Job Description

About Company

At Blue Label Distribution, our brand philosophy is that we can create and distribute anything that is able to be digitised. Our Blu-approved brand is the face of our service offering and is underpinned by a world-class technology platform for both online and offline commerce. With a point of sale network of approximately 150 000 devices, we provide a distribution footprint across all income groups. 85% of our income comes from merchants in the informal sector.

Job Purpose

The Technology Portfolio Manager will oversee various technical projects through the project life cycle aligned to the standards of the Technology Portfolio Management function to ensure fulfillment of contract requirements and program objectives for specific assigned portfolios

Responsibilities

Project Planning and Management

• Define project scope and schedule while focusing on regular and timely delivery of value
• Organize and lead project status and working meetings
• Prepare and distribute progress reports
• Manage risks and issues
• Correct deviations from plans
• Perform delivery planning for assigned projects

Team Management

• Assist in team development while holding teams accountable for their commitments, removing roadblocks to their work
• Leveraging organizational resources to improve capacity for project work
• Mentoring and developing team members

Product Owner Support

• Support the Product Owner in managing customer expectations for project deliverables, managing stakeholder communications, and helping to implement an effective system of project governance

Process Management and Improvement

• Define and manage a well-defined project management process and champion ongoing process improvement initiatives to implement best practices for Agile Project Management

Team Building

• Promote empowerment of the team, ensure that each team member is fully engaged in the project and making a meaningful contribution, and encourage a sustainable pace with high-levels of quality for the team

Behavioural Competencies

• Business Insight
• Ensures Accountability
• Manages Complexity
• Optimizes Work Processes
• Plans and Aligns
• Balances Stakeholders
• Resourcefulness
• Communicates Effectively
• Financial Acumen
• Customer Focus
• Cultivates Innovation
• Instills Trust
• Collaborates
• Situational Adaptability

Education

• BA or BS or equivalent experience is required
• Very effective interpersonal skills including mentoring, coaching, collaborating, and team building
• Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills with an ability to manage competing demands
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of business needs with the ability to establish/maintain high level of customer trust and confidence
• Proven ability to lead software development projects and ensure objectives, goals, and commitments are met
• Solid understanding of and demonstrated experience in using appropriate tools:
  • Agile Project Management tools such as Jira/Aha or equivalent
  • Microsoft Project, Draw.io, and all Office Tools

Experience

• Solid understanding of software development life cycle models as well as expert knowledge of both Agile and traditional project management principles and practices and the ability to blend them together in the right proportions to fit a project and business environment
• A proven track record of successfully implementing software or web development projects using Agile methodologies including 8+ years of experience as a Project Manager managing large, complex projects in a high-tech development environment with multi-function teams. PMP preferred
• Prior experience with SCRUM/Agile methodologies with enterprise-level application development projects
• PMI-ACP, CSM, or equivalent preferred
• Experience overseeing multi-function project teams with at least 10-15 team members including Developers, Business Analysts, and QA Personnel
• Balanced business/technical background:
  • Sufficient level of technical background to provide highly credible leadership to development teams and to be able to accurately and objectively evaluate complex project risks and issues
  • Ability to provide leadership to business analysts and collaborate with customers and develop strategies and solutions of high business value

Additional Information

• Knowledge of program management operations, telecommunication systems, consumer engagement processes and technology operations
• Ability to manage multiple tasks independently
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office (ex. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.), Aha and MS Project
• Excellent leadership, decision-making, verbal/written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment