Project Manager (Technical - Saudi)

Role OverviewONFTECH AL ARABIA is seeking an Project Manager (Technical) to join our growing technology team in Riyadh. The role involves on-site coordination during SIT and UAT phases, validating test cases against project requirements, supporting defect triage and tracking, monitoring test execution progress, and documenting testing outcomes. The role also includes facilitating knowledge transfer sessions, preparing release documentation, managing release configurations, and acting as the primary liaison with bank teams for testing, release readiness, and change request discussions.ResponsibilitiesLead end-to-end delivery of banking/fintech projects (Payment systems, AML, Open Banking, regulatory integrations).Define project scope, timelines, milestones, and deliverables.Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.Establish and maintain project governance frameworks and reporting structures.Act as the primary point of contact for bank/fintech clients.Manage communication with senior stakeholders including IT, business, compliance, and regulators.Conduct steering committees, status meetings, and executive reporting.Align expectations across client and internal teams.Work closely with architecture, development, QA, DevOps, and integration teams.Understand system architectures (API-based, microservices, on-prem/cloud deployments).Ensure proper integration with bank systems (Core Banking, Payment Systems, Regulatory APIs).Review technical designs and ensure alignment with project objectives.Ensure solutions comply with regulatory frameworks (e.g., SAMA, Open Banking, AML/KYC requirements).Coordinate certification, testing, and regulatory approval processes.Manage delivery of regulatory-driven changes (e.g., Tanfeeth waves, reporting requirements).Identify project risks early and implement mitigation strategies.Manage issues, escalations, and dependencies across teams.Maintain RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies).Develop detailed project plans, sprint plans, and release schedules.Track progress using tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, MS Project).Ensure proper resource allocation and utilization.Oversee UAT, SIT, and production deployment phases.Ensure adherence to SDLC, QA processes, and security standards.Validate deliverables meet functional and non-functional requirements.Coordinate testing cycles and sign-offs with clients.Manage scope changes and ensure proper change control processes.Assess impact of changes on timeline, cost, and resources.Support commercial discussions for out-of-scope requests.Qualifications3+ years of experience in project management within banking, fintech, or financial services.Proven experience delivering integration-heavy projects (payments, AML, open banking, regulatory systems).Experience working with banks or financial regulators is highly preferred.Strong understanding of:APIs (REST/SOAP), microservices architectureIntegration platforms and middlewarePayment systems (e.g., EFT, RTGS, SWIFT, IPS)Core banking integrationsFamiliarity with:Cloud and on-prem deploymentsDevOps practices and CI/CD pipelinesDatabases (SQL/NoSQL)Strong knowledge of project management methodologies:Agile / ScrumWaterfall / HybridExperience with tools:Jira, ConfluenceMS Project or similarPMP, PRINCE2, or Agile certifications are a plus.Fluency in English and ArabicExcellent stakeholder and communication skills.Strong leadership and team coordination abilities.Problem-solving and decision-making mindset.Ability to manage multiple projects in parallel.High attention to detail and ownership.Regulatory & Domain Knowledge (Preferred)Knowledge of AML/KYC systemsKnowledge of Open Banking frameworkKnowledge of SAMA - Tanfeeth-Watheeq PlatformGovernment Integration platforms such as SIMAH, ELM, Wathq etc.Experience managing on-prem enterprise deployments for banks