Principal Platforms Manager

About the Role
This role is responsible for planning and driving the end-to-end management of large programs or multiple projects concurrently, coordinating project interdependencies. The successful candidate will oversee multiple inter-dependent programs that can span several years and impact various functions or larger projects. All aspects of the assigned program will be managed throughout the program lifecycles, ensuring completion within the defined scope, quality, time, and cost constraints. The position requires strategic and suitable allocations of resources and entails leading multi-disciplinary teams composed of various levels of people, vendors, and clients to create and deploy successful programs.

Responsibilities

Requirements Gathering and Documentation:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders to gather and define requirements for third-party platform delivery
• Ensure that requirements are documented, prioritized, and aligned with business objectives
• Translate business needs into technical specifications and work with technical teams to ensure clarity and feasibility

Vendor Evaluation and Selection:

• Participate in the evaluation and selection of third-party vendors and service providers
• Assess vendor capabilities, offerings, and track records to identify the best fit for the organization's needs
• Conduct due diligence, including financial stability, compliance history, and references to ensure reliable partnerships

Project Planning and Management:

• Develop comprehensive project plans for third-party platform delivery, including timelines, resource requirements, and deliverables
• Establish clear objectives and milestones to track progress throughout the project lifecycle
• Monitor project progress, manage risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure on-time and within-budget delivery

Integration and Implementation:

• Oversee the integration and implementation of third-party platforms into the organization's existing systems and infrastructure
• Coordinate with internal teams and vendors to ensure smooth deployment and minimal disruption to operations
• Troubleshoot and resolve any issues that arise during the integration and implementation phases

End-User Training and Support:

• Coordinate training sessions and provide support to end-users to facilitate the adoption of new third-party platforms
• Ensure that users are adequately trained to leverage platform features and functionalities effectively
• Develop user guides, FAQs, and other support materials to assist end-users.

Regulatory Compliance and Security:

• Ensure that third-party platforms comply with relevant regulatory requirements and security standards
• Implement measures to protect sensitive data and mitigate security risks associated with platform usage
• Conduct regular security audits and compliance checks to ensure ongoing adherence to standards

Process Improvement and Optimization:

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization in third-party platform delivery
• Solicit feedback from stakeholders and users to drive enhancements and maximize the value derived from third-party platforms
• Implement best practices and innovative solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness of platform delivery

Stakeholder Communication and Reporting:

• Maintain regular communication with business stakeholders, providing updates on project status, risks, and issues

• Prepare and present project reports, including key metrics, progress, and outcomes, to senior management

• Foster strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for platform initiatives

• Perform any other duties assigned by the line manager related to the nature of the work

• Enforce, incorporate, and comply with all necessary controls and related information security (EIS) policies, procedures, practices, training, reporting, personal due diligence, and vigilance within departmental/unit activities and operations.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• A tertiary level qualification from an internationally/regionally recognized institution.
• Recognized project management certification preferred, e.g., PMP, PRINCE, Agile/Scrum certifications.

Years & Nature of Experience

• 8+ years of equivalent experience, including at least 1 year as a program manager managing multiple work streams with successful delivery; at least 3 years as a project manager with end-to-end experience.
• As an individual contributor, would be the subject matter expert for a capability area or key process in their organization and would typically be the person to lead design work in their area.
• Delivered on banking technical solutions at the very least as a manager of multiple projects or workstreams.
• Experience demonstrates strong knowledge in end-to-end program management, utilization of current methodologies and tools, employment of strategies for alignment of different projects, involvement or leading program risk management, use of resource-management techniques, management of budgets and performance review processes for programs.
• Domain knowledge and industry experience in retail and commercial banking.
• Strong understanding of 3rd party platforms in the KSA, financial systems, and integration processes.

Technical Competencies

• Program Management
• Program Management / Collaboration Tools
• Complex Stakeholder Management
• Program Quality Assurance

Behavioral Competencies

• Collaboration
• Interpersonal Skills
• People Development
• Stakeholder Influence / Management