STPD - HR - FTC - Project Workstream Project Manager - Director

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

The Workstream Project Manager is responsible for the end-to-end management and successful delivery of an assigned Project Horizon workstream, one of the following Talent Management, Total Reward, Talent Acquisition, Core HR and Change Management. This is a Fixed Term Contract position with an anticipated end date of July 2028.

The role is accountable for developing and maintaining detailed workstream plans, managing workstream resources, coordinating activities, delivering agreed outcomes, and ensuring all milestones, deliverables and quality standards are achieved.

The Workstream Project Manager acts as the primary point of accountability for their workstream and works closely with business stakeholders, subject matter experts, technology teams, vendors and programme leadership to ensure successful delivery.

The role is responsible for managing workstream risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies and reporting, while ensuring alignment with the wider programme objectives, governance standards and delivery timelines.

Project Horizon is a global HR transformation programme established to modernise and standardise HR processes, operating models, data structures and technology platforms across SMBC's international operations.

The programme aims to deliver a globally consistent and scalable HR operating model supported by modern technology solutions, improved governance, enhanced employee and manager experience, and more effective management information and reporting capabilities.

The programme comprises multiple interconnected workstreams spanning business process transformation, organisational change management, technology implementation, data migration, testing, training, deployment and post-go-live support.

Delivery requires extensive collaboration across Human Resources and IT in HO and multiple Regions

Given the scale, complexity and strategic importance of the programme, strong project management disciplines, governance controls and delivery coordination are critical to successful implementation.

The anticipated salary range for this role is £102,000- £132,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.

Business Area

Human Resources

Facts/Scale

Operating Environment

• Operates within a large-scale, multi-year global transformation programme.
• Responsible for the successful delivery of a designated programme workstream.
• Manages multiple concurrent activities, deliverables and stakeholder groups.
• Coordinates resources across business, technology and third-party teams.
• Supports delivery across multiple geographies and time zones.
• Operates within a regulated financial services environment.

Key Stakeholders

• Internal – Prog. Mgr, Proj Mgr, Workstream Leads, Business Subject Matter Experts, HRIS Module Leads, IT PMs, Change and Communications Teams, Testing and Deployment Teams
• External – Consulting Partners, Technology Vendors, Third Party Service Providers

Decision Making Authority

• The role has delegated authority to:
  • Manage day-to-day workstream delivery activities.
  • Prioritise workstream tasks and delivery activities.
  • Coordinate workstream resources.
  • Manage workstream risks and issues.
  • Recommend corrective actions and delivery improvements.
  • Escalate material risks, issues, dependencies and decisions.
• Typical Measures of Success
  • Achievement of workstream milestones.
  • Successful delivery of workstream deliverables.
  • Accuracy and quality of workstream reporting.
  • Effective management of risks and issues.
  • Delivery against agreed timelines.
  • Readiness for testing, deployment and implementation.

Compliance with programme governance and control standards

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Workstream Planning and Delivery

• Develop, maintain and manage the detailed workstream plan.
• Define workstream activities, milestones and deliverables.
• Coordinate workstream resources and delivery activities.
• Manage the day-to-day execution of the workstream.
• Monitor progress against agreed objectives and timelines.
• Identify delivery challenges and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure delivery remains aligned with programme objectives.

Deliverables Management

• Maintain ownership of all assigned workstream deliverables.
• Ensure deliverables are completed on schedule and to the required quality standards.
• Coordinate review and approval activities.
• Monitor completion of key outputs, documentation and business requirements.
• Ensure deliverables meet agreed programme standards and controls.

Risk, Issue, Assumption and Dependency Management (RAID)

• Own and maintain the workstream RAID log.
• Identify, assess and manage workstream risks and issues.
• Develop mitigation and recovery plans.
• Manage assumptions and constraints impacting delivery.
• Identify and manage dependencies with other workstreams.
• Escalate material risks, issues and dependencies to the Project Manager.
• Track completion of mitigation actions.

Reporting and Governance

• Produce weekly and monthly workstream status reports.
• Report progress against milestones, deliverables and objectives.
• Provide accurate forecasts regarding schedule, risks and resource requirements.
• Maintain workstream actions, decisions and governance records.
• Support programme governance meetings and reporting cycles.
• Present workstream updates to programme leadership where required.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with business and programme stakeholders.
• Manage stakeholder expectations relating to workstream delivery.
• Facilitate workshops, working groups and planning sessions.
• Coordinate Subject Matter Experts and business representatives.
• Ensure timely communication of workstream progress and decisions.
• Support stakeholder engagement and adoption activities.

Resource Management

• Manage allocation of workstream resources.
• Monitor resource capacity and utilisation.
• Identify resource constraints and delivery impacts.
• Escalate resource requirements and shortages.
• Support onboarding and mobilisation of project resources.

Vendor and Third-Party Coordination

• Coordinate workstream activities delivered by third parties.
• Track vendor deliverables and commitments.
• Monitor delivery performance against agreed schedules.
• Escalate delivery concerns where necessary.
• Support vendor governance activities.

Testing and Quality Management

• Coordinate testing activities within the workstream.
• Ensure test preparation activities are completed.
• Support defect management and resolution.
• Monitor completion of testing milestones.
• Ensure workstream deliverables meet agreed quality standards.

Business Readiness and Deployment

• Support business readiness assessments.
• Coordinate workstream deployment activities.
• Support implementation and cutover planning.
• Ensure workstream readiness criteria are achieved.
• Support transition into operational support teams.
• Participate in post-implementation stabilisation activities

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of programme and project management methodologies.
• Knowledge of governance, risk and control frameworks.
• Understanding of change management and transformation delivery approaches.
• Knowledge of programme budgeting, planning and reporting disciplines.
• Understanding of operating within a regulated financial services environment.

Skills

• Excellent project and programme planning skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capabilities.
• Advanced organisational and coordination skills.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Strong facilitation and workshop management skills.
• High attention to detail and strong quality focus.

Experience

• Essential
  • Significant experience managing large-scale transformation programmes or projects.
  • Experience coordinating multiple workstreams within complex organisational environments.
  • Experience establishing and operating programme governance frameworks.
  • Experience managing programme reporting, RAID processes and change control activities.
  • Experience working with senior stakeholders and executive governance forums.
  • Experience managing third-party vendors and consulting partners.
• Desirable
  • Experience of HR transformation programmes.
  • Experience of global operating model transformation.
  • Experience of HR technology implementation programmes, including SAP SuccessFactors
  • Experience within banking, financial services or other regulated industries.
  • Experience working across international and multi-cultural teams.

Qualifications

• Essential

Degree level qualification or equivalent professional experience

Position Description

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management, coordination and control of Project Horizon, SMBC's global HR transformation programme. The role provides the governance, controls, reporting, planning discipline, assurance and transparency required to enable successful delivery of the programme. The role is accountable for planning, coordinating and managing delivery activities across multiple workstreams, ensuring delivery remains aligned with agreed scope, timelines, budget and quality objectives.

Provides independent challenge and oversight to ensure plans are realistic, dependencies are managed, risks are understood, and senior stakeholders have the information required to make informed decisions.

The role acts as the central point of coordination for Workstream execution, working closely with Workstream Leads, Subject Matter Experts, vendors and business stakeholders to manage integrated delivery plans, governance activities, reporting, risks, issues, dependencies and change control processes.

The Project Manager supports the Programme Manager by providing robust programme controls, delivery oversight and accurate audit-ready and decision-useful management information, enabling informed decision making and successful programme outcomes.

The role owns the project control environment, including governance frameworks, integrated planning standards, executive reporting, RAID governance, change control administration, financial and resource tracking, KPI reporting, document management, audit evidence and quality assurance

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!!