Program Manager De Novo

Bank of Montreal•Naperville, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This Program Manager De Novo role is specifically accountable for leading a program that supports the opening of approximately 150 new branch locations. The position involves leading assigned projects from initiation through implementation, with a primary focus on achieving desired business results, delivering projects on time, within budget, and to quality standards, and ensuring sponsor satisfaction. A key aspect is mitigating execution risk to achieve business outcomes. The role requires a deep understanding of the business group, facilitating communication with various stakeholders, and directing and managing diverse team members including other project managers, business and technology resources, user groups, consultants, contractors, and vendors. The Program Manager provides strategic input, identifies emerging issues, helps determine business priorities, conducts independent analysis, and acts as a prime subject matter expert for internal and external stakeholders. Responsibilities also include managing financial forecasts, monitoring performance, designing reports, and socializing change management plans. This is a complex role, directing initiatives across multiple business units, managing project budgets, negotiating vendor contracts, and ensuring all project lifecycle aspects and governance frameworks (risk, regulatory, compliance) are adhered to. The individual is expected to operate at an enterprise-wide level, applying expertise creatively to complex and non-routine situations, and implementing changes in response to shifting trends, while also applying the Bank's Risk Management Framework.

Requirements

Typically 7+ years of relevant experience and/or certification in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Project management experience – 6 to 8 years
Entrepreneurial skills – In-depth
Judgement skills – In-depth
Learning agility – In-depth
Stakeholder management – Expert
Able to navigates challenging situations effectively
Able to apply project management methodologies or approaches
Able to manage project and business risks, including project interdependencies
Able to resolve project issues effectively
Seasoned professional with a combination of education, experience and industry knowledge
Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth / Expert
Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth / Expert
Influence skills - In-depth / Expert
Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - In-depth / Expert
Able to manage ambiguity
Data driven decision making - In-depth / Expert

Nice To Haves

Valid PMP designation from the Project Management Institute (PMI)

Responsibilities

Lead de novo program supporting the opening of ~150 new branch locations
Lead assigned projects from project initiation to implementation to achieve desired business results
Ensure that a successful business outcome is the prime measure of project success including delivering projects on time, within budget, within quality standards and to the satisfaction of the project sponsor
Drive to mitigate execution risk to achieve the desired business outcomes
Understand the business/group and facilitate communication with other program/project managers and stakeholders efficiently and effectively
Direct, manage, and coordinate team members including other project managers, business and technology resources, user groups, internal and external consultants and contractors, as well as vendors and external regulatory organizations
Provide strategic input into business decisions as a trusted advisor
Network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices
Influence and negotiate to achieve business objectives
Assist in the development of strategic plans
Identify emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making
Help determine business priorities and best sequence for execution of business/group strategy
Conduct independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues
Act as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders
Manage/validate financial forecasts and conduct ongoing reconciliation
Break down strategic problems, and analyse data and information to provide insights and recommendations
Monitor and track performance, and address any issues
Design and produce regular and ad-hoc reports, and dashboards
Socialize change management plans with stakeholders and consistently measure project effectiveness and adoption
Direct complex initiatives typically involving multiple business units
Exercise direct accountability for projects with up to 50 team members
Negotiate complex contracts with external vendors (in consultation with Strategic Sourcing) to ensure receipt of specific resources and materials
Take ownership of the project from cradle to grave and ensure all project artifacts are completed
Manage overall project budget
Provide guidance to the project sponsor on the implementation and sustainment of projects, resulting in successful project outcomes
Manage all aspects of the project lifecycle, including business, operational and technology deliverables
Ensure all project processes are completed
Ensure change management plans are developed, socialized and consistently measured to deliver the expected project benefits and adoption
Execute project requirements in governance frameworks focused on risk appetite, regulatory and compliance standards
Develop all related project management artifacts, while complying with applicable enterprise standards
Monitor and control project deliverables
Make recommendations and adjustments to the overall project plan to achieve deliverables
Provide project sponsor with advice on the viability of the business case (costs, benefits, KPIs, etc.) throughout the project
Understand project interdependencies and demonstrate critical thinking that proactively identifies project risks and establishes effective risk mitigation from the outset
Demonstrate stakeholder partnership that involves effective communicating with the project sponsor; gains and builds trust and rapport
Demonstrate ownership and commitment by holding themselves accountable for the identification and resolution of project problems
Lead and/or represent the project in project team meetings, governance forums and inter-department forums
Adhere to Bank risk, regulatory and compliance controls
Operate at a group/enterprise-wide level and serve as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders
Apply expertise and think creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine
Implement changes in response to shifting trends
Take measured risks while protecting the bank by applying our Risk Management Framework in the execution of your role, in line with our Risk Culture and within our approved Risk Appetite, making sound and risk informed decisions that align to business strategy, protect assets, and adhere to applicable policy documents (Frameworks, Policies, Standards, Procedures and Supporting documents), laws and regulations