manage the allocation of programmes and projects budget, control cost, highlight any deviation in a timely manner, and take corrective actions as necessary in line with the governance process.
• Develop tactical plans for optimising resources and assets being managed within programmes and projects and formulate workforce planning reports and budget.
Manage the deployment of project resources, proactively managing project costs, providing forecasts, and presenting variances with narrative at appropriate review points to ensure effective utilisation.

Innovative Products Programme Portfolio Management

• Translate strategic innovative product initiatives into a programme portfolio, bringing business value by prioritising and aligning programmes and projects with PM&I and Interswitch’s strategic objectives, making the best use of resources, managing time and budget constraints and building synergies between programmes and projects.
• Produce project plans where all activities are identified and appropriately organised to deliver programme objectives.
• Ensure project compliance with the Interswitch's wider programme portfolio management decision-making structures and processes.
• Draft elements of programme management frameworks and tools as directed, ensuring compliance with specified project framework design principles.
• Compile review reports and presentations, including key information and recommendations to support the review process and enable stakeholders to evaluate progress and agree on change.

Promote Culture of Innovation

• Promote a culture of innovation by creating solutions that boost creativity, innovation, and collaboration, such as idea generation platforms, jam sessions, and hackathons.
Provide the means (e.g., research, ideas, solutions) to prototype innovation business cases with the potential to shape the innovation strategy and road map.

Behavioral Competencies

Ensures Accountability

• Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. For example, tracks performance and strives to remain effective, learning from both successes and failures. Readily takes on challenges or difficult tasks and has reputation for delivering on commitments.
• Communicates Effectively Develops and delivers multi- mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. For example, disseminates knowledge, insights, and updates in a polished, precise, and compelling manner. Demonstrates a deep interest in others' comments. Creates rich documents and reports.
• Balances Stakeholders Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders. For example, shows a strong commitment to identifying all relevant issues and making decisions that maximise outcomes for all key stakeholders. Engages effectively with multiple stakeholders and responds with well-balanced, win-win solutions.
Plans and Aligns Plans and prioritises work to meet commitments aligned with organisational goals. For example, stays focused on plans and improvises in response to changes, including risks and contingencies. Aligns own team's work with other workgroups'. Looks ahead to determine and obtain needed resources to complete plans.

• Collaborates

Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. For example, enlists a range of stakeholders to add value; ensures they are well informed and surprises are avoided. Confronts and challenges "us vs. them"; shows strong appreciation for others' efforts toward shared goals.

• Resourcefulness

Secures and deploys resources effectively and efficiently. For example, seeks best approaches to conserve resources and minimise waste. Consistently finds creative approaches and workarounds to get the work done with very constrained resources, skillfully matching the types of resources to the specific challenge.

• Drives Results

Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. For example, regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals / initiatives in a timely way.

• Being Resilient

Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations. For example, has excellent composure and professionalism, even in very difficult situations; acts as a steadying force or role model for others. Skillfully overcomes obstacles, learns from failures, and uses these lessons to improve subsequent efforts.

• Directs Work

Provides direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done. For example, delegates tasks, providing generally clear expectations to staff. Coordinates and integrates the team's work, reducing duplication. Measures team progress using the right indicators; recognises when problems or shortfalls occur.

• Customer Focus

Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer- centric solutions.

For example, solicits customer feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the level of service the team is providing; takes action when standards are not met by team; aligns business process with customer needs.

• Cultivates Innovation

Creates new and better ways for the organisation to be successful. For example, motivates others to find new and better ways to address challenges; provides support and resources for promising ideas. Encourages people to incorporate varied perspectives to strengthen the innovation process.

Education

University First Degree in Business, Computer science, Project Management or related field.

General Experience

At least 8 years' relevant experience in Programme or Project Management roles ideally within reputable financial institutions or the payments industry.

Managerial Experience

At least 3 years’ experience of coordinating and directing people and other resources to achieve specific end results within limited timeframes.

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