Data Programme / Project Manager

Role Overview

The Data Programme / Project Manager leads and oversees DAI Consultancy’s initiatives related to data governance, architecture, quality management, analytics, platforms, and organizational transformation. This position is responsible for transforming defined project goals and deliverables into clear, executable plans while managing diverse teams and overseeing progress metrics such as milestones, risks, dependencies, and quality standards.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop comprehensive delivery plans including scope, outcomes, milestones, dependencies, resource allocation, and quality checkpoints.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including consultants, partners, vendors, and client stakeholders across various workstreams.
• Maintain detailed records of risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies, decisions, and changes.
• Monitor timelines, budgets, effort, deliverables, and commercial metrics, and act proactively to manage deviations.
• Produce timely status updates, steering documents, escalation reports, and governance meeting materials.
• Lead planning, progress evaluation, risk assessment, and review sessions with clearly assigned outcomes.
• Ensure all deliverables meet internal quality standards before submission and manage systematic client feedback integration.
• Manage logistical factors including access rights, data environments, security, procurement, and stakeholder dependencies.
• Oversee scope adjustments, impact assessments, and align contractual commitments with approved plans.
• Strategize for project adoption, training, transition, and handover, embedding these activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collect lessons learned and improve project delivery methodologies for future engagements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in project management, business, information systems or a related discipline; or equivalent combination of education and relevant consulting/project experience.
• Five to nine years of professional experience managing projects in technology, data, analytics, or business transformation sectors.
• Proven track record in managing scope, schedule, resources, risks, change controls, quality assurance, and client acceptance processes.
• Experience in executive-level reporting and governance facilitation.
• Consulting or professional services experience with an understanding of commercial and contractual frameworks preferred.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Expertise in program and project planning, scheduling, and estimation.
• Experience with delivery governance, stage gate processes, and acceptance criteria management.
• Strong capabilities in managing risks, issues, dependencies, assumptions, decisions, and changes.
• Competence in scope, resource, financial, and commercial controls.
• Knowledge of quality assurance processes and deliverable review workflows.
• Understanding of vendor coordination, environment setup, access management, and procurement dependencies.
• Insight into data and digital project delivery lifecycle management.
• Planning for training, adoption, transition, and operational handover phases.

Core Competencies

• Mastery of integrated project planning and risk/issue management.
• Leadership in stakeholder engagement and team coordination.
• Comfortable leading Agile and hybrid delivery models.
• Vendor management and commercial acumen.
• Resilience and adaptive leadership in dynamic conditions.
• Skilled in executive communications including concise reporting and escalation management.
• Ability to challenge assumptions constructively while maintaining positive relationships.
• Balancing competing demands of quality, timing, scope, and budgetary constraints.

Preferred Certifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) or similar Agile credentials