Description

The opportunity

A new financial markets infrastructure venture is being established in Oman, backed by prominent institutional investors and operating under an international common law framework. The platform is a greenfield central securities depository being built to go-live in 2027, designed to operate as a regulated financial market infrastructure from day one.

This is one of the two most important hires the organisation will make. We are not looking for a process-led project administrator. We are looking for a delivery-obsessed operator who hustles for outcomes, pushes the organisation when it needs pushing, and knows precisely when to escalate and pull in support rather than letting an issue fester. The project manager forms a tight core delivery unit with the programme director and the product owner, and is accountable for the end-to-end internal delivery of the platform and the operating model that surrounds it.

What the role covers

• Owning the integrated delivery plan across design, build, test, operational readiness, and regulatory submission readiness; driving it relentlessly
• Sequencing work across technology, operations, risk, data, corporate services, and the build vendor; identifying dependencies and blockers early and resolving or escalating fast
• Owning the build CAPEX and OPEX budgets; tracking actual against forecast and bringing options, not just problems, to the programme director
• Chairing the weekly delivery forum and programme risk forum; running the programme governance rhythm from daily stand-ups through to quarterly board updates
• Setting and upholding the quality bar at each stage gate across the programme
• Line managing the programme office executive, business analysts, test manager, and testing team
• Providing candid, evidenced delivery reporting to the programme director and board

Requirements

Who we are looking for

At least 12 years in programme or project management, with a minimum of seven years running large technology and operational change programmes in financial services. Direct, demonstrable experience personally leading a programme of comparable scale and complexity from a standing start: this is non-negotiable. Domain credibility in financial market infrastructure (CSD, CCP, exchange, or payment system) or capital markets platform delivery; able to speak the language of settlement, custody, clearing, and post-trade fluently. A track record of delivering against fixed regulatory or external deadlines. Recognised qualification: PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP, or equivalent. Fluent in English.

Experience working with global system integrators or major financial services build vendors is an advantage. So is familiarity with CPMI-IOSCO Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures and Arabic language skills.

What this is

The post-holder must be able to walk into rooms with vendors, regulators, advisors, and senior stakeholders and command respect from day one. Authority here comes from competence and credibility, not title. If you have genuinely led a regulated platform build of comparable weight from a standing start, and you have the drive and composure to do it again in a fast-moving greenfield environment, this is worth a conversation.