Senior Project Manager – Planning (Fixed Term Contract) Jobs

Job Purpose

This role leads and coordinates enterprise-wide planning activities across multiple programs and strategic initiatives. It ensures alignment with SARS’ strategic goals, capacity limits, software release schedules, and dependencies between different areas.

The position integrates planning inputs from Modernisation, Technology, Data, and business units. It facilitates planning processes and governance meetings, produces high-quality planning documents, and advises executives on risks, trade-offs, and sequencing options.

The Senior Project Manager (Planning) also mentors Project Managers and Project Coordinators to improve planning skills and consistency across the organization.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification and Experience Required

• Relevant Bachelor’s Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Business Administration / Project Management / Operational Research AND 8-10 years’ experience in a software and IT environment, focusing on data-driven software implementation projects and programs. Of this, 3-4 years should be at a senior project management level.

Alternative Qualification

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 15 years’ experience in a software and IT environment, focusing on data-driven software implementation projects and programs. Of this, 3-4 years should be at a senior project management level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

• Strong skills in enterprise planning tools and methods (e.g., MS Project, enterprise road mapping tools, integrated planning frameworks).
• Ability to understand complex planning inputs from business, technology, data, and operations.
• Knowledge of portfolio and program planning, dependency management, sequencing, and capacity modeling.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management skills with senior business and technology leaders.
• Ability to create clear, integrated planning documents for executives and governance reviews.

Job Outputs

Process

• Oversee the project prioritization process by transferring approved business cases into an integrated project delivery plan for implementation. This includes managing scope, finances that follow policy and governance standards, and resources to achieve deliverables in a proactive, agile way within time limits.
• Review and refine work packages, mitigate delivery risks, and develop high-level plans, project charters, and initiation documents for detailed planning.
• Guide the creation of project plans, schedules, and governance documents. Ensure resources have the right skills and availability for delivery.
• Engage stakeholders to gain agreement on initial scope and plans, and facilitate decisions among senior steering committee members.
• Ensure the project change management approach and plan are practical for SARS’ operational environment.
• Evaluate project performance, implement corrections to keep delivery on track, and consolidate progress from teams.
• Schedule regular meetings and ad-hoc sessions to track and report on project progress.
• Provide project information for management tracking and status reporting. Ensure projects stay in scope, on time, within budget, and follow the approved baseline.
• Ensure all project documents are signed off. Manage integrated delivery across business, data, and IT systems to meet performance needs.
• Identify and manage risks and issues, develop resolutions, mitigation, or contingency plans. Manage the critical path, mitigate issues to avoid delays, and escalate unresolved ones to senior managers. Keep tracking tools updated.
• Align software development partner commitments with delivery obligations. Capture lessons learned to avoid repeats.
• Follow controls for issues, risks, and costs. Document closeout reports and facilitate sign-offs. Close project cost centers and return unspent funds to the central budget pool.
• Apply expert knowledge in Program Management, Strategic Change, IT/Data Management, and Organizational Change Management. Engage at all levels to deliver projects under governance and controls.
• Apply policies, practices, EPMO standards, procedures, and legislation, including cost management.
• Oversee procurement and supplier onboarding. Manage project costs, commitments, and payments. Engage suppliers for work orders and sign-offs. Align costs with delivery.
• Build relationships with clients, teams, and stakeholders to support integrated delivery. Define roles, communicate expectations, and share progress.
• Manage and develop teams through line functions to deliver project and EPMO objectives agilely.
• Use business reports to measure success and adjust tactical strategies.
• Plan work outputs, link activities, set priorities, standards, and procedures for tactical implementation.
• Recommend changes to improve data, processes, systems, policies, and procedures, and implement organizational changes.
• Communicate top-down policies, decisions, and success factors that affect stakeholders.
• Drive tactical implementation for business unit excellence and performance improvement.
• Direct, control, and optimize resources to meet objectives and productivity goals.
• Implement tactical strategies through operational activities to achieve targets.
• Identify interconnected problems, assess impacts, and implement best solutions.
• Provide reports on performance against plans and adjust as needed.
• Integrate planning from all key units into a single enterprise Master Plan.
• Align planning with business priorities, capacity, and technology needs.
• Set and maintain planning standards, templates, and quality checks.
• Facilitate workshops to agree on priorities, sequencing, and dependencies.
• Identify and escalate planning risks, gaps, and conflicts; keep records and lessons learned.
• Produce planning dashboards and reports; support planning maturity and team communication.

Governance

• Implement governance, risk, and compliance policies in your area to manage exposures.
• Advise on applying policies in functional areas.
• Ensure planning governance, risk, and compliance align with organizational structures; advise stakeholders on requirements.

People

• Develop a capable team with the right skills, knowledge, and experience.
• Create a positive work environment to boost energy, meaning, productivity, and minimize disruptions.
• Set performance expectations into metrics and goals for effective service, problem-solving, and objectives.
• Plan and implement efficiency improvements by addressing development needs and providing tools.
• Develop people capacity plans aligned with delivery targets, on budget, in partnership with specialists.
• Mentor Project Managers and Coordinators on planning best practices to build capability and a collaborative culture.

Finance

• Contribute to divisional budgets to control spending aligned with plans.
• Implement and monitor financial controls, cost management, and governance.
• Prepare budgets for tactical plans, track planned vs. actual, minimize costs, and report efficiency.
• Support financial planning by aligning artefacts with business cases and funding; provide insights on timing, affordability, and implications.

Client

• Develop practices for service excellence and encourage exceptional client service.
• Build a service culture that fosters rewarding relationships and feedback opportunities.
• Strengthen relationships and service level agreements with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure planning reflects business readiness, operational impacts, and dependencies for better service quality and alignment.

Behavioural Competencies

• Interpersonal skills
• Supervisory Skills
• Trust
• Respect
• Problem Solving and Analysis Skills
• Application of Fairness and Transparency
• Accountability
• Honesty and Integrity
• Conceptual Thinking
• Championing the Mandate
• Ability to Persuade and Influence Others
• Ability to Mobilize Teams
• Driving for Excellence
• Leveraging Diversity
• Confidence
• Ability to Build Sustainability

Technical Competencies

• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Programme and Project Management
• Managerial Budgeting
• Effective Business Communication
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Decisiveness
• Business Acumen
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the official SARS career portal.

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