Project Manager at Equity Bank Kenya

Job Purpose

You will Lead and manage large-scale, high-impact projects across diverse banking domains, including (e.g., technology integrations, regulatory compliance initiatives, product launches).

In this role, you will be responsible for gathering resources, generating schedules, establishing teams to fulfil initiatives; you will interface with project members, vendors, managers, executives, and stakeholders to manage risk and ensure projects are completed on time and under budget.

Job Responsibilities/ Accountabilities

Planning

• Lead planning and management of small to large cross-domain initiatives and activities, including conducting analyses, developing the project and change management plans, and driving execution.
• Develop and implement comprehensive project plans, schedules, and budgets, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Oversee requirements management processes including requirements elicitation, analysis, validation, and ongoing scope management.
• Owns project planning, work breakdown structure (WBS) / Scheduling, financial management, and quality and performance management.

Budget and Cost Utilization

• Manage costs during the project life cycle.
• Report costs positions periodically.

Reporting & Tracking

• Ensure adequate and constant communications management and reporting, utilizing multiple channels including daily standups, regularly scheduled steerco meetings as well as standard reports to include ongoing updates, monthly progress reports etc. 
• Minutes documentation.

Implementation

• Develop, produce, and deliver executive presentations, program updates, and set and articulate goals and timelines to executive leadership.
• Drive implementing the full software development life cycle (SDLC).
• Monitor and track key project metrics, reporting progress, addressing deviations, and recommending corrective actions.

Communication

• Coordinate with other project teams and stakeholders to gather project status, performance and communicate policy where required.
• Provide clear and concise communication to stakeholders at all levels, keeping them informed and engaged throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manage vendor relationships, ensuring adherence to agreements and service delivery expectations.

Risk Management

• Work with the risk leadership, individual project managers, 3rd party vendors, cybersecurity staff, and other external stakeholders to identify, assess, and mitigate risks. 
• Maintain and update Risk Register.

Project Closure

• Work with business teams to hand over projects delivered.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated successful mastery of major components of the Project Lifecycle Development in the context of major systems implementations.
• Demonstrated mastery on project scheduling on MS Project or an equivalent project Management Tool like Smartsheet.
• Ability to organize and direct quality time-bound work efforts in a matrixed environment.
• Experience with financial services systems preferred.
• Demonstrated high level of analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Outstanding client relationship management skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Must have experience managing large scale projects and budgets exceeding $0.5M+.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into non-technical terms.
• Comfortable working with executive management.
• Demonstrated ability to drive crucial conversations across stakeholders of varying seniority.
• Ability to manage multiple medium to complex business & projects.

Required experience

• 5+ years of professional experience
• 3+ years of professional project management experience on projects
• 1+ years of experience in running projects in an agile environment
• PMP certification preferred.
• Must demonstrate an understanding of financial services
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience is required.