UK Ministry of Defence Careers – Business Change Assistant

About the job

The BMfS Benefits/Business Change Assistant role is responsible for helping the Benefits Manager and the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Business Change Manager to understand the ‘As Is’ situation for Defence Support and for capturing and developing the requirements that will enable transformation. The post will contribute to the Business Change Management process, leading and supporting activities to embed new and revised practices, procedures, and technology within the organisation, and providing a robust assurance that the Benefits anticipated by the Programme and Stakeholders are being delivered. The role contributes to the achievement of corporate objectives, provides advice to senior staff, and supports the strategic aims of the Programme outlined above. The role would suit an analytical, organised, and efficient person who is willing to be flexible, network and develop their expertise within their areas of responsibility. Experience and qualifications in the fields of Business Change and Benefits Management are desirable, but training opportunities will be provided. An understanding of Programme or Project Management, ideally within the Public Sector would be an advantage. The role may require travel across the UK and nights spent away from home.

Knowledge & Experience

Descriptor

The level of knowledge required to be a Subject Matter Expert is usually acquired with a technical/professional qualification and/or graduate qualification as well as work experience gained in a similar role. Extensive experience of Microsoft Office 365 software or industry equivalents e.g., slack, Trello, Jira, and collaborative/remote project working is essential.

Function Specific Content

Knowledge and experience equivalent to one of the following qualifications:

•  APMG Change Management – Foundation / Practitioner
•  APMG Change Management – Management of Benefits
•  BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis (Business Analysis Practice, Requirements Engineering and Business Change modules),
•  IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional

Note – These are an indicator of the level of capability required. Some individuals may lack formal qualification but show a high level of knowledge and experience.

Specialist Skills

Advanced skills that would require training and/or practice of a year or more, e.g., training others on technical matters/subject specific area. The practice of such skills may require a formal assessment and selection process.

Function Specific content

The role is expected to be an SME (Subject Matter Experts) in one or more areas of Business Analysis (BA), with relevant knowledge across the BA sub-disciplines.

People Skills

The role is required to provide expert advice to stakeholders.

Function Specific Content

The role requires the ability to work with other areas of the BMfS Programme and Support Transformation Portfolio, build relations with DE&S stakeholders, our contractors, senior managers, and customers. An ability to lead from the bottom up is important.

Examples of the role’s requirements for people skills include the following:

• Strong teamwork and customer service.
• Ability to support a team or teams.
• Strong negotiator, persuasive and able to influence others.

EXTERNAL IMPACT

The role involves providing advice on customer issues or dealing with situations where choices are wide ranging meaning judgment or advice is required.

Function Specific Content

The role has regular contact with stakeholders to provide advice as necessary.

The Following Activities Are Expected Of The Role

•  Co-ordinates and contributes to Stakeholder Engagement, Requirements Capture, Business Change and Benefits Realisation activities. e.g. organising working groups
•  Engaging with the Programme and Stakeholders to brief current and predicted project activities in the core areas of Requirements, Business Change and Benefits management where necessary.
•  Conducting Interviews with SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) to learn about the ‘As Is’ and ‘To Be’ requirements, the progress of change implementation and realisation of Benefits
•  Maintain a professional relationship with stakeholders. 

DECISION MAKING

The role has some responsibility for making decisions that impact on the tasks and activities of others. The role may also make decisions that require complex and conflicting information to be understood, assessed, and apply their own judgement. This includes managing their workload to meet priorities and internal deadlines.

The Role Also Involves

Function Specific content:

• Advising Programme management and Stakeholders on all aspects of BMfS Requirements Capture, Business Change and Benefits Management.
• Monitoring and reporting performance of the Requirements, Change and Benefits Projects within the Programme.
• Responsible for the co-ordination, quality, and timely delivery of scheduled Programme activities. e.g., conducting work on Change Cases for the Programme

INNOVATION/CREATIVE THINKING

Much of the work of the role will change as the Programme moves forward. The role is required to develop and implement new ideas within their work area which impacts on other areas, e.g., policy. The role should aim to manage workload around 6 months ahead.

Function Specific content

The role is expected to provide information for stakeholder presentations, as well as doing business change, requirements capture and development activities.

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

• Most of BMfS activity is conducted using O365, remote and flexible working arrangements can be supported.
• The role may need limited travel to MOD sites across the UK to help with interviews and events, this means that the applicant must have access to good transport and be comfortable with spending nights away from home.
•   Occasional need, when on site, to follow local Security and Safety, Health, Environmental Fire requirements (SHEF), including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).