We are looking for someone very special to lead our Solution Delivery practice. Someone excited by the challenge of helping grow us into a household name in our niche! You will be an accomplished SharePoint technician and developer. However, you will also be a strong business communicator with an ability to contribute, when required, to one of our other disciplines.

Job Purpose

The role includes managing the full life cycle of systems projects and also substantial business development responsibilities.  The SDM will lead the technical pre-sale, development, implementation and support activities across our entire client base. In addition, the SDM will also contribute to the development of new business revenue streams and technical accreditations for Alchemy itself.

Dimensions

The Solution Delivery Manager (SDM) will be responsible for:

• managing solution development & delivery on both external & internal (business development) projects;
• actively managing the project resources (client, third party and Alchemy) to deliver the solution on time, to the agreed specification and within budget;
• reporting progress to the client;
• signing off deliverables (in conjunction with the client);
• providing technical guidance and coaching to the client team and fellow alchemists;
• actively seeking sell-on opportunities on existing projects;
• preparation of bids to target clients;
• developing the technical side of the Alchemy business

Principal Accountabilities (over a four year horizon)

Knowledge, Experience and Skills Needed

Core Business Skills:

• Interpersonal Excellence: developing strong client relationships, ensuring client collaboration, teamwork and optimal communication in order to deliver outstanding service.
  
  Encourages relationship management at all levels reconciling tension when necessary.  Demonstrates ability to negotiate and influence senior client management.  Advises, coaches and engages in active listening with senior client personnel.  Meets client needs by acting with a sense of urgency, pragmatism and integrity.
  
  
• Consulting Process: the basis of the work that is performed for clients, whatever the functional area.  This involves core technical knowledge and abilities necessary to develop and implement practical solutions.
  
  Anticipates the long-term multi-functional impact of all decisions.  Ensures that the most appropriate and efficient tools/techniques are selected and applied in accordance with project scope and budget/time constraints.  Sets very high standards and ensures deliverables match with engagement scope and client expectations.  Anticipates barriers to change and devises appropriate plans.  Gains client commitment.  Counsels/educates senior clients to understand and commit to the required change.
  
  
• Engagement Management: planning, organising, directing and controlling project resources, in order to efficiently and methodically meet project objectives and satisfy client needs.
  
  Reviews and confirms engagement objectives, scope and work plan with client and with other alchemists.  Identifies engagement resource requirements.  Manages a number of responsibilities in the face of competing priorities.  Able to prioritise tasks based on relative importance and urgency.  Delegates appropriate level of autonomy and decision making to ensure that project issues are promptly and adequately handled and quality of work is effectively achieved.
  
  
• Business Development: identifying new opportunities, attracting new clients and generating business.
  
  Co-operates with other alchemists to identify and act on client opportunities across service lines and industries.  Assumes active leadership in targeting client marketing efforts.  Applies innovative and flexible approaches to identifying and pursuing new sales opportunities.  Generates, pursues and successfully closes new proposal opportunities for services.  Keeps abreast of what the competition is offering to take appropriate action.  Demonstrates the ability to cope with ambiguity, negotiate and persuade with integrity in the sales process.
  
  
• Practice Management & Development: helping to develop and manage the practice’s internal functions and business.
  
  Identifies practice management needs and develops and leads initiatives to address these needs.  Identifies resource needs and proactively devises and leads recruitment and partnering programs to address our requirements.  Actively networks within the industry; promoting the Alchemy image and attracting the best talent.
  
  
• Team Work: effectively guiding the performance and career development of other alchemists.
  
  Ensures that work is evenly shared and is honest and open with feedback (both in the giving and the receiving). Provides opportunities that enhance personal and professional growth, balancing individuals’ career aspirations and business objectives.  Recognises team and individual effort and rewards accordingly.  Leads the development and delivery of local education and training programs.
  
  
• Self development: taking responsibility for his or her own career and participating in ongoing knowledge building and transferring, in order to develop both personally and professionally.
  
  Achieves expertise and develops a reputation as a multi-functional business advisor, with emphasis in at least one specialisation. Is recognised internally and externally as a Consulting expert.  Searches for best knowledge sources to ensure availability of the optimal information to meet our needs.

Pre-qualification Criteria:

In the interests of absolute clarity, these are the criteria (and weightings) we will use to shortlist candidates for interview:

How to Apply

Our main route for applications is via JobServe, where you can attach both (a) covering letter and (b) your CV. To access the job ad on Jobserve, click here.

You can also email us direct at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  - but, if you do so, be sure to attach both a covering letter and a CV.

Please do read the Alchemy Strategy document linked from the top of this page. To help us get to know you better, please add a paragraph to your covering letter to describe "what I find exciting about Alchemy and how I think I could contribute". We will pay very close attention to this paragraph - and the pre-qualification criteria above - in the early stages of our recruitment process.