Lunga Mkhwanazi | Freelancer Resume

LUNGA MKHWANAZI - ·-h9ps://www.linkedin.com/in/lunga-mkhwanazi198607/ Netherlands | South Africa IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT | IT OPERATIONS A Technology Enthusiast, Dynamic and results-driven Program Manager with over a decade of experience leading complex, high-impact programs within the ﬁnancial services sector. Proven experVse in driving system implementaVon, IT TransformaVon, migraVon, soXware development, and including the implementaVon of PMO Framework, regulatory standards, fostering a data-driven culture, and ensuring alignment with organizaVonal goals. Adept at managing mulVdisciplinary, internaVonal teams and engaging with C-suite, regulatory bodies to achieve project delivery while miVgaVng risks. Skilled in strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong track record of delivering enterprise-level projects on Vme and within budget. A quick thinker and natural leader commi9ed to driving organizaVonal transformaVon through data and analyVcs excellence. STRENGTHS AND EXPERTISE Por_olio Management Account Management Program Management Risk Management Strategic Planning OperaVonal Eﬃciency Change Management Scrum Master Trust and Safety Client Management EDUCATION Bachelor of technology Degree- Industrial Engineering Tshwane University of Technology 2012 Agile Business ConsorVum Scrum Master CerVﬁcaVon 2020 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING • • • • • • • • • Project Management Course Prince 2 FoundaVon CommunicaVon & PresentaVon Skills (EON ConsulVng) Program Management FoundaVons Learning Program Management eCommerce Fundamentals Agile FoundaVons The non-technical skills of eﬀecVve Data ScienVsts The Data ScienVst Course (In progress) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Director of Projects and Applica2on Support Nov 2023- Currently Execu2ve LIS – Remote As the Director of Projects, Product Development, and Support at ExecuVve LIS, I lead the strategic execuVon of Lab InformaVon Management System (LIMS) implementaVons for small to medium laboratories across Africa. My role involves overseeing IT infrastructure, ensuring the design, deployment, and maintenance of secure and scalable systems tailored to laboratory operaVons. I collaborate closely with clients to understand their unique needs, providing customized soluVons and comprehensive training to enhance user adopVon and eﬃciency. AddiVonally, I drive quality assurance and compliance, ensuring all projects align with industry standards and regulatory requirements. With a strong focus on team leadership and conVnuous improvement, I manage project teams and IT professionals, fostering a collaboraVve environment that enhances service delivery. My experVse in strategic project management, IT infrastructure, and clientcentric soluVons posiVons me as a key driver in delivering innovaVve and impac_ul LIMS soluVons across the African market. TVP Program Manager Sep 2024- Currently Booking.com - Amsterdam I lead cross-funcVonal, mulVdisciplinary teams in the implementaVon of the TVP program, which encompasses changes to mulVple systems, guidelines, runbooks, MLM, and legal documents across the organizaVon. My role involves driving organizaVonal change iniVaVves, securing execuVve buy-in for new regulatory pracVces, and ensuring smooth adopVon. I oversee program coordinaVon and documentaVon, managing key governance arVfacts such as program charters, stakeholder mapping, and risk assessments to maintain structured execuVon. CollaboraVng with Trust & Safety leadership, I provide execuVve-level reporVng, facilitate strategic decision-making, and manage impact assessments and transiVons to business readiness. AddiVonally, I idenVfy risks, track performance, and ensure conVnuous alignment through structured meeVngs and reporVng, keeping all teams engaged and on course for successful program delivery. Program Manager Jul 2023- July 2024 ACT Commodi2es Group BV- Amsterdam I led large-scale migraVon program, regulatory compliance project, and strategic IT transformaVons Strategies within ACT CommodiVes Group BV, driving system upgrades, process opVmizaVon, and governance enhancements within the ﬁnancial services sector. I spearheaded the upgrade, deployment, and migraVon of MS Dynamics Navision/Business Central and MS Dynamics CRM, ensuring seamless integraVon through Agile, PRINCE2, and PMP methodologies. My leadership extended to establishing the PMO, designing the Project Lifecycle, Governance Framework, and Priority Board to enhance project execuVon and oversight. AddiVonally, I facilitated business transformaVon iniVaVves, developing strategic documentaVon to align enterprise architecture with a major trading pla_orm’s evolving needs. I also led the consolidaVon of IT services, streamlining vendor management for improved IT Service Management (ITSM) eﬃciency. Leveraging Big Data, Machine Learning, IoT, and OperaVonal Intelligence, I introduced data-driven strategies to opVmize decision-making and compliance. Using Jira, Conﬂuence, Monday.com, and Fluid, I ensured meVculous project planning, execuVon, and tracking, driving eﬃciency and innovaVon in a complex regulatory landscape. Systems Implemented I led the implementa2on and migra2on of MS 365 Dynamics Navision ERP, CRM, and Customer Insight (Autopilot) while managing the secure deployment of cloud solu2ons in Azure, including the migraVon of 32 applica2ons with advanced security protocols such as AADDS, Kubernetes, and PowerBI. I also deployed regulatory repor2ng systems (DTCC, TT, AFM, ARM, Tradeweb, CLM) and integrated project management tools like ServiceNow and Jira, ensuring seamless operaVonal eﬃciency. AddiVonally, I implemented robust security measures (SBC, Honeypots3, PAW, Azure BasVon, MS SenVnel) and managed the deployment of Cisco MERAKI and RMS, strengthening network and communica2on infrastructure. Reason for leaving: End of Freelance Contract Global Digital Implementa2on Manager 2022 – 2023 Fontem Ventures B.V. (Imperial Tobacco) - Amsterdam I led the Next GeneraVon Product (NGP) iniVaVves, delivering e-commerce, ERP, and CRM soluVons across mulVple countries with a strong focus on Vmely, cost-eﬀecVve, and high-quality execuVon. I successfully deployed these soluVons across eight countries within 12 months, including Poland, Italy, and Portugal, while managing end-to-end project delivery and ensuring adherence to strict Vme, budget, and quality benchmarks. My role encompassed internaVonal program management, driving planning, execuVon, risk miVgaVon, and stakeholder engagement. UVlizing Agile methodologies, I prioriVzed tasks, planned sprints, and managed project backlogs with Jira, Conﬂuence, and Smartsheets. Leading a diverse team of onshore and oﬀshore developers, business analysts, and testers, I fostered a collaboraVve, high-performance environment. AddiVonally, I conducted risk assessments, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while overseeing system decommissioning and seamless migraVons including site localizaVon. My experVse in Security, Observability, and OperaVonal Intelligence enabled me to support partners in designing and implemenVng advanced technical soluVons, ensuring business success and operaVonal resilience. Systems Implemented I deployed comprehensive e-commerce soluVons using Conten_ul, CommerceTools, and JavaScript, while integraVng third-party payment systems, Akamai, and Google AnalyVcs to enhance system funcVonality. AddiVonally, I implemented Dynamics CRM, SAP ERP, and Salesforce CRM, along with Datadog for system monitoring and 3PL for logisVcs management, ensuring seamless operaVons and eﬃciency. Reason for leaving: End of Freelance Contract Digital Program Manager 2021 - 2022 Wunderman Thompson Commerce (VML Enterprise Solu2ons) – Amsterdam As a Senior Digital Project Manager at Wunderman Thompson Commerce, I led the planning and execuVon of high-impact digital commerce projects, driving stakeholder engagement, resource allocaVon, and budget forecasVng across EMEA and America. My role focused on delivering end-to-end digital transformaVon soluVons, including the deployment of ERP soluVons for pharmaceuVcal and retail clients and managing CRM transiVons from Salesforce to MS Dynamics. I spearheaded agile project management methodologies, ensuring successful delivery through daily scrums, weekly status updates, and monthly steering commi9ee reviews. AddiVonally, I mentored and led a team of three Project Managers, overseeing the execuVon of 10 large-scale projects, all delivered on Vme and within budget. My experVse extended to rolling out e-commerce, Product InformaVon Management (PIM/PXM), and Master Data Management (MDM) soluVons, signiﬁcantly enhancing client digital capabiliVes and operaVonal eﬃciency. Through strategic leadership and crossfuncVonal collaboraVon, I ensured that every project met business objecVves, regulatory requirements, and industry best pracVces. Systems Implemented I implemented advanced e-commerce solu2ons using Intershop and Magento, enhancing online sales performance and customer engagement. AddiVonally, I deployed Salsify PIM/PXM, Riversand MDM, and MS Dynamics Business Central, ensuring seamless data governance, business integra2on, and op2mized product informa2on management across client operaVons. Reason for leaving: End of Interim Contract Digital Program Manager 5CA B.V. - Utrecht / Remote 2020 - 2021 I spearheaded cuqng-edge customer service technology projects, driving user interacVon enhancements and customer saVsfacVon through innovaVve AI-driven soluVons. I led the implementaVon of machine learning chatbots and smart technology iniVaVves across mulVple industries, signiﬁcantly improving customer service eﬃciency and engagement. AddiVonally, I oversaw the deployment of HRIS and payroll soluVons, managing mulVnaVonal setups in over 24 countries, ensuring compliance, scalability, and seamless integraVon. As a strategic project leader, I directed a mulVdisciplinary team of consultants, developers, business analysts, and project managers, ensuring the successful execuVon and alignment of projects with organizaVonal goals. Beyond implementaVon, I conducted workshops and training sessions, equipping partners with Big Data, Observability, and Security experVse, fostering adopVon of cuqng-edge technologies and driving digital transformaVon. Systems Implemented I successfully implemented Phenom People CRM, Zendesk, Workday, and Salesforce CRM, enhancing customer service operaVons and user engagement. AddiVonally, I deployed Neeyamo Payroll to opVmize HR and payroll processes for Talent AcquisiVon teams across mulVple regions, ensuring eﬃciency and compliance. Reason for leaving: Resigned Group IT So_ware Development Project Manager (Senior Scrum Master) 2017 - 2020 Telkom SOC SA I led key IT projects focused on soXware development, system implementaVons, and operaVonal eﬃciency using Agile methodologies. I spearheaded SAP upgrades, legacy system migraVons, and AI-driven innovaVons, including the implementaVon and support of the AI sales tool, Mo’Nice, enhancing customer engagement and automaVon. Managing project Vmelines, budgets, and resources, I ensured seamless delivery of enterprise IT soluVons aligned with business objecVves. I led a high-performing IT team, fostering conVnuous improvement and innovaVon, while enforcing cybersecurity measures and risk management to protect organizaVonal data and ensure compliance. Through strategic leadership, stakeholder collaboraVon, and process opVmizaVon, I enhanced system scalability, reduced technical debt, and drove digital transformaVon, posiVoning Telkom SOC SA for sustained success. Systems Implemented I managed the implementaVon of SAP HANA, ensuring seamless system upgrades and integraVon, while direcVng the migraVon to RedHat AutomaVon and AcVve Directory to enhance system automaVon and idenVty management. I led the deployment of Salesforce CRM and TIBCO middleware soluVons, opVmizing customer relaVonship management and data integraVon across the organizaVon. AddiVonally, I oversaw the implementaVon of Joomla CMS for content management, streamlining digital content delivery across Telkom’s pla_orms, including the Mo’Nice campaign for Prepaid and Postpaid customers. Reason for leaving: Resigned Head of SADC Opera2ons 2017 - 2020 Moro Group – Gaborone, Botswana / Centurion I spearheaded the creaVon of a new division within Moro Group, driving regional growth across the SADC region while developing and execuVng business strategies for key iniVaVves such as Moroﬁn, the group’s ﬁnancial services arm. I managed high-level stakeholder relaVons, engaging with government agencies, corporate partners, and internaVonal investors to ensure strategic alignment and foster strong partnerships. In addiVon to building and leading a high-performing team, I presented investor decks and successfully secured funding for strategic projects, driving the company’s expansion and innovaVon. Beyond my tenure, I conVnued to consult for Moro Group from 2018 to 2020, providing ongoing strategic guidance, business development support, and operaVonal oversight. My role also involved market research, risk management, and ﬁnancial performance analysis, ensuring the successful execuVon of key projects within scope, Vme, and budget, while leveraging data-driven insights to reﬁne strategies and expand Moro Group’s market presence. Reason for leaving: Freelance Contract role Senior Project Manager and Business Analyst Ekasi IT SoluVon- Johannesburg 2015 - 2017 Business Analyst and Project Manager Eskom – Midrand 2013 – 2014 Consultant EON ConsulVng – Midrand 2011 – 2013 ConVnuous Improvement Engineer Aberdare Cables- Johannesburg 2010 – 2011 References: Available upon request.