We’re Hiring: Program Manager

📍 Location: Johannesburg
🏢 Business Unit: Merchant Operations Division
🧩 Function: Portfolio & Value Management Office (PVMO)
👤 Reports to: Executive Head: PVMO

⭐ Role Purpose

The Program Manager is responsible for leading the end‑to‑end delivery of complex, cross‑functional programmes within Lesaka’s PVMO.

This role ensures that all programme outcomes are aligned to organisational strategy, robust governance, and measurable business and customer value — while building and sustaining a high‑performing project management capability.

The role carries accountability for programme execution, benefits realisation, governance discipline, risk management, and people leadership across multiple concurrent initiatives.

🎯 Primary Focus

To plan, govern, and deliver multi‑workstream programmes that realise approved business cases, manage interdependencies across teams and entities, and embed disciplined portfolio delivery standards across the organisation.

🔍 Key Responsibility Areas & Associated Tasks

📈 1. Programme Delivery Excellence

• Lead full lifecycle programme delivery from initiation through closure
• Develop and maintain integrated programme plans covering scope, timelines, resources, risks, and dependencies
• Coordinate delivery across multiple concurrent project workstreams
• Manage scope change through formal change‑control processes
• Ensure alignment between Agile sprint execution and PVMO milestone governance

🛡️ 2. Governance & Control Frameworks

• Establish and operate programme governance structures (SteerCos, working groups, escalation pathways)
• Produce accurate, timely programme status reports and executive steering packs
• Manage stage‑gate reviews and ensure audit‑ready documentation throughout delivery
• Ensure adherence to PVMO standards, policies, and quality controls

⚠️ 3. Risk, Dependency & RAID Management

• Maintain a live programme‑level RAID log (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies)
• Proactively identify and resolve cross‑entity dependencies
• Facilitate regular risk reviews and escalate material risks with mitigation plans
• Ensure no surprise escalations through disciplined risk management

🤝 4. Stakeholder Alignment & Engagement

• Engage and manage senior stakeholders across business units, technology, and delivery partners
• Prepare and present programme updates and decision papers to Executive and Exco forums
• Facilitate programme workshops, working sessions, and cross‑functional forums
• Partner with Change Leads to align delivery, communication, and adoption plans

💰 5. Business Value & Benefits Realisation

• Maintain programme benefits registers aligned to approved business cases
• Track benefits realisation across stage‑gates and post‑implementation
• Identify benefits at risk and implement corrective actions
• Conduct post‑implementation benefits reviews

🔄 6. Standards & Continuous Improvement

• Apply PVMO standards consistently across all programme artefacts
• Conduct post‑implementation reviews and embed lessons learned
• Contribute to PM Academy initiatives and communities of practice
• Recommend improvements to tools, templates, and governance processes

👥 7. People Leadership & Capability Development

• Provide leadership and oversight to 3–4 Project Managers
• Coach Project Managers on delivery, governance, and stakeholder management
• Manage team capacity planning and escalate constraints proactively
• Drive performance, engagement, and professional development

💡 Key Competencies Required

• Strong programme planning and structuring capability
• Results‑driven execution focus
• Decisive decision‑making and problem‑solving
• Ability to perform under pressure
• Persuasive stakeholder influence
• Strong organisational and political sensitivity
• High accountability and delivery discipline

🎓 Experience & Qualifications

Minimum Experience

• 8+ years’ experience leading complex, cross‑functional programmes
• Proven end‑to‑end programme delivery in complex organisational environments
• Experience managing cross‑entity dependencies and governance structures
• Strong financial, budget, and forecasting management experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field
• PgMP, PMP, MSP, or PRINCE2 Practitioner certification
• Agile delivery framework certification
• Master’s degree (MBA or Project Management) advantageous

🌟 Our Values

At Lesaka Merchant, we are guided by four core values:
✔ Entrepreneurial Spirit – We innovate boldly and act with ownership
✔ Integrity – We operate with honesty, trust, and transparency
✔ Collective Wisdom – We collaborate and leverage shared expertise
✔ Bias to Action – We deliver with urgency, discipline, and focus

📌 Preference will be made to support EE / AA measures.

🔥 Ready to Lead Strategic Programmes That Deliver Real Value?

If you’re a seasoned programme leader who thrives on complexity, governance rigour, and delivering measurable business outcomes — this role offers a unique opportunity to shape Lesaka’s portfolio delivery capability.

📩 Apply now — or share this opportunity with an exceptional Program Manager!

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