I and DT Senior Business Partner

Salary band / Level 6 / Reference
Area / Department / UKO / Territory / Division / UKO
Work location / Moorgate, London / Reports to / CIO
Role duration / Perm / Last updated / Feb 2016

Scale and scope of role

Direct reports / 2x I&DT Business Partner / Indirect reports / NA
Budgetary responsibility / accountability / NA / Accountability for other resources / NA
Reach and impact / The Business Partner Role provides the key link between an area of the charity and the Information and Digital Technology (I&DT) function. With a good understanding of the business area, strong relationships across the directorate and the ability to translate this into projects and actions within the directorate, this is a key link that ensures that our technology truly enables our functions.

Context

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives. Within the UK, the British Red Cross operates through over 3,800 staff and 20,000 volunteers. Geographically, the UK is organised into 20 areas, which are grouped into 3 Regions. Internationally, we operate in over 30 countries.

Overall purpose of the role

The I&DT Business Partner (ITBP) has the overall responsibility to serve as the strategic interface with assigned directorates for the purpose of business technology strategy development, solution discovery, service management, risk management and relationship management. The ITBP serves as the business relationship link between business units and I&DT. The ITBP provides strategic consulting level support and guidance through key IT initiatives. They communicate decisions, priorities and relevant project information to appropriate levels of staff regarding directorate requests and projects and initiatives. They proactively share knowledge of technology risks and opportunities in order to develop solutions that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the charity. They partner with senior managers and other key stakeholders to define opportunities and identify and prioritize projects based on defined criteria such as return on investment, efficiency or compliance.

The ITBP proactively serves as a “trusted advisor,” and is the primary IT point of contact to directorate heads and managers. They operate as the key business contact representing I&DT in promoting its services and capabilities. The ITBP provides support in delivering technology products that meet the needs of the business. The ITBP focuses on strategic initiatives and planning activities for their directorate. They strive to understand market challenges, including service user priorities and competitive issues. ITBPs are proactive and anticipatory in their thinking. They are driven and provide significant value to business units. They serve a lead role in enabling the business to achieve their objectives through the effective use of technology.

Key Responsibilities

·  Establish and maintain a strategic relationship with key stakeholders in assigned directorates and ID&T.

·  Participate in business planning and strategy meetings to define short- and long-term solution roadmaps.

·  Identify opportunities and make recommendations to support the achievement of directorate’s goals.

·  Be alert to changes to the charity’s strategy, goals and processes and revise plans appropriately.

·  Analyse technology trends to identify risks and new opportunities to the achievement of the charity’s goals

·  Support the prioritisation of projects based on organisational need, I&DT workload and budget.

·  Represent directorate strategies and priorities to IDT. Represent the IDT vision to the business.

·  Act as an advocate for the business within I&DT, ensuring I&DT functions are aware of key business needs and required results.

·  Promote business knowledge of I&DT process, roles, and procedures to ensure effective business engagement with the department.

·  Work with stakeholders and technical resources to develop appropriate solutions to address the business need and align with I&DT strategy.

·  Advise on solution options, evaluate risks, identify costs versus benefits, and support the production of the business case.

·  Develop and advocate solution recommendations in conjunction with Systems Architect.

·  Negotiate agreements and facilitate the commitment of business stakeholders and IDT to projects across the lifecycle.

·  Build consensus with all stakeholders as to the timing of solution introductions and withdrawals.

·  Oversee the launch of solutions and help business stakeholders to manage the business change needed to maximise the benefits.

·  Ensure stakeholder’s project expectations are clear and realistic. Communicate regularly and effectively on progress, risks and results. Identify and resolve issues through negotiation and project governance.

·  Mentor and coach junior business partners and business analysts

·  Develop and implement portfolio management: managing product phase-in-phase-out, proactively anticipating gaps and overlaps within the portfolio.

Person Specification

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Requirements

Education & training

/   Leadership experience and developing and executing strategic plans and/or project portfolios**
  Qualification or good knowledge of Agile methodologies (Scrum, DSDM, RUP).
  A Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in logico-numerate discipline is desirable but not essential

Experience

/   Experience of working within various technical environments and a broad range of diverse and complicated business units **
  Experience with charity sector highly desirable
  Proven experience in building and maintaining relationships with key business counterparts
  Proven experience of working with senior level management to develop a technology strategy that is integrated with IT**
  Experience in understanding market challenges, and their effect on customer priorities and competitive issues.
  Experience in defining innovative technology initiatives that meet the needs of the business**
  A track-record of proactive and anticipatory thinking that has resulted in technology solutions provide significant business value
  Experience of collaborating with business counterparts to build a business case for new IT investments
  Experience of representing IT and promoting IT services and capabilities.
  Experience of managing solution vendors**
  Experience of working in large and geographically dispersed operating environments, preferably with a strong operational focus.
  Managing complex stakeholder requirements and influencing collaborative working to achieve programme aims.

Skills & knowledge

/   Skilled relationship manager**
  Skilled in strategic planning and defining technology roadmaps**
  Knowledge of trends in technology and the charity sector**
  A skilled business to IT advocate, used to acting as an internal consultant
  Strong written communication skills and a confident presenter to senior stakeholders
  Knowledge of IT solution definition, development, evaluation, recommendation and selection processes.
  A skilled negotiator
  Knowledge of business change management techniques to support technology implementation
  Ability to coach colleagues and business managers
  Skilled at managing solution vendors
  Knowledge of portfolio, programme and project budget management

Competencies and behaviours

/   Relationship building**
  Strategic thinking and planning
  Communicating and influencing
  Problem solving
  Market and technology awareness
  Leading people through change
  Driving action and achieving high quality outcomes
  Judgement and decision-making
  Drive and resilience

Additional requirements

/   Uphold the Movement’s Fundamental Principles and act with integrity and in accordance with the Society’s values and obligations**
  Adhere to BRCS equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policies and promote diversity
  Be ready to ensure you are aware of work with the four values of the Organisation (Inclusive, Compassionate, Courageous, Dynamic)
  Take responsibility for own and team’s decisions and actions
  Demonstrate flexibility and open mindedness
  Recognise and value the contribution of others
  Recognise the implications of working within a charity and a voluntary organisation

Special circumstances

/   Working unsociable hours
  Travel across UK

**Minimum short-listing criteria. N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two- tick symbol scheme.

Role Profile – Stand alone role / 4