Business Readiness Lead

Job Title: BUSINESS READINESS LEAD – LEVEL 3 Senior

Office Location: Dublin 1

Attendance Requirement: Hybrid working Model with 2 days in the office.

Contract Start Date: 23/11/26 or as soon as possible after.

Contract: 12 Months rolling, with possibility of further extensions.

Organisation Overview

The client is a Government Department in Ireland, responsible for the oversight and delivery of education and youth services nationwide. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) Division within the Client plays a pivotal role in enabling Information and Communications Technology (ICT), advancing digital services, and driving digital transformation across the education sector.

Role Overview

The Business Readiness Lead will support the Change Manager on the centralised Common Applications System (CAS) “Apply to School” Project, across a range of activities primarily focused on communications and support for the pilot participants.

·         Help to develop and deliver a meaningful training and support plan, to ensure that schools and school participating in the second pilot are fully prepared and supported throughout the duration of this pilot programme.

·         Be responsible for identifying, assessing and recommending appropriate Business-as-Usual (BAU) operating models for the Common Application System, ensuring the service is positioned for sustainable operation, support and continuous improvement following programme delivery and nationwide rollout.

·         Lead activities to prepare pilot participants for adoption of the Common Application System, including demonstrations, familiarisation sessions and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), ensuring participants have the knowledge, confidence and support required to engage successfully throughout the pilot.

·         Gather effective feedback throughout the pilot, providing lessons learned, best practices and readiness outcomes to support and inform future pilots and the nationwide rollout.

·         Develop and implement business readiness approaches, including operational guidance, process documentation, readiness assessments and materials to support operational preparedness, adoption, engagement and the successful implementation of the pilot.

·         Help the initiatives stay on track, maintain consistent reporting, manage governance processes and support the delivery of meaningful organisational change.

·         Bring experience in programme co-ordination and change management, strong organisational and communication skills and the ability to influence and guide teams without direct authority.

·         Manage multiple streams of work utilising a collaborative mindset and a passion for enabling others, ensuring pilot participants adopt new training programmes, process and technology while working effectively in minimising resistance and maximising engagement to achieve programme objectives.

·         Work alongside our Service Delivery team, play a central role in stakeholder management, working with both technical and non-technical teams, embedding change effectively while empowering teams to deliver outcomes successfully.

Key Responsibilities:

Minimum Requirements (Mandatory)

·         7+ years of extensive professional experience in their specialised field.

·         Strong theoretical base in subject area, with ability to apply best practice principles to the subject matter context.

·         Acts as the senior responsible person on major client engagements.

·         Experience in leading complex projects/programmes.

·         Responsible for leading a high performing team of professionals, including the ability to coordinate contributions of other specialists to complete a joint project.

Experience

·         It is a mandatory requirement, that the Resource proposed has the equivalent of Senior 7+ years (Level 3) experience, including but not limited to:

·         Minimum 7 years' experience in business readiness role at managerial or specialist level, in a large organisation.

·         Relevant experience delivering business readiness activities in complex public sector or similarly regulated environments.

Desirable:

·         Experience in programme co-ordination and change management, strong organisational and communication skills and the ability to influence and guide teams without direct authority.

·         Experience of managing multiple streams of work utilising a collaborative mindset and a passion for enabling others, ensuring pilot participants adopt new training programmes, process and technology while working effectively in minimising resistance and maximising engagement to achieve programme objectives

Qualifications

·         It is a mandatory requirement, that the Resource proposed hold the following qualifications or equivalents:

o    A primary degree or equivalent in a related field (ex. Degree in Business, Project Management, Change Management, IT or related discipline)

·         Desirable Requirements:

o    Change Management certification. Ex. MOP

o    Project Management certification. Ex:

§  PRINCE2 Foundation / Practitioner

§  PMP

§  Agile PM Foundation

o    Business Analysis certification

Driving License

·         Ability to travel to / be on site as needed at any / all client offices listed (Blanchardstown, Athlone, Tullamore.) is mandatory

Language Requirements

·         Fluent English language skills

Key Deliverables

The work may include, but is not limited to, the following core areas:

·         Drive the business readiness agenda from an operational and user preparedness perspective.

·         Develop and adapt the business readiness strategy, goals and plan.

·         Develop and implement meaningful training, guidance and support plans, including support materials for schools participating in the pilot programme, impacted parents/guardians and DEY staff.

·         Support stakeholder engagement and participant readiness activities associated with familiarisation sessions, demonstrations and User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

·         Develop and implement business readiness approaches, including operational guidance, process documentation and readiness materials.

·         Deliver a range of readiness activities to support operational preparedness, adoption, engagement and the successful implementation of the pilot.

·         Act as the point of contact between business owners, the programme team and wider stakeholder group on readiness matters.

·         Facilitate workshops, meetings and planning sessions to help shape, drive and align business readiness.

·         Conduct business readiness assessments.

Key Experience/Competencies/Skillsets

The proposed resource should demonstrate:

·         A strong and relevant track record in leading Business Readiness and operational transition activities within a public sector organisation or similarly regulated environment, including work involving policy interpretation, service establishment and operational transformation.

·         The ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with internal stakeholders, including policy units, operational services, ICT teams and external partners, operating effectively within established governance, assurance and decision-making structures.