Senior Project Manager
Datchet, GB, SL3 9LL
Role Description
Allianz has an exciting opportunity to Join our Business as a Senior Project Manager
As our Senior Project manager you will plan and manage a programme or number of projects to achieve a defined set of business objectives which are aligned to the business strategy within agreed parameters of cost, time and quality. This may be a number of complex projects across functions and could involve transformational/strategic change.
This role is a hybrid role based in Ditton Park (Datchet UK) and within the Allianz Specialty Transformational Change team. The Specialty Business looks after both the Pet and Musical insurance products for Allianz.
Key accountabilities
- Manage programme and project activities (end to end delivery of multiple concurrent change programmes and projects) on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Programme Sponsor through the Change Management Framework. These will often have a broad impact including systems, organisational design (including mergers and acquisition activity), business process and cultural change.
- Define and be accountable for the approach and milestone dates and maintain the plan.
- Identify, secure and engage with internal and external resources to ensure programme/project delivery.
- Be responsible for the relationships between the sponsor and the relevant change management functions (including third party providers) to include the commercial terms and conditions of change programmes for the sponsor.
- Create a sense of urgency and vision around the programme/project driving pace for delivery.
- To manage programme/project communication and engagement across all relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure programme/project benefits are identified and aligned to strategic objectives at the beginning and measured throughout and after the programme/project.
- Develop, manage and ensure accurate progress analysis on a Strategic Programme/Project of change, as agreed with the sponsor and consistent with the Change Management Framework. Including using Waterfall Agile or other change methodologies to achieve the required business outcomes.
- To ensure that change is implemented with minimal adverse impact to business as usual.
- To define and own the Programme/Project Budget seeking ways to reduce cost and increase or bring forward benefits.
- To set challenging but achievable targets for programme/project staff, take responsibility for task management and ensure constructive feedback delivered with line managers.
- To take leadership responsibility for managing, coaching and developing team members to ensure that performance objectives are met and team feel highly valued and motivated.
- Pro-actively manage issues, risks and dependencies acting as appropriate to achieve urgent resolution, escalating clearly and promptly as required.
- To take responsibility for identifying and managing additional operational risk introduced through implementing change.
- Ensure compliance with the rules & requirements of OUR REGULATORS and any other relevant legal/regulatory/risk management frameworks, including the TCF (Treating Customers Fairly) framework.
- Ensure programmes and projects are closed properly, benefit managers are clear of their accountabilities and Post Implementation Reviews are undertaken.
- Within the wider Change and Portfolio Community, take responsibility for process improvement and assist in the development and implementation of project management best practice.
- Dynamic and self-motivated style, with energy and ability to create pace and drive change.
- Supports Portfolio Manager in the shaping of future delivery roadmap.
Essential Skills
- Understands PM maturity models such as CMMi and well as variety of PM methodologies. Knowledge of relevant MS Office tools .
- Demonstrable experience of managing a range of complex project with multiple workstreams in fast paced change environments, potentially across portfolios and functions.
- This is likely to require more than 8 years Project or Programme Management, across different Portfolios and / or business functions. Knowledge of Project Management Practices, Methods and Tools.
- Has a deep understanding of the project management lifecycle in different project environments.
- Good understanding of the principles of programme management.
- Advanced MS Project – able to produce robust, integrated schedules and reporting.
- Excellent command of all standard desktop software ie Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Explorer.
- Regarded as an expert who’s advice influences decision making at sponsor, steering group and senior stakeholder level. with little or no support. Leadership / Team Management.
- Provide leadership across the programme including day to day management a small team of project resources, for example of up to 6 reports.
- Understands principles of leadership and team building, and is able to apply these to develop highly effective and motivated project teams. Mentoring / Training Colleagues.
- Take leadership responsibility to act as a role model, seeking opportunities to mentor, coaching and developing project team members and the wider change community. Commercial / Business Awareness.
- Demonstrates good understanding of context of projects with the business operation. Able to proactively challenge commercial assumptions for projects. Technical Awareness.
- Good depth and breadth of knowledge and experience of delivering IT centric projects. Appreciation of current and emerging technologies and architectures. Relationship / Stakeholder Management.
- Excellent appreciation of stakeholder expectations and motivations at Executive and Board level. Able to develop, maintain and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders. Able to influence strategic direction and decision making with the project and wider business area. Communication / Presentation and Facilitation Skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication. Able to construct and deliver presentations and options papers at Executive and Board level. Able to facilitate groups up to Exec level to achieve desired solutions.
- Experience of using tools and techniques or other types of experience required for the role, but not time related.
What We Will Offer You
Recognised and rewarded for a job well done, we have a range of flexible benefits for you to choose from- so you can pick a package that’s perfect for you. We also offer flexible working options, global career opportunities across the wider Allianz Group, and fantastic career development and training. That’s on top of enjoying all the benefits you’d expect from the world’s number one insurance brand, including:
- Flexible buy/sell holiday options
- Hybrid working.
- Annual performance related bonus
- Contributory pension scheme
- Development days
- A discount up to 50% on a range of insurance products including car, home and pet
- Retail discounts
Our Ways of Working
Do you need some flexibility with the hours you work? Let us know as part of your application and if it’s right for our customers, our business and for you, then we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.
Here at Allianz, we are signatories of the ABIs flexible working charter. We believe in supporting hybrid work patterns, which balance the needs of our customers, with your personal circumstances and our business requirements. Our aim with this is to help innovation, creativity, and you to thrive - Your work life balance is important to us.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Allianz, we prioritize diversity and inclusion, demonstrated by our numerous accreditations: EDGE certified for gender inclusion, Women in Finance Charter members, Disability Confident employer, Stonewall Diversity Champion, Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter signatories, and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard employer.
We embrace neurodiversity and welcome applications from neurodivergent and disabled candidates, offering tailored adjustments to ensure your success.
We encourage our employees to advocate for their needs, whether it’s assistive technology, ergonomic equipment, mentoring, coaching, or flexible work arrangements.
Accessible Application for All
As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we support candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions through the Offer an Interview Scheme, for those meeting the essential skills for the role.
Contact our Resourcing team to opt into this scheme or for assistance with your application, including larger text, hard copies, or spoken applications.
Join us - Let’s Care for Tomorrow.
