Experienced project management professionals looking to advance their careers in the South African technology sector may be interested in the Senior Project Manager IT opportunity with Araxi Group, within its Dariel business in Bramley, Gauteng.

This is a mid-to-senior-level technology project management position aimed at an experienced professional who can take ownership of complex IT, software and business transformation projects from beginning to end.

The role goes beyond simply creating project plans and tracking deadlines. The successful candidate will be expected to manage project governance, budgets, risks, resources, customer relationships, reporting and delivery performance while also contributing to the development of other project managers.

The position could therefore appeal to professionals with a strong background in IT project management, software development projects, technology consulting, business transformation or PMO environments.

A minimum of five years’ experience managing technology, software or business transformation projects is required, while project management qualifications and certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, Agile or Scrum are advantageous.

For experienced project managers who want exposure to complex technology projects and an organisation operating across software and payments, this could be an interesting career opportunity.

About Araxi Group

Araxi is a South African technology enterprise listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and operates across payments and software. The group describes its strategy as bringing together payments expertise and software capabilities to help businesses simplify complexity and deliver better outcomes.

Araxi’s portfolio includes businesses operating in both the payments and software areas.

Its software division includes Dariel, alongside Synthesis, Responsive and other technology businesses.

Dariel is particularly relevant to this vacancy because the position is listed under the Dariel division.

According to Dariel, the company has more than 20 years of experience and has delivered more than 160 solutions for over 100 clients across more than 10 industries. It describes itself as an engineering-focused software and IT architecture business that develops high-value technology solutions.

Dariel’s capabilities include software development, consulting, implementation, integration, maintenance and support, as well as cloud services involving technologies such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform.

The company is headquartered in Bramley, Johannesburg, which aligns with the location of this Senior Project Manager IT opportunity.

What Does a Senior IT Project Manager Do?

A Senior IT Project Manager is responsible for making sure that technology projects move from an initial concept or requirement to successful completion.

The job involves coordinating people, technology, budgets, timelines and customer expectations.

A project manager may work with:

• Software developers
• Business analysts
• Solution architects
• UX designers
• Quality assurance teams
• Infrastructure specialists
• Clients
• Senior executives
• Suppliers
• Finance teams
• Other project managers

The Senior Project Manager must ensure that everyone understands what needs to be delivered and when it needs to be delivered.

At the same time, they must identify problems before they become major threats to the project.

This makes project management both a technical and people-oriented career.

Why This Job Is Worth Applying For

1. It Offers Senior-Level IT Project Experience

The position is specifically designed for an experienced project manager.

Candidates will have the opportunity to manage complex technology and business projects rather than only small internal assignments.

This can strengthen a professional’s CV and create a pathway towards increasingly senior project and portfolio-management positions.

2. Exposure to Different Technologies

Dariel operates in technology consulting, software development and related technology services.

Its services include software development, consulting, integration, implementation, maintenance and cloud services.

This means a project manager can potentially gain exposure to a variety of technical environments.

3. Opportunity to Work With Different Clients

Technology consulting environments often involve projects for different organisations and industries.

Dariel states that it has worked across industries including healthcare, telecommunications, hospitality, mining, manufacturing, financial services, insurance and FinTech.

For a project manager, this can create valuable experience because different clients have different business requirements and operational challenges.

4. Leadership Responsibilities

The position includes mentoring and supporting associate and intermediate project managers.

This means the role is not limited to managing projects.

It also provides an opportunity to develop leadership and coaching capabilities.

5. Exposure to PMO Operations

The position contributes to PMO governance, delivery standards, reporting, project reviews and continuous improvement.

Professionals interested in eventually moving into Portfolio Manager, PMO Manager or Head of PMO roles could benefit from this type of experience.

6. Professional Development

The vacancy specifically highlights professional growth and career development.

The technology industry changes rapidly, so experienced project managers need to continue developing their understanding of delivery methodologies, technology and business transformation.

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Project Manager

Managing Projects From Beginning to End

The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for end-to-end delivery.

This can involve:

1. Understanding project requirements.
2. Defining scope.
3. Developing delivery plans.
4. Allocating resources.
5. Establishing timelines.
6. Monitoring progress.
7. Managing risks.
8. Communicating with stakeholders.
9. Controlling costs.
10. Managing changes.
11. Coordinating testing.
12. Supporting implementation.
13. Closing the project.

The project manager needs to keep the project moving while maintaining control over scope, budget, quality and timelines.

Managing Project Risks

Technology projects rarely proceed exactly as planned.

Potential risks can include:

• Resource shortages
• Changing requirements
• Technical difficulties
• Integration problems
• Delays
• Budget pressures
• Supplier problems
• Client changes
• Security concerns
• Testing failures

The Senior Project Manager must identify these risks early.

A good project manager does not wait for a risk to become a crisis.

They assess the likelihood and potential impact, establish mitigation strategies and monitor the situation.

Managing Stakeholders

Stakeholder management is one of the most important skills in senior project management.

Stakeholders may have different expectations.

For example, a client may want a project delivered as quickly as possible, while the technical team may require additional time to ensure the solution is stable.

The project manager has to balance these expectations.

Effective stakeholder management involves:

• Regular communication
• Clear reporting
• Managing expectations
• Listening
• Negotiation
• Escalation
• Transparency
• Building trust

Customer Relationship Management

The vacancy places significant emphasis on customer relationships.

This is particularly important in consulting environments.

A project manager can deliver a project technically but still have an unhappy customer if communication is poor.

The Senior Project Manager must therefore understand the customer’s business objectives and ensure that project delivery remains aligned with those objectives.

A strong customer relationship can also help identify future opportunities.

Managing Project Budgets

The position requires financial oversight.

A project manager needs to understand:

• Project budgets
• Resource costs
• Contracted capacity
• Variances
• Forecasts
• Project profitability
• Financial risks

The goal is not simply to spend less money.

The objective is to ensure that project resources are used effectively while delivering the agreed outcomes.

Resource Planning and Utilisation

People are one of the most important resources in an IT project.

A project may require developers, analysts, testers, designers, architects and other specialists.

The Senior Project Manager needs to ensure that the appropriate resources are available when required.

Poor resource planning can result in:

• Delays
• Idle employees
• Overloaded employees
• Increased costs
• Missed deadlines
• Reduced quality

The vacancy specifically requires experience with resource planning and utilisation tracking.

Project Governance

Governance ensures that projects are managed consistently and transparently.

A strong governance structure can define:

• Who makes decisions
• Who approves changes
• How risks are escalated
• What reports are required
• How project performance is measured
• How stakeholders receive information

The Senior Project Manager will be expected to adhere to PMO governance frameworks and delivery standards.

Skills That Increase Your Chances

Meeting the minimum requirements is important, but several skills can make a candidate significantly more competitive.

Strong Leadership

At senior level, project management requires leadership.

You need to influence people even when you are not their direct line manager.

Communication

You should be comfortable communicating with both technical and non-technical people.

A developer may need a technical discussion, while an executive may need a concise summary of business impact.

The ability to adjust communication to the audience is extremely valuable.

Analytical Thinking

Projects generate large amounts of information.

A Senior Project Manager needs to analyse:

• Budgets
• Timelines
• Risks
• Resource utilisation
• Performance
• Dependencies
• Customer feedback

Strong analytical skills help identify problems early.

Problem-Solving

Technology projects often involve unexpected problems.

The project manager must remain calm and work towards solutions.

Negotiation

Negotiation can involve:

• Scope
• Timelines
• Resources
• Budgets
• Priorities
• Customer expectations

Facilitation

The Senior Project Manager may facilitate meetings, workshops, project reviews and retrospectives.

Good facilitation ensures that meetings produce decisions and actions rather than simply consuming time.

Organisation

Managing several projects or multiple workstreams requires excellent organisation.

You need to know:

• What is due
• Who owns it
• What is blocked
• What is at risk
• What needs escalation
• What the customer expects

Emotional Intelligence

Senior project managers work with different personalities.

Being able to understand people and manage difficult situations professionally can be just as important as technical project-management knowledge.

Agile, Scrum and Hybrid Methodologies

The vacancy lists exposure to Agile, Scrum or hybrid delivery methodologies as desirable.

Candidates should understand the differences between traditional and Agile approaches.

Traditional approaches may place greater emphasis on upfront planning and sequential delivery.

Agile approaches generally involve iterative development, frequent feedback and adaptation.

Scrum introduces structured roles, ceremonies and iterative work cycles.

A hybrid approach combines elements of different delivery models.

A Senior Project Manager should not simply know terminology.

They should understand when different approaches are appropriate.

Qualifications Required

The vacancy requires a relevant degree or diploma in areas such as:

• Business
• Project Management
• Information Technology
• A related field

Project management certifications are advantageous.

These include:

• PMP
• PRINCE2
• Agile certifications
• Scrum certifications

Certification is useful because it demonstrates formal knowledge of project management principles.

However, certification should complement real project experience rather than replace it.

Experience Required

The minimum experience requirement is five or more years managing technology, software or business transformation projects.

Applicants should therefore make sure their CV clearly demonstrates this.

Do not simply write:

“Project Manager – five years.”

Instead, describe:

• Types of projects managed
• Project budgets where appropriate
• Team sizes
• Technologies involved
• Methodologies used
• Clients managed
• Project outcomes
• Responsibilities
• Achievements

Quantified achievements can be particularly effective.

For example:

“Managed a multi-disciplinary software implementation involving development, testing and business stakeholders, delivering the project within the agreed budget and implementation window.”

Only use figures and claims that are accurate.

Career Growth Opportunities

A Senior Project Manager can potentially progress into several senior technology-management careers.

Project Director

A Project Director may oversee large or strategically important projects.

Programme Manager

Programme Managers coordinate multiple related projects to achieve broader organisational objectives.

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio management involves overseeing a collection of projects and ensuring that they support organisational strategy.

PMO Manager

A PMO Manager may be responsible for governance, standards, reporting, project controls and project-management capability across an organisation.

Head of Project Management

Experienced project professionals can eventually move into executive leadership responsible for an organisation’s project-delivery function.

Technology Operations Manager

Project managers with strong technology and operational experience can potentially move into technology operations.

Digital Transformation Manager

Business transformation experience can provide a pathway into digital transformation leadership.

IT Consulting Leadership

Professionals with strong client-facing and consulting experience may progress into technology consulting leadership.

Interview Preparation Tips

A Senior Project Manager interview is likely to focus heavily on your real-world experience.

Prepare specific examples rather than giving only theoretical answers.

Prepare Your Project Portfolio

Before the interview, identify several significant projects you have managed.

For each project, know:

• The objective
• The client
• The project size
• Your responsibilities
• The team involved
• The budget
• The methodology
• Major risks
• Major challenges
• How you solved problems
• The final outcome

Use the STAR Method

A useful approach is:

Situation: Explain the background.

Task: Explain what you needed to achieve.

Action: Explain what you personally did.

Result: Explain the outcome.

For example, if asked:

“Tell us about a project that was at risk of missing its deadline.”

Do not simply say:

“I worked with the team and we delivered it.”

Explain what caused the delay, what you did, what decisions you made and what happened afterward.

Prepare for Risk Management Questions

You may be asked:

“How do you identify and manage project risks?”

Discuss:

• Risk identification
• Risk assessment
• Risk owners
• Mitigation
• Contingency planning
• Monitoring
• Escalation

Prepare for Difficult Stakeholders

You could be asked:

“How would you handle a client who continually changes requirements?”

A strong answer should demonstrate that you would:

1. Understand the requested change.
2. Determine its impact.
3. Assess scope, cost and timeline implications.
4. Communicate those impacts.
5. Follow the appropriate change-control process.
6. Obtain the required approval.
7. Update the project plan.

Prepare for Resource Problems

You may be asked what you would do if a critical developer became unavailable.

Explain how you would assess:

• Project impact
• Available alternatives
• Internal resources
• Timeline implications
• Knowledge transfer
• Risk
• Client communication

Prepare for Project Failure

Senior project managers should be able to discuss mistakes.

If asked about a failed or troubled project, do not blame everyone else.

Explain:

• What went wrong
• What you learned
• What you changed
• How the experience improved your management approach

How to Make Your CV Stand Out

A Senior Project Manager CV should not read like a list of responsibilities.

It should demonstrate results.

A strong professional summary might highlight experience in:

IT Project Management | Software Delivery | Business Transformation | PMO Governance | Stakeholder Management | Risk Management | Resource Planning | Agile/Hybrid Delivery

Then provide evidence.

For each significant project, consider including:

• Project type
• Industry
• Duration
• Team size
• Methodology
• Technology
• Budget responsibility
• Major challenge
• Outcome

This gives recruiters a clearer understanding of your capabilities.

Similar Jobs Available

Professionals interested in this opportunity can also search for:

• Senior IT Project Manager
• IT Project Manager
• Software Project Manager
• Technology Project Manager
• Programme Manager
• IT Programme Manager
• Project Delivery Manager
• PMO Manager
• Project Portfolio Manager
• Digital Transformation Manager
• Business Transformation Manager
• Technology Delivery Manager
• Agile Project Manager
• Scrum Master
• Technical Project Manager
• IT Delivery Lead
• Project Director

These roles can be found across financial services, software development, consulting, telecommunications, healthcare, retail, government and other industries.

The Importance of Customer Satisfaction

The vacancy specifically mentions customer satisfaction and exposure to frameworks such as NPS as desirable.

This is important because project delivery is not only about meeting internal milestones.

A project may technically meet its specifications but still create an unhappy customer if:

• Communication was poor
• Expectations were not managed
• Issues were ignored
• The solution did not address the customer’s actual needs
• Support after implementation was inadequate

A successful Senior Project Manager therefore needs to think beyond the project plan.

The ultimate question should be:

Did the project create the value the customer expected?

Continuous Improvement

The position also involves project reviews, retrospectives and continuous improvement.

A mature project-management function should learn from completed projects.

After a project, teams can review:

• What worked?
• What did not work?
• What caused delays?
• Which processes created unnecessary administration?
• Where could communication improve?
• What risks were missed?
• What should be repeated?
• What should be changed?

The objective is to make future projects more predictable and successful.

Technology Project Management Is About People

Although the job is in IT, project management is fundamentally a people-oriented discipline.

A project manager may not write the software themselves.

Instead, they create the environment in which the team can deliver successfully.

That involves:

• Removing obstacles
• Clarifying priorities
• Managing expectations
• Resolving conflicts
• Protecting the team from unnecessary disruption
• Communicating decisions
• Escalating issues
• Coordinating stakeholders

This is why interpersonal skills are so important for senior project managers.

Why Dariel Could Be an Interesting Environment

Dariel operates in a technology environment focused on engineering software solutions.

The company says it has more than 150 consultants, more than 100 clients and experience across more than 10 industries.

Its work spans software development, consulting, implementation, integration and cloud services.

For a project manager, exposure to these different areas can help build a broader understanding of technology delivery.

Araxi has also continued expanding its software and payments portfolio. The group reported FY2026 underlying revenue of R1.2 billion and underlying EBITDA of R283.2 million on its corporate website.

The group acquired Dariel in 2023, and Dariel is now part of Araxi’s software portfolio.

This wider group structure can provide an interesting environment for professionals interested in technology, software and financial technology.

Industry Salary Expectations

The vacancy does not disclose a specific salary.

This is normal for senior project management positions because remuneration can depend considerably on:

• Years of experience
• Project complexity
• Industry experience
• Qualifications
• Certifications
• Leadership responsibilities
• Technical knowledge
• Employer
• Benefits
• Performance incentives

Current salary data provides useful context.

Indeed’s South African salary data updated in August 2026 reports an average base salary of approximately R778,665 per year for a Senior Project Manager in South Africa. Its reported range runs from approximately R440,469 to R1,376,530 per year, depending on factors such as location, experience and employer.

For Gauteng, Indeed reports an average of approximately R754,948 per year, with reported salaries ranging from around R422,565 to R1,348,779 annually.

Johannesburg-specific data from Indeed reports an average of approximately R672,779 per year, based on its available salary reports.

Another salary source, Glassdoor, reports a higher Johannesburg estimate for IT Senior Project Managers, with a median total-pay figure of around R1.1 million per year and a reported total-pay range of approximately R880,000 to R1.5 million per year. However, the sample size and methodology differ, so this should be treated as an additional market reference rather than a guaranteed salary.

For this particular Araxi/Dariel role, applicants should therefore avoid assuming that an online salary figure represents the employer’s actual offer.

A senior professional with strong technology consulting experience, complex-project delivery experience, strong commercial awareness and recognised certifications may command a different package from someone who has only recently reached senior level.

Questions Candidates Can Ask During the Interview

Candidates should also prepare questions for the employer.

Good questions could include:

“What types of technology projects would I be responsible for?”

“How large are the typical project teams?”

“Which project management methodologies are most commonly used?”

“How is project success measured?”

“What are the biggest delivery challenges currently facing the PMO?”

“How much responsibility does the Senior Project Manager have for project financial performance?”

“What opportunities are available for progression within the PMO?”

These questions demonstrate that you are thinking about the role beyond simply obtaining a job.

Who Should Apply?

This position is most appropriate for an experienced technology project manager who can demonstrate:

• At least five years of relevant project management experience
• Software or technology project experience
• Business transformation experience
• Strong stakeholder management
• Risk and issue management
• Governance experience
• Resource planning
• Financial oversight
• Strong communication
• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Mentoring ability

Candidates with experience in consulting, software development or managed services may find their background particularly relevant.

Who May Not Be Ready for This Role?

The position is unlikely to be suitable for someone who has only recently entered project management.

A candidate with one or two years of experience may still be developing the skills required for senior project leadership.

Similarly, someone whose experience is entirely outside technology, software or business transformation may need to demonstrate strong transferable experience before being considered.

The role requires someone who can operate independently and make decisions when projects become complicated.

Final Thoughts

The Senior Project Manager IT opportunity at Araxi Group, within Dariel in Bramley, Gauteng, is aimed at an experienced technology professional who can take responsibility for complex projects while also contributing to broader project-management maturity.

The position requires at least five years of experience managing technology, software or business transformation projects, together with strong stakeholder management, risk management, governance, resource planning and financial oversight skills.

The role also has an important leadership component.

The successful candidate will be expected to mentor junior project managers, facilitate project reviews, contribute to continuous improvement and help strengthen delivery practices across the PMO.

Dariel is an established technology business with a long track record in software engineering and technology solutions. It reports more than 20 years of experience, over 150 consultants, more than 100 clients and activity across more than 10 industries.

Its capabilities span software development, consulting, implementation, integration, maintenance, support and cloud services.

Dariel is part of Araxi, a JSE-listed technology group operating across software and payments. Araxi’s software portfolio includes Dariel, Synthesis and other technology businesses.

This makes the opportunity potentially attractive to a project manager who wants to work in an environment where technology, software engineering, consulting and business transformation intersect.

The strongest applicants should make their CV evidence-based. Rather than simply listing project-management duties, they should demonstrate actual delivery results, project complexity, stakeholder responsibilities, team leadership, budget management and successful outcomes.

Candidates should also prepare carefully for interviews by developing examples involving project risks, difficult stakeholders, changing requirements, resource constraints, budget pressure and projects that experienced difficulties.

Salary information varies considerably across sources. Current South African data places the general Senior Project Manager market around the mid-R700,000s annually on Indeed, while other Johannesburg IT-specific datasets indicate that experienced IT Senior Project Managers can earn substantially more.

The actual package for the Araxi Group position should therefore be confirmed directly with the employer.

For an experienced IT project manager seeking a role combining technology delivery, customer engagement, governance, financial oversight, leadership and PMO development, this is the type of opportunity that can provide a strong platform for the next stage of a project-management career.