CAREER OPPORTUNITY

A great career opportunity exists in Santam Ltd within our Santam Technology Services (STS) division for an experienced IT Portfolio analyst within the Project Delivery Centre (PDC). The ideal candidate will have more than 10 years of experience in project administration, with a strong financial acumen and background to manage and track project costs, ensure project governance, and support the successful delivery of projects. The role will provide high-level administrative support to the Head of PDC and work closely with senior stakeholders to uphold the organisation’s project and programme management standards and governance in line with global best practices.
Under the direction of the Head of PDC or Portfolio Manager/s, you will be responsible for managing and improving project processes, driving the adoption of project standards, and overseeing administrative tasks that contribute to the success of multiple projects. You will also independently manage the delivery of smaller internal projects, such as process changes and the deployment of new manuals, guides, and templates. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project office administration support and project financial management. The role will be Cape Town based.

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE:

• Provide Senior Administrative Support: Offer high-level administrative support to the relevant Head of PDC, ensuring smooth operations within the PDC.
• Governance and Standards Maintenance: Support and maintain the project and programme management governance and standards, ensuring alignment with the Santam IT Project and Programme Management standard.
• Project Delivery and Implementation: Take independent responsibility for delivering small internal projects, such as the implementation of process changes and the deployment of new methods, tools, and documentation.
• General Administration: Perform a variety of general administrative duties, including the preparation of project documentation, reports, meeting coordination, and cost tracking, as well as the custodian of the PDC Filing structure.
• Cost Tracking and Financial Oversight: Assist in the monitoring and tracking of costs related to the SIIC Project Portfolio. Identify variances and provide proactive advice to Project Managers to keep projects on budget.
• Template Updates: Ensure that the latest set of templates and that any changes to the templates, as directed by the Santam Group or requested by business units, are reflected throughout the template deck.
• Stakeholder Management: Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and project teams. Communicate effectively across various levels of the organization, providing clarity on project processes and administrative requirements.
• Project Administration Support: Provide administrative support related to project activities, such as updating project plans, tracking milestones, and ensuring that project documentation is up to date and compliant with organizational standards.
• Meeting Coordination: Arrange and document meetings with various stakeholders, including vendors and project managers, and ensure timely scheduling of resources, including meeting rooms

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience: Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a project office management or administrative role. Strong financial acumen with extensive experience in cost tracking and budget management within the project environment.
• Experience in managing the administrative functions of projects from initiation through to completion, including documentation, reporting, and stakeholder management.
• Proven experience working within a Project Management Office (PMO), and the ability to navigate project lifecycles under waterfall methodologies based on PMBOK, Prince2, Agile (Scrum, Scale or SAFe) or similar.
• A deep understanding of project governance, project structures, and control requirements, with the ability to apply this knowledge effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Previous involvement in financial tracking, cost management, and providing advice on variances to ensure projects remain within budget is essential.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• A relevant Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in a related field (such as Business Administration, Finance, or Project Management) or equivalent experience level.
• Project and Agile certifications are advantageous
• P3O Foundation or similar certifications in project management frameworks are advantageous
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, project management tools (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, Confluence), and familiarity with project management systems for cost tracking and reporting.