Practical Information
Location: Brussels (Hybrid)
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: Long-term assignment
Daily Rate: €700 excl. VAT
Contract Type: Freelance
About the Assignment
For one of our clients in the financial services sector, we are looking for a highly experienced Senior Program Manager to lead strategic IT Production and Infrastructure initiatives.
In this role, you will take ownership of complex cross-functional programs, ensuring successful delivery while balancing priorities, budget, scope, risks, and stakeholder expectations. Acting as the bridge between business and IT, you will coordinate multiple teams, facilitate decision-making, and drive alignment across different organizational levels.
The assignment is situated within an IT Production Services environment responsible for production support, service availability, operational excellence, and infrastructure-related initiatives.
Your Responsibilities
Program Leadership
* Own and lead strategic IT Production and Infrastructure initiatives.
* Ensure successful delivery of programs while managing priorities, budget, value creation, timelines, and scope.
* Monitor progress, identify risks, and drive mitigation actions.
* Ensure initiatives deliver the expected business and technical outcomes.
Stakeholder Management
* Manage relationships with senior business stakeholders, IT teams, vendors, and leadership.
* Act as the key interface between business stakeholders and technical delivery teams.
* Challenge assumptions and facilitate informed decision-making.
* Drive communication and alignment across all parties involved.
Agile Governance & Delivery
* Organize and facilitate governance and Agile ceremonies across multiple organizational levels (Executive Committee, Tribes, Squads, etc.).
* Contribute to Quarterly Planning, Scrum of Scrums, and other Agile governance forums.
* Identify, track, and resolve impediments at program level.
* Foster collaboration and create an environment where teams can successfully deliver together.
Delivery & Operational Excellence
* Ensure alignment between delivery teams and production management objectives.
* Protect teams from unnecessary disruptions and conflicting priorities.
* Facilitate conflict resolution and simplify complex discussions.
* Promote continuous improvement and Agile best practices.
Required Experience
Must-Have
* Minimum 15 years of experience in Program Management, Project Management, or a comparable leadership role.
* Strong experience leading complex IT infrastructure and production-related initiatives.
* Ability to understand technical and complex infrastructure architecture documentation.
* Proven experience managing budgets, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder expectations.
* Strong experience working in Agile environments.
* Experience operating within large and complex organizations.
Nice to Have
* Experience with infrastructure migration programs.
* Experience within banking, financial services, or other highly regulated environments.
* Strong knowledge of Agile delivery frameworks and governance models.
Education
* Master's degree or equivalent through professional experience.
Languages
French or Dutch: Fluent professional proficiency, with strong command of the second national language.
English: Good professional working proficiency.
Soft Skills
* Excellent stakeholder management skills
* Strong leadership and facilitation capabilities
* Strategic thinker with strong organizational skills
* Analytical mindset and problem-solving ability
* Proactive and autonomous
* Strong communication skills
* Team-oriented and comfortable in multicultural environments
* Flexible, structured, and delivery-focused
* Strong Agile mindset