Lead Program Manager BNP Paribas Fortis (Brussels)
Description
The Lead Program Manager will define, govern and coordinate BNP Paribas Fortis' strategic Data Transformation Program. The program brings together three initiatives covering the DMS 2.0 Self-Service Data Platform, legacy BI decommissioning and reporting tooling simplification. The role ensures these initiatives operate as one coherent transformation with a shared strategy, roadmap, governance model and delivery plan. The program aims to modernize the bank's analytical and reporting landscape and align it with the Data Management Strategy and target architecture.
The assignment combines executive stakeholder management with hands-on program coordination and delivery leadership. The consultant will align objectives with Executive Management, lead steering committees, report on progress, risks, budget and value, and coordinate Initiative Owners and Delivery Leads. The role also owns cross-program dependencies, integrated planning and benefits realization. Strong cooperation across Business, IT, Architecture, Risk, Compliance, Reporting and Data communities is central to success.
A major focus is organizational adoption and sustainable handover. The Lead Program Manager will drive adoption of Data Products, self-service capabilities and the target reporting landscape while coordinating communication, training and change management. The consultant will own the program risk landscape and ensure internal governance, security, risk and regulatory compliance. During the six-month mission, the role must prepare the organization and the three Initiative Owners to continue delivery without a Lead Program Manager, with a possible three-month extension.
Top Reasons to Apply
Strategic data transformation
Executive-level impact
Modern data platforms
Power BI adoption
Enterprise change leadership
Detailed Responsibilities and Skills
Additional Responsibilities
- Build stakeholder partnerships
- Coordinate initiative owners
- Ensure cross-initiative consistency
- Drive integrated planning
- Resolve program dependencies
- Ensure timely delivery
- Drive capability adoption
- Support transformation communities
- Coordinate change activities
- Promote data culture
- Own program risks
- Ensure regulatory compliance
- Mitigate delivery risks
- Prepare organizational handover
General skills
- Minimum 10 years of experience in Program Management, Strategic Transformation or Enterprise Change Management.
- Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-year transformation programs with budgets above €5M.
- Proven experience coordinating multiple project managers, product owners and delivery organizations.
- Strong experience working directly with senior executives and steering committees.
- Experience managing complex stakeholder environments across Business and IT.
- Demonstrated success in technology modernization, platform transformation or enterprise data programs.
- Budget management and financial follow-up.
- Vendor and partner management experience.
- Strong written and spoken communication skills in Dutch, French and English.
- Exceptional strategic thinking and helicopter view.
- Executive presence and ability to influence senior leadership.
- Outstanding communication and storytelling skills.
- Strong leadership without direct authority.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive alignment in complex environments.
- Proven stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Results-driven and pragmatic mindset.
- Resilience and ability to work in highly transformational contexts.
- Change leadership and people engagement capabilities.
- Preferred: experience in large financial institutions or heavily regulated environments.
- PMP, PgMP, Prince2 Practitioner, MSP or equivalent Program Management certification.
Technical skills
- Enterprise Data Platforms and Data Management concepts.
- Data Products, Data Governance and Data Operating Models concepts.
- Familiarity with Reporting and Analytics ecosystems.
- Agile delivery at scale and hybrid delivery models.
- Preferred: Data Mesh principles.
- Preferred: Self-Service Data Platforms.
- Preferred: Power BI migration programs.
- Preferred: Enterprise Architecture governance.
- Preferred: Cloud and modern data technologies.
Tools
- Power BI.