Senior Program Manager

Senior Program Manager, Banking Department

• Generational opportunity to help redefine Australia’s Banking System.

• Senior leadership role driving landmark transformation at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

• Lead a high-performing team of project professionals delivering impactful work that makes a difference to the Australian people.

• Diverse role leading the delivery of customer, industry and enterprise objectives.

About the business

The RBA’s Banking Department (BK) provides a range of banking services to Australian Government departments, agencies, overseas central banks and official institutions (customers). These services broadly comprise two activities: managing the government’s core accounts and transactional banking. BK provide customers access to high-quality, cost-effective and secure systems to collect, pay and manage government funds. This, in turn, supports the Commonwealth to serve the Australian people.

BK comprises Service Delivery (operations), Product, Risk and Change Delivery functions. This role sits within the Change Delivery team and is focused on the delivery of a 3-5 year program to modernise the framework for account-to-account payments in Australia. This is a rare opportunity to influence the future of Australia’s banking system.

About you

We’re seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager with:

• Exceptional people skills, high emotional intelligence and a commitment to inclusive, team-based work.

• A practical and pragmatic style with an inquisitive, can-do attitude.

• Proven program management experience in financial services, government or highly regulated industries.

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

About the role

We’re looking for someone to deliver a transformative 3-5 year program enhancing the systems and processes BK utilises to provide customer banking services.  This role involves bringing together the transformation of Australia’s account to account payments framework, key industry compliance requirements and associated internal system and process enhancements.  Key activities include:

• Understanding the proposed industry changes to account to account payments and leading the delivery of these changes.

• Modernising technology platforms to uplift transaction processing capacity, simplify the technology architecture and bring greater efficiency to operations and change activities.

• Enhancing processes and systems to ensure efficient and effective customer services are delivered.

• Expertly evaluating options and developing, business cases and delivery plans to implement a new or uplifted technology solution for managing customer banking services.

This is not just a technology program; it is a strategic initiative that will leave a legacy for Australia’s financial system.

Key responsibilities

You will be responsible for delivering all aspects of the program including:

• Define, plan, and execute large-scale programs with multiple workstreams.

• Ensure on time delivery, within scope, and budget.

• Translate complex information into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders.

• Produce concise communications that allow executives to make efficient and effective decisions.

• Build strong relationships with senior executives, governance bodies and industry forums.

• Manage competing priorities, facilitating efficient and effective decision-making.

• Lead cross-functional teams, including project professionals, technical specialists and vendors.

• Foster collaboration and accountability.

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate program risks, assumptions issues and dependencies.

• Maintain compliance with regulatory and governance standards.

• Manage the program budget, forecasting, and procurement activities.

• Ensure financial discipline and transparency.

• Oversee smooth transition of technology or process changes into operations.

• Ensure benefits realisation and adoption.

• Drive enhancements in processes, technology, and capabilities.

• Promote best practices in program governance and delivery.

Your background

• 5+ years’ experience leading large-scale complex change in financial services or government.

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives in complex, changing environments.

• Strong expertise in program governance, benefits realisation, and hybrid delivery (Agile/Waterfall).

• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional teams and vendors.

• Proven ability to translate complex concepts into clear, practical insights that enable executives to make informed decisions.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and reduce delivery risks and issues in complex environments.

• Deep understanding of Australian payment systems and associated technologies is highly desirable.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience.

• Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, MSP, Agile) highly desirable.

Be More
Working for an organisation that truly makes a difference to the people of Australia, we can offer development and career opportunities in a collaborative environment that supports your growth, wellbeing and promotes flexibility. Your individual growth and success drives the RBA forward as an organisation. Be more means you can do more, for yourself and for Australia.
Why RBA?
The RBA makes an important contribution to the Australian economy through the pursuit of national economic policy objectives and associated activities in financial markets and banking. We also issue Australia's banknotes and operate infrastructure critical to the payments system, all of which contribute to the welfare of the Australian people. Made up of specialists across a wide range of fields, our people, values, and culture play a critical role in achieving our objectives. Striving to be Open & Dynamic, we consider and incorporate different perspectives, work across teams and are transparent with each other, whilst delivering quality together effectively and focusing on outcomes by prioritising, testing, learning, and refining as we go. Our people conduct themselves with a high degree of integrity, while striving for excellence in the work they perform and the outcomes they achieve. We encourage intelligent inquiry and we treat one another with respect while promoting the public interest through our efforts. We know it is the growth and success of our people that drives the RBA forward. Come and make a bigger contribution while you build and develop your own skills too, because being more means you can do more, for yourself and for Australia.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion through key initiatives. We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse background, those living with a disability and from the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to making the recruitment process fair and equitable for all our candidates.

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