JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Information SystemsAnalyst

Candidates are expected to spend time looking at the College website which provides information about St Clare’s and the courses we offer.

JOB SPECIFICATION
Title of Post / Senior Information Systems Analyst
Purpose of Role / Over the last few years the College has relied on a predominantly internally resourced and bespoke approach to IS needs, with a limited number of “core” 3rd party applications. However, the College is seeking to change this historical approach and reduce the operational vulnerability that comes with dependence on bespoke systems, with the following key objectives over the coming 18 months:
  • To rationalise and consolidate the current catalogue of bespoke software developments;
  • to assess existing 3rd party applications and maximise the functionality within them;
  • to investigate the implementation of mainstream 3rd party applications with the intention of migrating greater IS responsibility to key users;
  • andto ensure alignment and “fit for purpose” deployment of Information Systems for both internal business process and external customer engagement.

Department / The ICT department is made up of four posts: Head of IT, Senior Information Systems Analyst (this post),Systems and Network Engineer and a Support Engineer
Reporting Structure / This role reports to the Head of IT, with regular liaison with senior managers and the IS Steering Group
Key Responsibilities / STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP
The Senior Information Systems Analyst is responsible for:
  • supporting the College’s IS strategy through the creation of an annual IS Development Plan;
  • implementing the financial, operational, resourcing and communication controls necessary to deliver the strategy;
  • working alongside the College’s IT team (as required) to deliver agreed objectives;
  • advising on emerging technologies and trends, especially in software and application solutions, that can benefit the College; and
  • identifying and implementing operational efficiencies to maximise the return on the College’s investment in IS.
SERVICE MANAGEMENT
The Senior Information Systems Analyst is responsible for:
  • ensuring high quality service delivery and support across the IS portfolio;
  • ensuring that IS services are of the highest standard, fit for purpose, and up to date with industry standards and other leading language Colleges;
  • managing the IS relationships with teaching staff, support staff, and senior leadership;
  • developing a reporting system to provide visibility of planned IS developments, priorities, and progress;
  • communicating regularly with SMG, teachers and support staff to report on developments and performance of the IS services; and
  • acting as the College’s IS representative with Governors, external consultants, and stakeholders or external organisations.
OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
The Senior Information Systems Analyst is responsible for:
  • maintaining a full “map” of IS applications and interfaces, including planning for any upgrades, updates, major changes, and rationalisation against an appropriate timescale;
  • defining user roles and types by application and across relevant job functions;
  • monitoring, reviewing and management of external support services and related contracts;
  • ensuring external support arrangements continue to satisfy value-for-money requirements;
  • ensuring IS policies and procedures relating to applications and data are compliant with statutory and/or College requirements e.g. acceptable use, data protection, and security;
  • ensuring robust configuration and change control processes are in place for IS services, including monitoring the effectiveness and impact of these processes;
  • ensuring contingency plans are in place to minimise the impact on IS services in the event of a serious disaster, breach, or significant outage;
  • liaising with other IT staff (as required), and providing ad hoc support to the team; and
  • working alongside the Head of IT and other colleagues to align resources to College priorities and objectives
PROJECT & CHANGE MANAGEMENT
The Senior Information Systems Analyst is responsible for:
  • ensuring a structure and co-ordinated programme of IS related change management projects across the College;
  • maintaining stakeholder engagement on in-flight and proposed projects/changes including reporting to relevant governance forums (e.g. IS Steering Group);
  • scheduling and prioritising resources to ensure delivery of an agreed programme of IS changes in addition to any annual IS Development Plan for live/operational services;
  • adopting and developing existing programme and project tools in conjunction with the Head of IT;
  • project management and delivery of individual IS projects including planning, risk and issues management;
  • working with key stakeholders to develop a programme of IS training/CPD to enhance working knowledge of staff and to maximise the benefit of IS solutions; and
  • working with key stakeholders to identify new or alternative IS solutions to enhance the quality, timeliness, value, cost effectiveness and efficiency of their work.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
The successful candidate will have demonstrated the following essential (E) or desirable (D) skills and experience:
Qualifications /
  • A good standard of education such as an Honours degree or equivalent. (E)
  • Demonstrable IS change management, service management, and customer management skills. (E)

Experience /
  • Extensive experience in the management of information systems and in supporting a large, complex user base. (E)
  • Experience within a school or higher education establishment. (D)
  • Proven ability of working with users to interpret and specify requirements and interpolate those requirements to either specifications for developments or 3rdparty IS systems. (E)
  • Demonstrable experience in project management. (E)
  • Leadership experience in a complex and multi-faceted environment. (D)
  • Experience in SQL/DBA/data management and report writing/development. (E)
  • Practical and technical knowledge on the integration of web-based technologies with management information systems, from the perspectives of both software development and support (de-bugging/problem resolution). (E)
  • Experience of ASP, PHP, IIS, and/or other similar web environments and development languages. (E)

Skills & Personal Qualities /
  • A talented and systematic thinker. (E)
  • Ability to engage with colleagues at all levels, particularly end users and senior stakeholders. (E)
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills. (E)
  • Excellent organisational skills with demonstrable ability to work well under pressure and to manage competing priorities. (E)
  • Proactive and assertive, enthusiastic and confident. (E)
  • Patient with strong attention to detail. (E)
  • Keen to help and handle change while showing initiative and flexibility. (E)
  • Likely to have a background in software development/programming, enhanced by extensive working with end user communities to develop and improve information systems. (E)

Knowledge /
  • Good working knowledge of information systems. (E)
  • IS service delivery and development methodologies. (E)
  • Programme/project management toolsets. (E)
  • Change management frameworks. (E)
  • Knowledge of the education sector. (D)

Terms and Conditions
Probationary Period / 6 months
Notice Period / 2 months
Salary / Pay / The salary will be circa£45,000per annum.
Salaries are reviewed in September each year.
Holidays / 25 day’sannual holiday entitlement, plus bank and public holidays and the period over Christmas when the College is closed.
Work on a number of bank holidays will be needed with time off in lieu (the College is usually open for all such public holidays except those at Christmas and the New Year).
Pension / A contributory pension is offered through the College’s group personal pension scheme or an existing personal pension scheme. In all cases the employer pays double the contribution of the employee, up to a maximum of 10% of gross salary. Employee contributions above 5% may be made but do not attract employer contribution.
Life Assurance / Death in service benefit is four times annual salary
Meal / A free meal is provided in the College outlet units on working days and when students are in residence.
Childcare Voucher Scheme / The College operates a childcare voucher scheme
Terms of Employment / Full-time, fixed term 18 month contract
Place of Work / 139 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7AL
Hours of Work / 35 hours a week Monday to Friday, although the nature of the job is such that there may be an occasional need to work longer hours to deal with operational problems.
References and Pre-Employment Checks
St Clare’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment and contracts are issued subject to satisfactory references and outcomes on all necessary pre-employment checks including DBS records and establishing the right to work in the UK. Some or all of these checks may have been undertaken before an offer is made.
Under the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, we are required to follow the guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education and undertake additional checks on employees.
References / Full written references and phone references on quoted references may be obtained before or after interview. One referee must be your current or most recent employer. References must also include the last place of employment where you worked with children or vulnerable adults. References from friends or relatives will not be accepted. Please ensure referees know they will be contacted and will respond promptly.-
Identity, right to work and qualifications / Original documents confirming proof of identity, right to work in the UK and relevant qualifications will be required.
Police checks / DBS / Police checks / Disclosure and Barring Service checks will also be undertaken for which employees / prospective employees are required to provide information and consent. Candidates who have lived and worked abroad in the last five years will be required to seek good conduct references, or the equivalent, from the countries in which they worked, as a pre-requisite of employment.
Health questionnaire / Satisfactory completion of a health questionnaire.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications / Applications must be made using the College’s standard application form which can be found on the College website at
CVs will only be accepted if accompanied by a St Clare’s application form.
Email / Applications should be submitted by email to
Post / Alternatively, send to:
Recruitment, HR Department, St Clare’s, Oxford, 139 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7AL
Contact us / Email:
Tel: 01865 552031
Deadline for applications / 12 noon Monday 8 January 2018
Interviews /
  • 1st interviews – w/c 22 January 2018
  • 2nd interviews – w/c 29 January 2018

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