Senior IT Project Manager | Banking

About The RoleGSS Tech Group is hiring a Senior IT Project Manager to join the Group IT delivery function of one of the largest banks in the UAE. You will own the full delivery of IT projects across planning, execution, monitoring and closure, reporting into the Head of Agile and working closely with the PMO, business owners, IT teams and external vendors.This is a true Project Manager role. You will own scope, schedule, budget, risk and governance. You will run Steering Committees and you will be the highest internal escalation point on your projects.Key ResponsibilitiesProject PlanningDefine project scope, goals and deliverables with senior management and stakeholders, ensuring technical feasibilityIdentify all phases, activities and effort required to complete the projectBuild resource plans covering internal teams, contractors and vendorsDevelop detailed project plans and baselines to track progressProject ExecutionDirect the full project lifecycle: initiation, planning, execution and closureCoordinate internal teams, external consultants and contractors to deliver against planDeliver projects on schedule, within approved scope and within budgetMonitor and control the quality of deliverables at every stageEnsure smooth coordination across Group IT teamsMonitoring and ControlDefine and track project metrics, KPIs and quality measuresTrack and manage defects and fixes through SIT and UATManage the critical path and all cross team dependenciesIdentify, manage and mitigate risks through a structured RAID processMonitor budget utilisation, actual versus plannedGovernance and ReportingDefine the communication plan, frequency and channelsLead daily standups, Project Board and Steering Committee meetingsPrepare progress reports, highlight reports and MIS for the PMOPresent project status to business owners and senior stakeholdersRisk, Change and ComplianceRun project and change management in line with bank governance, PMO and QMS standardsProactively manage scope changes and build contingency plansEnsure compliance with Legal, Audit and Risk functions, and with Central Bank regulations for electronic and mobile banking solutionsTeam ManagementResolve conflicts and keep the project team aligned and productiveOrganise workshops with business and technology stakeholdersMonitor team timesheets daily and manage contractor resource renewalsBuild and develop a high performing project teamMandatory Requirements (please apply only if you meet ALL of these)12+ years of overall IT experience8+ years holding the title of IT Project Manager or Senior Project Manager2+ years delivering IT projects inside a bank or financial institutionValid PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner certificationProven delivery using both Waterfall and Agile methodologiesDirect ownership of project budgets, with experience in cost and budget analysisExperience running Steering Committee and Project Board meetingsHands on with MS Project, Visio and the Microsoft Office suiteDegree in IT, Computer Science or Engineering, or equivalent experiencePreferredDelivery experience in digital, mobile or internet bankingExposure to UAE Central Bank regulatory projectsExperience with Clarity PPMExperience delivering core banking, payments or integration programmesExperience managing vendor and contractor teamsPlease noteThis role is NOT suited to Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, Product Owners or Business Analysts without 8+ years of direct project management ownership. Applications without a valid PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner certification will not be considered.