Our client is a prominent Pan-African conglomerate with over 60 years of multi-sector expertise in more than 20 African countries.

We are seeking a seasoned and forward-thinking Senior Manager / Lead, Project Management Office (PMO) to establish and lead a robust, region-wide PMO function. This senior role will be pivotal in designing project governance structures, overseeing high-impact initiatives, and driving excellence in execution across diverse industries and geographies within the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The ideal candidate will bring proven experience in managing complex, large-scale projects or business transformation programs, particularly across multiple countries or regional hubs.

PMO Development and Operational Framework

• Spearhead the creation and roll-out of a centralized Project Management Office (PMO) to serve as the backbone for project delivery across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Design and enforce standardized project management frameworks, tools, and processes based on leading methodologies such as PMI or PRINCE2.

Program Coordination and Delivery Management

• Supervise an integrated portfolio of regional projects and programs, ensuring each meets defined timelines, scope, and financial parameters.
• Monitor project outcomes against performance benchmarks and ensure quality standards are upheld throughout execution.

Talent Planning and Resource Optimization

• Lead capacity planning to ensure appropriate allocation of project professionals and support staff across initiatives.
• Prioritize and align human resource deployment with evolving business demands and key delivery deadlines.

Risk oversight and Change Governance

• Establish a robust system for the proactive identification and resolution of project risks and delivery obstacles.
• Manage issue escalation and develop structured mitigation plans to prevent delivery delays or cost overruns.

Team Leadership and Capability Building

• Lead and mentor a high-performing PMO team, providing direction, setting clear expectations, and facilitating continuous professional development.
• Cultivate a results-driven culture anchored in accountability, collaboration, and delivery excellence.
• Conduct regular feedback cycles and performance assessments.

Executive Liaison and Stakeholder Alignment

• Serve as the key conduit between senior leadership and project teams, ensuring transparency and alignment on key priorities and initiatives.
• Develop and present high-level reports, dashboards, and insights to executive stakeholders, investment committees, and regional leads.
• Foster strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure cohesion and long-term support for project goals.

Budget Management and Financial Tracking

• Oversee financial planning for projects, ensuring strict adherence to budgets and optimal use of allocated resources.
• Partner with finance teams to monitor ROI, evaluate project feasibility, and ensure disciplined expenditure management.
• Validate business cases for proposed initiatives and support data-driven prioritization of investments.

Quality Enhancement and Operational Excellence

• Position the PMO as a hub for delivery excellence by driving continuous process improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Benchmark delivery approaches against global best practices and implement innovative techniques to elevate project outcomes.

Qualification/ Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field
• 10+ years of professional experience, with at least 6 years in a senior project/program management or PMO leadership role.
• Proven experience leading complex, large-scale projects or transformation initiatives across multiple countries or regions.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, PgMP, or Agile are highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of portfolio management, risk governance, change enablement, and performance tracking.

Skills

• Budget and Financial Management
• Effective Communication
• Project Planning and Management
• Change Management
• Business Acumen
• Adaptability and Problem Solving
• Documentation and Reporting