Zain Cajee
Senior Project Manager
Johannesburg
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven Operations/Project Manager with over 10 years of comprehensive management experience, specializing in strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Proven track record in delivering customized customer projects that enhance revenue and increase customer lifetime value, along with a deep understanding of modern business practices. Expertise includes Exhibitions, Marketing, Human Resources, Training, Budgeting, and Performance Management within the events and construction sectors. Committed to fostering strong, sustainable relationships with clients while leading high-performance teams to achieve excellence through effective communication and leadership.
Talented Senior Project Manager with excellent client oversight and issue resolution talents. Highly effective overseeing multiple tasks and employees at once. Dedicated to detail-oriented leadership and goal-oriented planning.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Manager
ZADNA (South African Domain Naming Authority)
Johannesburg
02.2025 - Current
- Maintained schedules to meet key milestones at every project phase.
- Adapted quickly to unexpected challenges or obstacles encountered during project execution, devising creative solutions without compromising objectives.
- Developed comprehensive project plans, identifying risks and mitigation strategies for timely completion.
- Evaluated vendor proposals, selecting those that provided the best value for cost, quality, and timeliness.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to determine timely delivery and compliance of project requirements.
- Led cross-functional teams for successful project delivery within scope, schedule, and budget constraints.
- Conducted post-project evaluations to identify areas of improvement and implement corrective actions for future endeavors.
- Mentored junior project managers and team members to enhance their skills and career growth.
- Monitored project progress, identified risks and implemented corrective measures to acquire success.
- Presented regular status reports to executive leadership, providing insights into progress made toward achieving key milestones.
- Crafted and maintained project plans and schedules to meet organizational objectives.
- Nurtured strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, building trust and credibility that facilitated smooth collaboration on shared goals.
- Spearheaded process improvement initiatives that resulted in increased productivity and streamlined workflows across departments.
- Established effective communication channels with stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment of expectations.
- Streamlined project management processes by implementing agile methodologies, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced costs.
Snr Project Manager Department of Home Affairs Digitisation
FC Tec Johannesburg
Johannesburg
04.2023 - 01.2025
- Defining and documenting Scope of Work.
- Managing, recording, and communicating project risks.
- Drafting of detailed project plans, costings, and resource requirements.
- Impact assessment on company process, policies, and procedures.
- Managing project resources to ensure delivery deadlines are met.
- Routine site visits.
- Setting milestones and critical success factors.
- Active monitoring and concise reporting on milestones and critical success factors.
- Chairing, conducting and attend meetings.
- Work closely with other work streams, product owners and delivery team managers to pinpoint existing process flaws and identify a prioritized agile improvement roadmap to support consistent predictable delivery.
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
- Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives.
- Monitored project performance to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
- Monitored progress against established goals, adjusting schedules and resources as needed to keep projects on track.
- Met project deadlines without sacrificing build quality or workplace safety.
- Established effective communication among team members for enhanced collaboration and successful project completion.
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.
- Managed risk assessments and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize potential issues during project execution.
- Developed comprehensive project plans with clear timelines, milestones, and budget requirements, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality results.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams and resolved conflicts, maintaining a positive work environment throughout the project lifecycle.
- Prepared detailed reports on project status for stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment with objectives.
- Provided detailed project status updates to stakeholders and executive management.
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders through regular communication updates, fostering trust and confidence in the team''s ability to deliver results.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
Specialist Project Manager
Altron Managed Solutions
Johannesburg
11.2021 - 03.2023
- Determine and define project scope and objectives.
- Predict resources needed to reach objectives and manage resources in an effective and efficient manner.
- Prepare budget based on scope of work and resources requirements.
- Track project costs in order to meet budget.
- Develop and manage a detailed project schedule and work plan.
- Provide project updates on a consistent basis to various stakeholders about strategy, adjustments, and progress.
- Manage contracts with vendors and suppliers by assigning tasks and communicating expected deliverables.
- Monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
- Measure project performance to identify areas for improvement.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals on time and within budget.
- Improved customer satisfaction rates through proactive problem-solving and efficient complaint resolution.
- Followed all company policies and procedures to deliver quality work.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction with timely and accurate issue resolution.
- Initiated sustainability program, reducing company's environmental impact.
- Implemented customer feedback system to inform product development.
- Led quality assurance efforts, maintaining high standards for all products and services.
- Coordinated with IT department to upgrade cybersecurity measures, safeguarding company data.
- Led cross-functional team to launch new product, exceeding initial sales forecasts.
- Boosted company's online presence by developing comprehensive digital marketing strategy.
- Facilitated workshops for professional development of junior staff members.
- Provided detailed technical and operational direction in project challenges, consistently meeting deliverables according to deadlines.
- Enhanced overall project success by conducting thorough post-project evaluations and incorporating lessons learned into future efforts.
- Effectively managed scope creep by establishing clear boundaries on requested changes while keeping projects aligned with original objectives and budgets.
- Mentored junior team members in project management best practices to enhance their skills and contribute to better overall performance.
- Negotiated and managed third-party contracts related to project deliverables.
Operations Manager
umHlathi Project Management
02.2018 - 08.2019
- Direct and manage project development from beginning to end; project plans and schedule, define project scope and deliverables and critical path.
- Effectively communicate project expectations to team members and client services in a timely and clear fashion.
- Draft and submit status reports and budget proposals and recommend subsequent budget changes where necessary.
- Proactively manage changes in project scope, identify potential crises and devise contingency plans, coach, mentor, motivate and supervise project team members and subcontractors and influence them to take positive action and accountability for their assigned work.
- Build; develop and grow business relationships vital to the success of the project. Conduct project Lessons Learned meetings and created a recommendation report after every project completion.
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans to address them.
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Developed and implemented strategies to maximize customer satisfaction.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
- Facilitated smooth collaboration between departments through clear communication channels.
- Increased profit by streamlining operations.
- Handled staff training initiatives aimed at upskilling the workforce to meet dynamic industry demands.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by establishing clear communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
- Established positive and effective communication among unit staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications, and missed deadlines.
- Implemented quality control systems to boost overall product consistency and reliability.
Operations Manager
Capital Exhibitions
02.2013 - 01.2018
- Manage and oversee the daily workings of warehouse operations.
- Plan, manage and implement schedules to ensure deadlines were met and maintain a high-quality standard of product production and delivery.
- Manage the growth and success of the team.
- Responsibility for the production, procurement and planning of daily operations.
- Driving new business process to align with SLA's.
- Plan, schedule and review workload and manpower and necessary tools and products to make sure targets are being met on a cost-effective basis.
- Analyzed and reported on key performance metrics to senior management.
- Analyzed data trends to identify potential bottlenecks in operations workflow, implementing strategies to mitigate risks accordingly.
Acting General Manager
Interior Design Group
06.2011 - 01.2013
Head of Production and Projects
Interior Design Group
01.2009 - 12.2011
Procurement Manager
Interior Design Group
05.2007 - 12.2008
Project Manager
Spaza Hardware Development
01.2006 - 04.2007
Client Services Team Leader
Dimension Data
09.2003 - 11.2005
Member Account Service, Merchants
Dimension Data- SP
09.2002 - 07.2003
Education
Project Management
Damelin
No Degree - IMM
UNISA
Johannesburg, South Africa 04.2001 -
Project Management
Damelin
Johannesburg, South Africaundefined
West ridge High School
Skills
- Client Retention
- Customer Relationship Management
- Relationship Building
- Contact Centers
- Procurement
- Business Forecasting & Budgeting
- Trend Analysis
- Business Development
- Research and Development
- Project Management
- Strategy Formulation & Implementation
- Key Account Management
- Pricing Techniques
Interests
Cycling
Golf
Gym
Tri Athlon
Community Work
Personal Information
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: South African
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
ZADNA (South African Domain Naming Authority)
02.2025 - Current
Snr Project Manager Department of Home Affairs Digitisation
FC Tec Johannesburg
04.2023 - 01.2025
Specialist Project Manager
Altron Managed Solutions
11.2021 - 03.2023
Operations Manager
umHlathi Project Management
02.2018 - 08.2019
Operations Manager
Capital Exhibitions
02.2013 - 01.2018
Acting General Manager
Interior Design Group
06.2011 - 01.2013
Head of Production and Projects
Interior Design Group
01.2009 - 12.2011
Procurement Manager
Interior Design Group
05.2007 - 12.2008
Project Manager
Spaza Hardware Development
01.2006 - 04.2007
Client Services Team Leader
Dimension Data
09.2003 - 11.2005
Member Account Service, Merchants
Dimension Data- SP
09.2002 - 07.2003
No Degree - IMM
UNISA
04.2001 -
undefined
West ridge High School
Project Management
Damelin
Project Management
Damelin