Header

Sponsorship Systems Business Analyst

Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 48 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity, our aim is to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. About the role

The post holder is responsible for ensuring functional requirements are met by the Sponsorship IT systems and user expectations are managed.
To ensure that Sponsorship systems support new Sponsorship initiatives and changes to Sponsorship policies and processes. To identify system solutions to improve Sponsorship processes and minimise impacts of systems issues on the global Sponsorship business.

This role is required to ensure Sponsorship systems support global Sponsorship effectively, through the prioritisation and implementation, with International Headquarters (IH) ICT, of operational changes to Sponsorship systems and management of all appropriate documentation.

• Managing change requests within budget • Agreeing requirements and priorities with 18 National Organisations (NO) and 4 Regional Offices.

This role is also responsible for approving and managing changes to ChildData Administrators for each of the 68 offices in the organisation i.e. those responsible for managing over 1,100 ChildData users and ensuring applicable security policies are adhered to through reviews of users.

Main responsibilities

• Assess the impact of initiatives and projects within the organisation on Sponsorship systems. Define changes as appropriate. o Analysis is documented and changes defined and implemented to support new initiatives. o Security and child protection policies are adhered to. • Manage ChildData change requests by gathering stakeholders views, analysing and prioritising on behalf of all Sponsorship users. o Sponsorship system changes support the business requirements and priorities. o There is minimal disruption to global sponsorship operations during change implementation. • Provide specialist information on global Sponsorship processes and business rules to relevant Project Teams (ChildData Project Team, Sponsorship and IT projects). o ChildData releases support Sponsorship requirements. • Ensure all business stakeholders are aware of and kept informed of changes and impacts of operational changes to ChildData. o Participate in regular network teleconference meetings and lead discussions on systems changes and priorities. o All feedback is considered and responded to in accordance with the change request process. o Business documentation is up to date and available including user guides, training materials etc. • Plan the testing of changes and evaluate results to recommend sign off acceptance on behalf of the business to the Head of Sponsorship. o Testing is defined in line with business requirements. o Business decision to implement changes in accordance with planned dates or clear business reasons why not to implement are fully documented and communicated. • Identify and manage the impacts of system changes to global Sponsorship operations, processes and IH and Field systems. o All support issues impacting Sponsorship business are analysed for impact, communicated and priorities being defined. o Liaise with NOs to identify the impacts on NO Sponsorship systems and act as focal point for documenting and monitoring successful resolution of these impacts. • Ensure the readiness of all stakeholders to adopt the changes to systems and processes. o Global Sponsorship stakeholders are aware of impacts and local change requirements. o Provide regular communication to and undertake milestone checks with stakeholders o Identify solutions to any issues to meet planned timelines. • Identify and escalate risks impacting both global and local Sponsorship operations. o Risks and mitigations are documented and Head of Sponsorship is aware. • Evaluate trends in system issues affecting Sponsorship processes and prioritise appropriate business/technical solutions. o Weekly reviews and analysis of support issues reported to IH Sponsorship and Global Helpdesk. o Impact of issues raised are identified and documented and IH Applications team are aware of business impacts through regular meetings. o Changes are defined and prioritised in accordance with change request process. o Known defects on a project release are reviewed for impact and a recommendation on acceptance of these is made to Head of Sponsorship (or appropriate actions). • Ensure user access to Sponsorship systems is in line with corporate security policies and child protection standards o Tools to support and manage user access to ChildData support the business requirements and are updated. o All requests for ChildData Administrators are managed within 5 days and documented in accordance with security processes. All ChildData Administrators have received security guidelines and these are available on Planet. o Quarterly review of user access to ChildData is undertaken and documented with breaches managed and escalated in accordance with security policies. o Sponsorship is aware of any ICT/Infrastructure work accessing ChildData where process/content may be impacted and this is managed in accordance with appropriate security policies. • Produce updated documentation on the operational ChildData system including appropriate training materials and user guides. o All changes are reflected in the documentation/training. o Documentation is accessible and user friendly. o As project releases become operational, documentation is accepted and integrated with existing documentation.

• This role requires a strategic thinker, using their knowledge of Sponsorship processes and systems to analyse, prioritise and define systems solutions to business challenges. • The post holder must be able to identify and prioritise both the short and long term Sponsorship systems requirements whilst being aware of Sponsorship strategies and future developments. • Analyse both the business impacts of change requests and the technical solutions offered, considering global Sponsorship processes and interfaces with other systems • Define final business solutions balancing perspectives and impacts on NOs, IH and Field users of Sponsorship systems • Identify appropriate training documentation for all ChildData users. • With IH ICT and external systems developers, develop and document plans to implement changes including all key aspects of project management such as defining test requirements, a communications approach, change management and agreeing timelines. • Identify and co-ordinate appropriate testing resources and key stakeholders with whom to manage change. • Ensure operational changes to ChildData are tested and with IH ICT identify solutions to and manage the fixing of defects with systems developers within planned deadlines. • Understand security implications of ChildData changes and requests for infrastructure testing and advise accordingly.

Communications and Working Relationships

This role works within the IH Sponsorship Team. Most interaction will be with the following teams and people:

• The IH ICT Applications Team and ChildData Technical Leads to deliver change projects for ChildData. • Head of Sponsorship to ensure awareness of Sponsorship direction and escalation of issues and risks. • Child Data Project Team to: o advise on interfaces between operational systems and Project releases o advise the Project Team on Sponsorship process and business rules. o Review handover materials and defects to advise on acceptance by Sponsorship of a Project release.
• NO Sponsorship and ICT representatives, Field business and technical teams and Regional Sponsorship and NO Sponsorship Managers via regular network meetings.
o To understand and manage global business systems priorities and impacts. o to understand ongoing challenges facing Sponsorship users and impacting Sponsorship processes. o To manage the change process for operational changes/releases to ChildData.

About you

• Educated to A Level/further education standard. • Experience of being in a project team and an understanding of key phases of project management. • Effective decision making in relation to systems and/or processes. • Effective communication, written and verbal and able to communicate complex business requirements and build relationships with colleagues at long distance.
• Demonstrates high performance • Promotes innovation and learning • Can demonstrate analytical skills. • High standards of accuracy • Good knowledge of databases (Sponsorship systems) and MS Office applications • Excellent understanding of both Global Sponsorship processes and systems.

Languages

Fluent English is required and French or Spanish would be useful

Location and Travel

Working within the Sponsorship Team based in a multi-cultural office environment in the Head Office – Woking Surrey, UK

How to Apply

Please submit a full CV and a comprehensive cover letter setting out your reasons for applying for the post and outlining the qualifications experience knowledge and skills that you feel you can bring to the role to:- recadmin@plan-international.org The closing date for applications is Monday 12th September 2011

Please quote reference number IH060

Reference and background checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.