Senior Programme Manager (GRC - Compliance initiatives) Perm

SUMMARY:
Senior Programme Manager, GRC, Compliance

POSITION INFO:

Senior Programme Manager – GCR Compliance Initiatives

Job Description

Employment Type: Permanent

Our client, a global technology firm, is seeking a Senior Programme Manager to join their team in Sandton in a permanent position. They offer stability, long-term growth, a competitive remuneration package and a collaborative working environment.

Role Overview

The Senior Programme Manager will provide strategic leadership, governance and delivery oversight across a portfolio of large-scale, complex compliance initiatives. The role is accountable for translating regulatory and policy obligations into coordinated programmes of work, establishing robust governance and controls, and ensuring sustainable business and operational outcomes. Working across business, risk, legal, compliance, technology, data and operations, the incumbent will manage multiple concurrent programmes, senior stakeholders, delivery teams, budgets, dependencies, risks and executive reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of concurrent, large-scale compliance programmes from mobilisation through implementation, remediation, operational handover and benefits realisation.
• Translate regulatory requirements, audit findings, internal policies and risk obligations into clear programme scope, delivery roadmaps, workstreams, milestones and measurable outcomes.
• Establish programme governance, decision rights, reporting standards, assurance checkpoints, change control and escalation mechanisms appropriate to high-risk and highly regulated environments.
• Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, dependency maps, budgets, resource forecasts, RAID logs, control evidence and executive dashboards across multiple initiatives.
• Coordinate senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams across compliance, risk, legal, audit, technology, cyber security, data, finance, operations and change management.
• Manage competing priorities, cross-programme dependencies, regulatory deadlines, delivery constraints and critical issues while maintaining clear accountability and delivery momentum.
• Oversee the design and implementation of sustainable controls, processes, systems, data remediation and operating-model changes required to achieve and maintain compliance.
• Ensure appropriate quality assurance, testing, evidence collection, traceability and readiness assessments are completed before regulatory, audit or governance sign-off.
• Manage programme financials, resource capacity, procurement and third-party delivery performance, ensuring value, transparency and contractual accountability.
• Prepare and present concise programme updates, risk assessments, decision papers and remediation progress reports to executive committees, steering forums, auditors and regulators where required.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, communication, training and business-readiness activities to embed compliance obligations into day-to-day operations.
• Build programme delivery capability through coaching, standards, lessons learned and continuous improvement across the programme management community.

Required Experience and Skills

• Extensive senior programme management experience, including accountability for multiple concurrent, enterprise-scale compliance, regulatory, risk or remediation initiatives.
• Demonstrated success delivering complex programmes in highly regulated environments, with firm deadlines, significant organisational impact and executive-level scrutiny.
• Strong understanding of regulatory change, compliance frameworks, risk and control management, audit remediation, governance, assurance and evidence-based sign-off.
• Proven ability to convert complex obligations and findings into practical delivery plans, prioritised workstreams, sustainable controls and measurable outcomes.
• Experience managing large programme budgets, multiple delivery teams, third-party providers, resource capacity and cross-functional dependencies.
• Strong command of programme and project management methodologies, including waterfall, agile and hybrid delivery, portfolio governance, benefits management and organisational change.
• Exceptional executive stakeholder management, influencing, negotiation, facilitation and communication skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and escalate appropriately.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capability, with sound judgement in complex, high-risk and time-critical situations.
• Ability to produce clear governance packs, programme dashboards, financial reports, risk assessments and decision papers for senior audiences.
• Experience using enterprise programme, risk, reporting and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Azure DevOps, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint and portfolio dashboards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or postgraduate qualification in Business, Commerce, Law, Risk, Compliance, Information Technology, Programme Management or a related field.
• Recognised programme or project management certification such as MSP, PgMP, PMP, PRINCE2 or an equivalent credential.
• Relevant risk, compliance, audit or governance certification, such as CRISC, CISA, CIA, CAMS or an equivalent qualification, would be advantageous.
• Experience engaging with regulatory bodies, internal or external audit teams, executive risk committees or board-level governance forums.
• Experience delivering multi-year transformation, regulatory change, control remediation, data governance, financial crime, privacy, cyber security or operational resilience programmes.