Head of Project Management Practice Manager in London

The Apex Group was established in Bermuda in 2003 and is now one of the world's largest fund administration and middle office solutions providers. Our business is unique in its ability to reach globally, service locally and provide cross-jurisdictional services. With our clients at the heart of everything we do, our hard-working team has successfully delivered on an unprecedented growth and transformation journey, and we are now represented by over 13,000 employees across 112 offices worldwide.

About Apex: Apex Group Ltd., established in Bermuda in 2003, is a global financial services provider. With 50 offices worldwide and 12,000 employees upon the close of announced acquisitions, Apex delivers an extensive range of services to asset managers, capital markets, private clients and family offices. The Group has continually improved and evolved its capabilities to offer a single-source solution through establishing the broadest range of services in the industry including fund services, digital onboarding and bank accounts, depositary, custody and super ManCo services, business services including HR and Payroll and a pioneering ESG Ratings and Advisory service for private companies.

We look to recruit bright, articulate, and numerate employees who are not afraid of a challenge. You are prepared to work hard, love what you do and be prepared to innovate. Every employee plays a part in making Apex who we are today and the more that we grow, the more important that becomes. Whatever your career path or specialism Apex provides a global platform to allow you to thrive.

About the Hiring Team: We are looking for an IT Practice Manager to join our team, reporting to the Head of Practice. The role is an essential role within an organization, tasked with overseeing the operations of the IT department, ensuring the alignment of IT services with business objectives, and managing a team of IT professionals. The Practice Manager will be part of the program team defining, reviewing and approving the delivery into the agile teams, using SAFe methodology, ensuring auditable quality and traceability. You will be accountable for the delivery of the defined Epics & changes for the client, provide effective management to the teams and give guidance to key business users. You will be responsible for ensuring the practice methodology aligns with the Apex global QA & BA framework and that requirements have been delivered through the cycle with the correct level of rigour & quality.

The practice team is currently located across UK – London, Ireland – Dublin, Bulgaria – Sofia, South Africa – Cape Town and the India offices – Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore. Apex currently has a 5-day Office working policy.

• Leadership and Team Management: Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Practice Managers (Project Management professionals), fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. Develop and implement team goals, performance metrics, and professional development plans. Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback. Act as a Deputy Management Representative for the Head of Practice in their absence.
• Strategic Planning and Alignment: Develop and execute change strategies that align with the organization's overall business objectives. Identify & lead opportunities for technology & business improvements and innovation to drive business growth and quality outcomes for the business. Collaborate with senior management to understand business needs and ensure IT solutions support organizational goals.
• Team Project Management: Active member of the Programme team's methodologies, ensuring adherence to the practice within Apex and upholding high standards for quality. Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of IT projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and within budget. Coordinate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes. Manage project risks and issues, implementing mitigation strategies as required. Actively participate in lessons learned sessions to help improve Project Management process.
• Project Management: Collaborate with stakeholders to establish quality standards and ensure compliance with industry best practices. Perform analyst activities, where required, and provide clear and concise progress reporting that is reflective of Tower/Team status for key stakeholders and executive review. Monitor practice activities and identify patterns and trends; providing insights and recommendations to improve delivery quality. Oversee the activities of Project Delivery, ensuring the accurate and comprehensive gathering of change management lifecycle artefacts. Ensure effective communication and collaboration between project management teams and other stakeholders to align IT solutions with business needs.
• Resourcing: Develop and implement resourcing strategies to ensure the department is adequately staffed to meet organizational needs. Manage the recruitment, selection, and onboarding of the professionals, ensuring the acquisition of top talent. Monitor and optimize resource allocation to ensure effective utilization of personnel and skills.
• Compliance and Security: Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards related to IT and data security. Support project related security incidents and breaches.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Experience: Proven experience in Change Delivery Leadership, with a track record of successfully leading and managing Change professionals. Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and financial management. Experience in both Waterfall and Agile, BDD, Dev Ops testing methodologies. Experience within a Financial Services or Funds Industry is highly desirable.
• Skills: Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others. Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels. Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Excellent organizational and time management skills, with a keen attention to detail. Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and coordinate with globally dispersed technical and non-technical teams. Experience coaching, mentoring and hiring industry professionals.
• Personal Attributes: Proactive and results-oriented, with a strong focus on achieving goals and objectives. Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Strong sense of integrity and ethical conduct. Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

The Global Head of Project Management Practice plays a critical role in bridging the gap between technology and business, ensuring that the IT department delivers value and supports the organization's objectives. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills to drive success and foster a culture of innovation and excellence. If you are passionate about delivery and have a proven track record of leading & coaching delivery teams to success, this role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a significant impact.

We are an equal opportunity employer and ensure that no applicant is subject to less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, gender identity, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, responsibilities for dependants, physical or mental disability. Any hiring decision is made based on skills, qualifications and experiences.

We measure our success as a business, not only by delivering great products and services and continually increasing our assets under administration and market share, but also by how we positively impact people, society and the planet.