Program Manager - MSI

Job description

About the role The project manager will lead the payroll project transformation across MEA from finalisation of the development phase through pilot implementation, stabilisation, evaluation and regional rollout planning. The Project Manager will provide one central coordination point across both pilots, maintain the integrated programme plan, drive closure of dependencies, coordinate internal and external stakeholders, and ensure leadership receives timely and reliable reporting for decisions. The role combines hands-on delivery management with disciplined governance. The incumbent must be able to manage detailed implementation activity while maintaining a regional perspective on payroll risk, compliance, operational continuity, employee experience and scalability. Key responsibilities Coordinate closure of outstanding legal, commercial, SLA, procurement, integration, data, governance and RACI/RASCI requirements before implementation. Maintain the integrated plan, dependency map, decision log and readiness checklist, with clear owners and due dates. Lead the parallel implementation of South Africa on Sage Vendor-Managed Payroll and Mauritius on the Sage 300 platform with payroll processing seconded to a third party. Coordinate Sage, third party for payroll processing, country HR, Finance, IT, Legal, Procurement and other implementation stakeholders through one central governance channel. Oversee data readiness, configuration, testing, user acceptance testing, parallel runs, training, cutover, go-live and hypercare activities. Define and apply common evaluation criteria across both pilots, including cost, accuracy, timeliness, compliance, internal workload, governance effectiveness, employee experience and scalability. Coordinate evidence gathering, lessons learned and post-implementation reviews after pilot stabilisation Build effective working relationships across a complex, multicultural and matrix environment. Facilitate practical resolution of cross-functional issues and maintain constructive accountability without disrupting country operations. Required Skills and Knowledge Strong project and programme management capability, including integrated planning, governance, RAID management, budget tracking and executive reporting. Working knowledge of payroll, HR operations, HRIS implementation, data migration, testing, controls and vendor-managed services. Ability to translate contractual, technical and operational requirements into clear plans, deliverables and ownership. Strong vendor, stakeholder and cross-functional coordination skills within a regional matrix environment. High level of analytical ability, attention to detail, judgement and written communication. Proficiency with Microsoft 365 project tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint and project trackers.