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Job Summary

A member of the Data & Business Solutions Team and accountable to the Head of Data & Business Solutions for the strategy and execution of Commercialization of products and platforms curated by Absa Zambia & deployed for adoption by business. The role is responsible for ensuring strategic change initiatives and project investments deliver measurable business value aligned to the bank’s strategic objectives through effective benefits realization governance.

Job Purpose

Establish and oversee benefits realization frameworks across the project portfolio.

Embed financial discipline, performance tracking, and value optimization throughout the project lifecycle.

Ensure benefits are clearly defined, measurable, and aligned to approved business cases.

Monitor and track realization of benefits during delivery and post-implementation phases.

Collaborate closely with business, finance, digital and technology, and programme delivery teams to drive accountability for value delivery.

Support sustained realization of benefits beyond project closure through structured governance and reporting.

Develop and implement a commercialization roadmap including detailed Go To Market Plans (GTPs) and track adoption against outlined benefits.

Collaborate with Marketing, Business and analytics teams to drive launch activities and evaluate product commercial performance post-implementation.

Collaborate with product managers to drive initiatives aligned to product business cases.

Coordinate data analysis and production of MI to identify trends, gaps, and performance improvements.

Ensure effective execution and consolidation of information for management committees.

Create and implement strategies to convert R&D outputs into revenue-generating products

Job Description

Accountability: Stakeholder Management, driving Business Direction, Benefits & Financial Management (35%)

Outputs:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Function Heads and Heads of Business units to ensure that the correct long-term view is obtained for the growth and success of Absa Zambia
• Develop performance metrics in collaboration with Product heads that assist with performance management in the respective functions
• Proactively align teams such as Marketing, compliance, CIB, BB, PPB to meet commercial objectives.
• Regularly communicate the product commercialization strategy to all stakeholders, including the team
• Educate and provide interchange of ideas with colleagues during team meetings, huddles and internal business interventions
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to become a unifying force for good
• Translate strategic objectives into measurable project and programme benefits aligned to business and regulatory priorities.
• Establish and maintain benefits realization frameworks, standards, and governance across the project portfolio.
• Provide financial oversight of project value cases, including cost-benefit analysis, ROI tracking, and value realization reporting.
• Challenge and validate business cases to ensure financial viability, benefit measurability, and strategic alignment.
• Partner with Finance to track financial performance against approved investment cases and forecast benefit realization.
• Support portfolio prioritization by providing value-based insights and investment trade-off analysis.
• Ensure regulatory and transformation initiatives demonstrate quantifiable business outcomes and sustainability of benefits.
• Prepare executive and SteerCo reporting on benefits performance, risks to value realization, and corrective actions
• From time to time engage Country Management Committee (CMC) with Director, Digital and Technology Transformation and/or Head of Data and business solutions on benefits realization management to present a compelling case based on both financial and non-financial benefits to make compelling case for appropriate decision making to drive bottom-line impact.

Accountability: Performance Planning and Benefits Management (35%)

• Develop performance metrics with Product Heads for performance management.
• Align cross-functional teams (Marketing, Compliance, CIB, BB, PPB) to meet commercial objectives.
• Communicate commercialization strategy to stakeholders and promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across teams.
• Translate strategic objectives into measurable project and programme benefits.
• Establish and maintain benefits realization governance frameworks.
• Provide financial oversight including cost-benefit analysis, ROI tracking, and reporting.
• Validate and challenge business cases for financial viability and alignment.
• Partner with Finance to track investment performance and benefit realization.
• Support portfolio prioritization through value-based insights.
• Ensure regulatory and transformation initiatives show measurable outcomes.
• Engage Country Management Committee (CMC) on benefits realization where required.
• Identify opportunities for product/process improvement and revenue growth.
• Analyze competition to identify growth opportunities.
• Participate in the NAPA process to support early adoption of commercialization.
• Apply solution-based approaches to business challenges.
• Define benefit KPIs, baselines, and measurement frameworks.
• Monitor benefits realization during and after implementation.
• Develop benefits tracking dashboards and reporting.
• Identify risks to benefits realization and implement mitigation strategies.
• Assign and track benefit ownership within business units.
• Conduct post-implementation reviews and embed continuous improvement practices.

Accountability: Leadership and Teamwork(20%)

• When called upon, coach, mentor and develop managerial staff members to ensure they display sound management behaviors and skills.
• Strategize and execute succession planning, talent management and performance management
• Collaborate effectively with programme managers, project managers, finance teams, and business stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and coaching to project teams on benefits management practices and value-driven delivery.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and results-oriented performance within the projects function.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, process improvement, and capability development within the Project Management Office (PMO)/projects department.
• Maintain continuous professional development aligned with project governance, financial management, and banking industry practices.
• Create a commercialization embedment roadmap and Facilitate benefits planning workshops.

Accountability: Risk and Control (10%)Outputs:

• Ensure benefits realization practices align with enterprise risk management and internal control frameworks.
• Identify financial, operational, and delivery risks that may impact realization of expected project benefits.
• Work with Risk, Compliance, and Internal Audit teams to ensure regulatory and governance requirements are embedded within project value tracking.
• Validate that benefit assumptions and financial projections are realistic, auditable, and supported by appropriate controls.
• Monitor benefit leakage risks and escalate deviations through established governance forums.
• Support audit reviews by providing traceability between approved business cases, delivery outcomes, and realized benefits.

Education and Experience Required

Preferred: Degree or relevant qualification in Accountancy, Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, Marketing or Project Management, Masters’ degree will be an added advantage.

Essential: Relevant professional qualification (Project Management Professional – PMP, PRINCE2 etc)

Experience:

Minimum 7 years’ work experience in project/programme management, PMO or benefits realization roles within banking or financial services. Demonstrated experience managing benefits realization across complex, multi-stream transformation initiatives.

Strong executive stakeholder engagement and SteerCo reporting experience.  Exposure to regulatory, digital transformation, or enterprise-wide change programmes.

Awareness of cultural differences and varying legal/regulatory environments.

Knowledge & Skills:

Essential

Banking operations and financial services business models

End-to-end benefits lifecycle management. Detailed understanding of the external economic, political, legal, and regulatory environment and its internal impacts in the regional and each country

Preferred

In-depth understanding of Absa Group and the Absa Africa strategy, operating structure, and interfaces with other functions/Ability to operate at strategic level in ambiguous/dynamic environment

Competencies: 

• Business management,
• Risk Management
• Financial acumen
• Communication/Influencing skills
• Stakeholder/customer relationship management
• Leadership and people management skills
• Strong data and digital experience
• Strong Communication/Influencing skills and managing multiple stakeholders and customer relationships
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills
• Excellent diagnostic skills, rigorous approach to problem solving and strong analytical skills
• Excellent comprehension skills to understand and interpret industry data and economic trends
• Talent creation and development skills to mobilise, manage and improve functional specialist teams.
• Strong Leadership and team-working skills at senior executive level.
• Ability to think creatively and identify innovative solutions

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)