Principal Program Manager

Principal Program Manager

Powering the world's payments ecosystem – globally, and you power ACI. You'll innovate, collaborate, and grow – in an energetic technology culture with decades of proven success. ACIers – in all roles and levels – are truly your colleagues and many are your friends. Our size and reach allow you to see the global impact of your work. You are visible, your talents are valued, and you are empowered to shape the future of payments.

As a Principal Program Manager in Cape Town, South Africa you will join a diverse, passionate team, dedicated to powering the world's payments ecosystem!

The purpose of the Principal Program Manager is:

Organizes and coordinates multiple large and/or complex customer facing or internal programs, in accordance with ACI project management methodology, while ensuring the business unit's objectives align with the technology solutions. Demonstrates ability to advocate for the customer on a strategic level. Provides strategic guidance to team and project managers in ways that promote ACI's culture. Coordinates departmental or cross-functional teams, focused on the delivery of new products/systems or upgrade of existing products/systems or solution. Partners with stakeholders' business unit leaders to translate their objectives into manageable programs that will execute upon those strategies. Monitors the program from initiation through implementation and delivery. Accountable for planning and directing schedules, managing resource needs and monitoring budget/spending. Organizes cross-functional activities, ensuring completion of the program on time, with agreed upon scope, within budget and of the highest quality, while managing escalation as well as program level risk and issue resolution. Provides dashboard reporting at a program level and leads update meetings. Must be an excellent leader and with experience in matrix managing staff of different disciplines to produce results in a timely manner. The goal is to ensure that the program delivers desirable outcome for ACI.

A typical day at ACI for a Principal Program Manager is:

• Takes a leadership role in managing one or more complex, programs critical to the success of the customer and ACI Leads team of project managers allocated to projects within the program. Lead complex programs to create a path forward for the team.
• Manages program scope to ensure what is being delivered is consistent with what was agreed upon with all necessary stakeholders, which includes ensuring proper charter.
• Develops integrated schedule that is inclusive of all program milestones, resources and constraints to ensure timely completion of program to achieve ROI.
• Manages program issues and risks (technical and non-technical) through identification, evaluation, tracking, communication, escalating and mediation in an orderly manner and in accordance with ACI project management methodology.
• Partners with other business unit colleagues, cross-functionally and with third-parties to build strong teams that can work through program challenges. Coordinates cross-project activities.
• Facilitates successful negotiations such as resource constraints as appropriate throughout the program. Ensures consensus and agreement across customers and/or internal partners and project managers.
• Coach and mentor junior associates in program and project methodologies, best practices, and build relationships with customers.
• Collaborate with peers to share lessons learned across multiple programs and portfolios and harvest best practices across the organization.
• Aligns resources across functions to improve outcomes, creating greater value for each group, the program and for the organization.
• Creates an environment where team members feel secure sharing their opinions, skills, and knowledge without fear of being treated as insignificant.
• Understands the strategic value of common program and cross-program goals and objectives. Makes it a priority to define, document and disseminate strategic goals and values.
• Negotiates for understanding and consensus and facilitates understanding and resolution of conflicts.
• Communicates effectively across all levels of the organization to drive progress and keep leadership and all project stakeholders informed of program updates and status through dashboard and risk register, etc.
• Formulates, organizes and monitors inter-connected projects and manage deadlines, budget and other activities.
• Implement suitable strategies and objectives for program delivery
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Understand and adhere to all corporate policies to include but not limited to the ACI Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience needed to succeed in this role:

• Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent work experience.
• 10 or more years related program management experience with demonstrated experience delivering high quality results for complex, transformational programs or 15 or more years of project management experience managing complex projects.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience needed for the job:

• Excellent communications skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate effectively with C-Level.
• Understand the strategic value of common program and cross-program goals and objectives. Makes it a priority to define, document and disseminate strategic goals and values.
• Demonstrates ability to advocate for the customer on a strategic level.
• Ability to operate as a change agent, influencing and driving action cross-functionally and with external partners.
• Proficient in use of MS Project.
• PMP highly desired, working towards obtaining or approved equivalent.
• Ability to remain optimistic and positive in uncertain, new or complex situations.
• Ability to bring all your capabilities to the moment –knowledge, experience, skill, judgment, intuition to lead the team
• Ability to view uncertainty as a challenge/opportunity rather than a threat.
• Ability to turn setbacks and failures into a learning opportunity for improved performance.
• Establishes and maintains positive expectations and attitudes that lay the foundation for effective, positive and constructive work efforts.

Work Environment:

• Standard work environment
• Majority of time spent on PC (Phys. Req.)
• Travel required, may be domestic or international

Core Capabilities:

We seek colleagues who embody our core capabilities — these shape our culture and enable us to make a meaningful impact together:

• Ensure Accountability: holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results: consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Customer Focus: building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Cultivate Innovation: creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Collaborates: building partnerships and working collaboratively with others.
• Courage: stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in South Africa on a full-time basis. This position does not offer sponsorship for employment visa status or work permit now or in the future.

In return for your expertise, we offer opportunities for growth, career development, and a competitive compensation and benefits package—all within an innovative and collaborative work environment.

Important Notice About Recruitment Scams Job seekers should be aware of ongoing recruitment scams where individuals or organizations impersonate legitimate companies to offer fake job opportunities. These scams often involve requests for personal information, payments, or interviews through unofficial channels. Please be cautious and verify any communications claiming to be from our company ( / @aciworldwide.com). The ACI Worldwide recruitment team will always follow official channels and will never request payment.