Principal Consultant - Higher and Professional Education
Xpertlearning
Total years of experience :27 years, 4 Months
To deliver consultancy services to Higher and Professional Education customers to develop their business systems effectively to meet their current and future operational needs.
I work with several leading vendors including Ellucian and Blackboard across the Middle East Region.
Head of Systems for a large University in the South of England where I managed the current systems and an IT programme of business change projects. I head up a department which includes Business Analysts, Process analysts, Project managers and Systems developers which sits between IT and the business to ensure successful implementations of IT solutions.
Role was focused on developing a strategy and driving projects to
improve business operations and efficiency through IT. With full budgetary responsibility. Day to day, this includes managing a programme of work including the implementation, adoption of systems and identifying business benefits to recognise the return on investment. My role also extended to leading a new Management Information Strategy for the business through the creation of a new datawarehouse.
Maintained and incrementally developed Student Information Systems, taking on additional business systems
in terms of managing, supporting and developing multiple systems.
Achievements:
• Full project lifecycle experience from requirements gathering, procurement process, implementation and sign
off, using Prince2 methodology or methodologies of Software vendor.
• Some experience of Agile project management - particularly on in-house developed software where this is
the preferred method of development. (JIRA used to track software)
• Successfully managing the buy-in, implementation, impact and adoption of change with staff within Business
functions on a number of Systems implementations.
• Experienced at managing multiple projects and deliverables simultaneously.
• Successful vendor relationship management, including partnering on joint software developments based on
successful externally funded bid.
• Experienced at interpreting Business Requirements policies and procedures to turn into software
requirements specification which adheres to the business guidelines.
• Successfully led the system implementation and business development for online services across the
University to improve the experience of users by streamlining administrative tasks both for students and back
office staff as well as enhancing data quality.
• Delivered new and revised compliance requirements for Statutory and Regulatory returns produced from the
Business Systems.
• Held position of Chair of external vendor's 'User group' for two years representing the User Base. (Ellucian
Ireland)
• Delivered presentations at External conferences / Vendor User groups on software implementations, adoption
and use.
• Managed a number of upgrades of Software applications, as well as version upgrades of Oracle database
and application servers to keep in line with Oracle roadmap (all currently 11gR2 or 12g)
• Led reviews of software implementations and progress based on original Product Initiation Document (PID)
to then build continuous improvement project plans to ensure change is future proofed.
• Significant involvement in developing and recommending IT change projects across the Organisation
involving a wide range of systems, either through a review of software available on the market place or an
improved way of managing processes.
• Successfully managed Systems and Data audits with both external and internal Auditors.
• Experienced in developing Capital bids in line with Organisation process for new Systems functionality
Lead the implementation of a new Student Information System for the University which manages the
lifecycle from initial enquiry through to Alumni. Lead the rollout of all modules. Gained in-depth knowledge of
operational processes during the project,
Achievements:
• Managed the implementation of the system, including vendor management, budget control and reporting to
Project Board using Prince2 Project methodology
• Lead cross-organisation working groups through the requirements, implementation and delivery phases of
modules within the new system. Revised working processes during implementation to streamline operations.
• Established a good working relationship with consultants and vendors to ensure delivery of the projects
remained on track.
• Ensured resolution of System bugs with Vendors before rolling out software.
• The implementation of the Student Information System was the first time the University has had the life cycle
of student systemised.
• Set up Training team and support team for the System and initially led training sessions.
• Ensured standard user notes and process flow documents were developed.
• Developed User Acceptance testing processes for new software
• Worked to developed report specifications and management information layer needed by the business users
and established an agreed specification across all Faculties.
• Recruited a team to centrally manage the Student Information System once the Project was complete.
Production and Development of Management Information for Senior Management.
Interim position (due to relocation to the South of England) before taking role as Project Manager.
• Produced data models for MI planning and operational purposes
• Provided statistical information to Senior Management, interrogating Business Systems using a range of BI
tools including Cognos and Oracle BI/Discoverer.
on the Single Aisle family of Aircraft at the Wing manufacturing plant at Chester - UK providing
Project Co-ordination for Engineering and Manufacturing continuous improvement and efficiency projects.
• Won Airbus 'Innovation' project award for role in innovation project to provide robotics on Aircraft
manufacturing process. (2002)
• Involved in 'lean initiatives' to take build-time out of the production process working under McKinseys
consultants.
• Introduced business process change to operational staff.
• Worked with Manufacturing, Engineering and Trade Unions to deliver a set of Key Performance Indicators
(KPI's) to measure efficiency gains in processes due to new processes being implemented..
• Responsible for the development of Business Cases for Engineering teams to secure Capital funding.
• Team member for SAP introduction to business.
for a first tier supplier to the Aerospace Industry that produced precision machined components.
• Was responsible for manufacturing schedules to ensure production against requirements.
• Managing relationship with vendors and clients in supply chain with regards to delivery.
• Project improvements to streamline manufacturing processes.
• Implementation of an MRP system (Materials Requisite Planning System) to manage raw material against
production schedule.
Worked as part of the Engineering Support team. This involved
assisting in projects such as implementing a System to manage scheduling programmes of work for
manufacture and implementing standard operating processes (SOP).
Masters