Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager
Location: Zurich, Switzerland (Hybrid – 2–3 days onsite)
Contract: Initial 6-month contract with extensions expected for up to 2 years
Rate: CHF 950 per day
Start Date: ASAP


About the Role


A leading financial services organisation is seeking an experienced German-speaking Project Manager to lead a major enterprise transformation programme based in Zurich.


This is an exciting opportunity to lead one of the largest and most business-critical application transformation initiatives within the organisation's IT landscape. The successful candidate will work within a highly complex stakeholder environment, coordinating internal teams, Group Programme Management, external delivery partners, and technical specialists to ensure successful project delivery.


The programme will deliver the transformation of the Shared Partner Database application from the CA Gen 4GL code generator to native COBOL running on the IBM z/OS mainframe, while also replacing the Endevor source code management platform with GitLab.


Key Responsibilities


Project Inception

Develop the Project Management Plan.
Define project scope and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
Develop the detailed project delivery plan.
Define the Transformation Factory delivery approach.
Coordinate target architecture planning.
Establish project governance and reporting structures.
Develop staffing and resource plans.
Define the high-level testing strategy.
Manage stakeholder engagement.
Establish Operational Readiness criteria.
Develop the Go-Live strategy.


Project Delivery

Lead and coordinate all project workstreams.
Manage complex stakeholder relationships across business, technology and external partners.
Monitor project performance using Earned Value Management (EVM).
Produce executive-level project reporting.
Manage project budgets and financial tracking.
Coordinate testing activities.
Ensure Operational Readiness, including performance, stability, security and reliability.
Coordinate deployments and oversee successful Go-Live activities.


Skills & Experience

Fluent German and English are essential.
Extensive Project Management experience delivering large-scale enterprise transformation programmes.
Experience within financial services or other highly regulated environments.
Proven ability to manage complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders and third-party vendors.
Strong project governance, planning, budgeting and risk management experience.
Experience using Earned Value Management (EVM).
Knowledge of IBM z/OS, COBOL, legacy modernisation or mainframe transformation projects would be highly advantageous.