Specialist, IT Projects

Job description

At First Quantum, we free the talent of our people by taking a very different approach which is underpinned by a very different, very definite culture – the “First Quantum Way”.

Working with us is not like working anywhere else, which is why we recruit people who will take a bolder, smarter approach to spot opportunities, solve problems and deliver results.

Our culture is all about encouraging you to think independently and to challenge convention to deliver the best result. That’s how we continue to achieve extraordinary things in extraordinary locations.

Job description

PURPOSE

Plan, coordinate and deliver IT, software development and digital transformation projects using fit-for-purpose project delivery methods, including predictive, Agile and hybrid approaches. Work with project sponsors, business stakeholders, IT & Digital leads, technical teams, vendors and operational users to deliver secure, supportable solutions that meet agreed scope, schedule, budget and quality requirements and achieve measurable business benefits.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Initiation, Prioritisation and Business Value

• Work with project sponsors and business stakeholders to clarify the business problem, objectives, scope, requirements, expected outcomes and measures of success.

• Support the preparation and review of business cases, options assessments, cost estimates, benefits forecasts and investment justifications.

• Assess project readiness, dependencies, resource capacity, operational impact and delivery risk to support prioritisation and realistic commitments.

• Review the continuing business case at agreed checkpoints and recommend changes, pauses or closure when expected value, feasibility or strategic alignment changes.

• Maintain a clear link between project deliverables, business objectives and measurable benefits.

Planning, Governance and Delivery Control

• Develop and maintain proportionate project plans covering scope, deliverables, milestones, resources, budget, dependencies, procurement, communications, testing, deployment and handover.

• Select and tailor predictive, Agile, Kanban or hybrid methods to suit project complexity, uncertainty, regulatory obligations, operational risk and stakeholder needs.

• Track actual and forecast performance against approved baselines, including schedule, cost, scope, quality, resource utilisation and benefits.

• Maintain accurate project records, including the project charter, schedule, RAID log (risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies), decision log, change log, status reports and lessons learned.

• Identify slippage and emerging delivery constraints early, agree recovery actions with accountable owners, and escalate material exceptions promptly.

• Coordinate project dependencies and resource conflicts across IT & Digital workstreams, business functions, vendors and operational teams.

Agile Delivery and Team Facilitation

• Facilitate Agile ceremonies and act as Scrum Master or delivery facilitator where required, supporting sprint planning, daily coordination, reviews and retrospectives.

• Help teams maintain prioritised and well-defined backlogs, clear acceptance criteria, realistic delivery commitments and regular stakeholder feedback.

• Use iterative delivery and early validation to test assumptions, reduce delivery risk and incorporate user feedback before wider implementation.

• Remove or escalate impediments, support constructive collaboration and encourage continuous improvement across delivery teams.

• Use delivery data to identify bottlenecks and improve flow, while avoiding measures that reward activity without demonstrating outcomes.

Requirements, Solution Coordination and Software Delivery

• Coordinate requirements gathering, process mapping, business analysis, user stories, acceptance criteria and requirements traceability in collaboration with business analysts and technical leads.

• Coordinate solution design reviews with relevant architects, software engineers, infrastructure, data, cyber security, integration and support teams.

• Support delivery planning for integrations, data migration, configuration, automation, application development and third-party solutions.

• Coordinate release readiness, deployment approvals, cutover planning, rollback arrangements, user communications and transition to operational support.

• Promote secure-by-design and quality practices throughout the delivery lifecycle, including appropriate documentation, access controls, data handling and support arrangements.

Risk, Financial and Supplier management

• Ensure project risks and controls are reviewed at suitable points and that material risks are escalated in line with site and company requirements.

• Where AI, analytics or automation is proposed, help assess business value, data quality, human oversight, accuracy, explainability, privacy, security and appropriate use before implementation.

• Monitor expenditure and cost variances, investigate forecast overruns and ensure issues are reported within agreed tolerances.

• Support procurement activities, statements of work, vendor evaluations, contract milestones and supplier performance reviews.

• Verify that project costs are accurately allocated and that vendor deliverables are assessed against agreed scope, quality, schedule and acceptance criteria.

Stakeholder engagement, change and adoption

• Identify stakeholders and understand their needs, influence, concerns and readiness for change.

• Maintain regular, clear and appropriate audience communication with sponsors, project teams, users, IT & Digital leadership, vendors and other affected parties.

• Coordinate change impact assessments, communications, training, user readiness, operational procedures and adoption support with relevant business owners.

• Resolve or escalate conflicts constructively, clarify accountabilities and maintain alignment on priorities, decisions and expected outcomes.

• Support the transition from project delivery to business-as-usual operations and confirm that ownership, support, documentation and service measures are in place.

Performance Reporting, Data and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain reliable project dashboards and status reports using approved tools such as Azure DevOps, Microsoft Project, Power BI or equivalent platforms.

• Report on delivery confidence, milestones, schedule and cost variance, risks, issues, dependencies, resource constraints, quality, adoption and benefits where relevant.

• Use evidence and trend analysis to improve forecasting, identify recurring blockers and support timely management decisions.

• Contribute to project portfolio reporting, lessons learned, delivery standards, templates and practical improvements to the IT & Digital project management framework.

• Provide guidance and practical coaching to project contributors on agreed delivery processes, tools and reporting expectations.

QUALIFICATIONS

·       Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Project Management or a related discipline.

• A relevant project management or Agile qualification is an advantage.

• All academic qualifications and results must be verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA).

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5 years of related experience in IT Project Management

• Demonstrated experience coordinating software development, systems implementation, integrations or other IT projects from initiation through deployment and handover.

• Experience with project planning, risk and issue management, financial tracking, stakeholder reporting and benefits tracking.

• Working familiarity with Microsoft Azure DevOps or similar work-management tools, Microsoft Power Platform, .NET or other application platforms, and reporting tools such as Power BI.

• Experience coordinating user acceptance testing, change management, training, release readiness and operational handover.

• Experience working with vendors, cross-functional teams and business stakeholders in a complex operational environment is an advantage.

• Relevant certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, CAPM, Professional Scrum Master, Certified ScrumMaster or an equivalent qualification are desirable

• Member of ICTAZ or EIZ

BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS

• Effective communication

• Ability to influence managers and employees

• Ability to demonstrate leadership

• Critical thinking

• Conflict management

• Problem solving skills

• Ability to work in pressured and deadline-driven operating environment

• Detail-orientated with the technical aptitude and ability to perform tasks accurately and comprehensively

• Expert in multi-tasking, time management and planning of work

• Excellent presentation skills