Job Title- Senior IT Business Partner

Salary Range- MG2 £66,318 - £80,874

Permanent – Full time 

Location- Richmond and Wandsworth 

• Are you an experienced IT professional with a passion for driving digital transformation in the public sector? 
• Would you like to work on new and exciting projects that will really transform how the Council will work by driving transformation by leveraging digital tools and technologies.
• Is it time to grow your repertoire of skills whilst working in a friendly and nurturing team? 

As a key member of our IT Business Partner Team, you will collaborate with senior stakeholders, shape technology strategies, and ensure effective delivery of IT services across our organisation.

As the Senior IT representative within the SSA, your role is to strategically focus on the activities of the SSA IT Service. You’ll provide IT consultancy, drive business transformation, and manage client relations across multiple SSA Directorates. Your responsibilities include rigorously developing and evaluating major IT investment proposals and overseeing the procurement and implementation of complex IT and business transformation programs in alignment with the SSA IT and digital strategy and technical standards.

About the role 

Reporting to the IT Business Partnership Manager, you will……..

Strategic Alignment: 

• Collaborate closely with department heads and elected staff to deeply understand business needs. 
• Identify opportunities and align IT initiatives with organisational goals.

Thought Leadership:

• Provide thought leadership on emerging technologies, digital innovation, and best practices.
• Champion the adoption of modern IT solutions and translate business change ideas into projects that deliver value for money.

Relationship Building:

• Build strong relationships with business units, acting as a trusted advisor.
• Understand their challenges and translate them into effective IT solutions.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Assess and mitigate IT risks, ensuring compliance with security, data protection, and regulatory requirements.

Change Management:

• Drive change management efforts related to IT initiatives, fostering user adoption and minimising disruption.

Collaboration and Solution Selection:

• Work with colleagues in IT to exchange ideas and experiences, ensuring the best solution is chosen.

Project Oversight:

• Oversee the successful execution of IT projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards. Ensure projects follow IT governance processes.

Supplier Engagement:

• Collaborate with external suppliers to understand their technical offerings. Ensure project requirements are met while adhering to IT standards. 

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Experience 

• Staff Management Experience:
  1. Demonstrated ability in managing staff, fostering collaboration, and achieving team goals.
• Proven Achievement Record:
  1. A track record of success across critical areas, including:
     • Business Analysis
     • Options Appraisals
     • Procurement/Contract Management
     • Project Management
     • IT Infrastructure
     • Technical Architecture
     • Enterprise and Tactical Business Applications Implementation
     • Programme Management
     • IS/IT Strategy Digital Development
• Business Transformation Contributions:
  1. Demonstrable impact on IT-led business transformation, delivering results within challenging timeframes.
• Senior Managerial Expertise:
  1. Seasoned senior management experience in both operational and project/programme contexts.
• Engagement in Business System Forums:
  1. Active participation in relevant business system focus groups and forums.
• Effective Facilitation Skills:
  1. Proficient in facilitating workshops and group discussions, leading to consensus-driven decisions.
• Strategic Communication:
  1. Presenting strategic and tactical IT and business issues to senior business audiences with clarity and impact.

Skills

• Relationship Building:
  • Cultivate strong working relationships with colleagues, the broader business, and external partners.
• Strategic Insight:
  • Demonstrate strategic analysis and planning skills to drive informed decision-making.
• Customer-Focussed Approach:
  • Embrace a strong customer service ethos, ensuring client satisfaction and positive interactions.
• Compelling Communication:
  • Advise and produce compelling business cases and detailed requirement specifications.
• Conflict Resolution:
  • Handle conflicts with gravitas, seeking mutually agreeable resolutions promptly.
• Pragmatic Flexibility:
  • Deviate from rigid mandates when practical, prioritising effective outcomes.
• Cultural Acumen:
  • Be sensitive to organisational cultures, hierarchies, and politics, adapting your approach accordingly.
• Information Synthesis:
  • Rapidly absorb and analyse written and verbal information, extracting key messages and making relevant recommendations.
• Effective Communication:
  • Master presentation and influencing skills, communicating persuasively both verbally and in writing.

Qualifications

• Educational Qualification:
• Professional IT / Business Management accreditation – e.g., Chartered IT Professional, MBA.
• Project Management Certification:
• Prince2 Practitioner or any other accredited project management qualification.
• Business Transformation and Analysis Expertise:
• Experience or accreditations in Business Change, Analysis, Process Mapping, and Re-engineering.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline:

Closing Date:  30^th April 2024

Shortlisting Date: 02^nd May 2024

Interview Date: Wednesday 08^th May 2024

Test/Presentation: Successful shortlisted candidates will be asked to present a10 minutes presentation as part of the interview process.

Useful Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.