Senior Project/ Programme Manager

Job Title: Senior Project/Programme Manager
The Senior Project Manager is a crucial role within our client and will be responsible the management of key strategic projects across the business. The successful candidate will be pivotal in driving strategic initiatives and managing a diverse portfolio of projects across the organisation. They will be responsible for overseeing the entire project lifecycle, ensuring timely delivery, and aligning projects with business objectives.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Project Shaping, Planning and Initiation:

• Work with business leads to shape projects including defining scope, benefits and objectives, and establishing key performance indicators.
• Ensure the scope, objectives and project benefits are clearly defined and agreed with the member of the Management Committee who is sponsoring the project
• Develop comprehensive project plans, including timelines, resources, and budgets.
• Conduct feasibility studies and risk assessments to identify potential roadblocks.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project requirements and expectations.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Conduct regular status meetings and communication channels to ensure transparency and alignment.

Resource Management:

• Allocate and manage project resources efficiently, including team members, vendors, and external partners.
• Monitor resource utilisation and forecast capacity – identifying resource constraints and managing accordingly

Risk & Issue Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues and escalate appropriately
• Develop contingency plans and proactive strategies to address potential obstacles.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare and deliver weekly progress reports to stakeholders, summarising project status, milestones, and risks.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including project plans, schedules, and budgets.

Budget Oversight:

• Monitor project budgets, track and forecast expenses, and provide timely updates to senior management

Skills, qualifications, and experience:
Essential

• 10 years of project or programme management experience in the London Market insurance industry
• Deep understanding of London Market insurance
• Strong influencing, relationship management and decision-making skills, showing clear leadership when it comes to driving out the definition of a problem and its solution.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with an ability to challenge stakeholders in a constructive manner.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Significant experience of supporting and delivering complex change management, including management of portfolios and programmes of change.
• Proven experience in delivering against committed plans and performance, working with and through direct and virtual teams
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and guide cross-functional teams and capable of developing strong, long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Desirable

• University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Information Technology, or related disciplines
• Industry Standard Project management credentials (Prince 2, PMI, APM etc. )
• CII qualifications desired but not essential