Project Management Cross-Function Vice President

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA? We’re looking for a Project Manager for the Operations Planning Department to join our team in the Change Management Group.

The Project Manager:

• Provides the appropriate Project Management technical expertise

• Responsible for bringing the organisation into compliance by driving and delivering the required change benefits and goals across SMBC Group EMEA to the required quality standards, within the specified timeframe and to the agreed budget with minimal impact on the business.

• Ensures that all projects have the appropriate governance, transparency and oversight. Ensures that the rationale, progress and decision making is robustly documented and evidenced to withstand regulatory scrutiny.

The candidate must have:

• Knowledge and experience of financial services, markets and banking activities and the surrounding regulatory framework;

• Prior experience of successfully delivering projects within financial services

• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to lead and motivate, set the vision for the project, gain team and organisational buy-in, anticipate and resolve conflict, negotiate and coach

Business Area

Change Management Group (CMG) provides the SMBC enterprise professional project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) resource and expertise to the organisation. It was established in Nov 2019 as an independent, centralized business function operating at a strategic level to provide enterprise-wide oversight and management of change.

The oversight function includes governance, guidance, best practices, mentoring and up-skilling project managers from other departments and BAU staff.  Implementation of a standard enterprise-wide project framework including tools, templates and standardized processes. The aim is that CMG ensures strategic alignment between business objectives and projects executed.

CMG is also a resource centre/ centre of excellence. It is comprised of professionally qualified project, programme and change managers, business analysts and junior analysts. These are divided into multi-disciplinary teams with reporting line to a Team Lead.

While working on projects or programmes individual staff retain their report line but for the purposes of the project have a dotted line to the Project or Programme manager and/or Sponsor. The teams handle the bank’s most complex programmes and projects that require strong regional or global co-ordination, are often regulatory deadline driven or key for business strategy, require close cooperation with multiple departments, offices and other regions and have significant budgets.

The CMG remit includes management of the enterprise project portfolio. This is a growing function within the team and provides:

• Central coordination of change delivery.

• Efficient use of resources, identification of conflicts, constraints and transparent reporting of data for the portfolio

• Identification of trends or themes impacting delivery progress

Facts & Scale:

CMG has a flexible pool of professionally qualified project, programme and change managers, business analysts and project analysts, this number changes depending on the requirements of different programmes and projects. BAs work on complex projects and programmes across EMEA

Position Description

Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for managing all project lifecycle activities associated with delivering complex projects medium-term in length, impact multiple departments or offices and are medium to high in risk, scope and complexity.

• Accountable for managing the project lifecycle and budget in line with SMBC EMEA’s Project Management Methodology, consistently demonstrating sound judgement and ownership of the project process and ensuring that all deliverables are aligned with SMBC objectives and commensurate with our business profile.

• Lead, influence, motivate and manage diverse project teams across the EMEA organization, including representatives from a wide variety of departments to ensure timely delivery of required results with least possible impact on the bank’s business and customers.

• Plan and drive completion of all project artefacts including the business case, regulatory requirements, project roadmap, budget, testing, deliverables implementation and handover into business as usual

• Identify and then judge when to escalate risks and issues and their associated mitigation plans to the C-level Project Sponsor and appropriate committees (SteerCo) in order to prevent impact or additional risk.

• Achieve the correct governance and transparency for the project so that the appropriate oversight is achieved.

• When required ensure that all deliverables achieve compliance for the organisation, meet the objectives of the project, are in line with best market practise and can withstand formal regulatory scrutiny.

• Recognize and rapidly adapt to ongoing change during the project. Document internal and external impacts including impact on existing policies and associated procedures, formulate and present suitable mitigation plans and ensure all updates are completed to impacted areas.

• Maintain focus on delivering and realising the project’s benefits

Experience and Qualifications

Education & Qualifications

• The role requires the candidate to be educated to degree level or have significant specialist knowledge

• Industry recognised modern project management qualification such as PMP or APM preferred

Experience & Knowledge

• knowledge and experience of financial services, markets and banking activities and the surrounding regulatory framework;

• prior experience of successfully delivering projects within financial services

• strong interpersonal skills including ability to lead and motivate, set the vision for the project, gain team and organisational buy-in, anticipate and resolve conflict, negotiate and coach

• strong, effective communication skills both written and oral, including diplomacy in offering challenge

• knowledge of effective team building and some experience of team management skills.

• practical and willing to get involved in tasks, when necessary, to ensure objectives are achieved

• ability to work to multiple deadlines and under pressure

Competencies

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working 
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance 
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services  
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities 
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!