Senior Project Manager

Job Introduction

The thing that makes your position so important in Equator is that you are accountable for the end-to-end delivery of a diverse range of projects within an agreed but flexible framework and governance structure.

Main Responsibilities

• Being accountable for managing budgets, timescales, and quality on technically complex or transformation projects.
• Deciding which approach should be deployed on projects, the appropriate use of documentation and controls including but not limited to User Stories and Acceptance Criteria, Project Plans, Wireframes, Technical Specs, Test Plans, Project Reports and Client Action Logs (this list is not exhaustive).
• Facilitating requirements gathering workshops and produce the associated outputs.
• Leading the project team in scoping activities, preparing costs and robust capacity / delivery plans off the back of this.
• Ensuring JIRA and Confluence are being utilised in line with our process, that project boards are maintained and that each project has an eazyBI ETC report.
• Working with the delivery team to ensure work is understood and meets our definition.
• Working with the delivery team to ensure that our outputs meet defined requirements and achieve sign-off.
• Communicating with key stakeholders, including clients, ensuring they are informed on project progress, risks, dependencies, and blockers.
• Mentoring Project Managers providing support and guidance.
• Assisting with recruitment.

The Ideal Candidate

• Project delivery practices: You know how to lead teams in Agile and Waterfall environments. You can identify, compare, and decide which processes or delivery methods to use. You can recognise when something doesn’t work and encourage the team to adapt. You can create or tailor new ways of working. You can get our clients bought into and working in line with our preferred delivery approach. You understand and can work within constraints (including but not limited to technology, financials, and timelines).
• Financial management: You can input into RFPs and ballparking activities. You know how to balance cost vs. value. You can take responsibility for relationships with contractors, 3rd parties and delivery partners. You know how to negotiate, influence, or set budgets in complex environments. You understand the importance of revenue recognition and work with the Development Project/Team lead to ensure ETC’s are accurate, properly considered and completed on a weekly basis. You can monitor cost and budget vs. project progress and will take corrective action when challenges are encountered.
• Communication: You know how to communicate effectively, overcoming departmental boundaries. You can manage stakeholder expectations and facilitate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales. You don’t shy away from difficult conversations and embrace feedback.
• Planning: You know the importance of planning and forecasting and the different ways to develop a plan. You can lead a continual planning process in complex environments. You know how to communicate plans, assumptions, and progress to stakeholders. You can manage complex internal and external dependencies.
• Making our process work: You can identify what works best for the delivery team and when to utilise certain processes. You can add value and mentor the Project Management team to review and adapt processes. You know how to lead teams through the implementation of a new process or way of working.
• Ownership and initiative: You take ownership of problems. You take accountability for your actions and decisions you make.
• Maintaining delivery momentum: You understand the different phases of project delivery and can contribute to, plan, and run these. You actively address the most complex risks, issues, and dependencies, including where ownership exists out with the delivery team or where no owner exists. You can identify innovative ways to unblock issues.
• Team dynamics and collaboration: You can identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and take steps to address them. You can pull out issues through agile ceremonies and know when to probe further. You can give varying types of feedback, ensuring the discussion and decisions stick. You can facilitate conflict resolution. You are flexible, adaptable and keep up to date with trends and industry improvements.