Application Support Specialist

The stage has been set for Tinies to significantly grow in the coming year and require an Application Support Specialist to join the UK head office team and become the in-country SME for all new technology and systems which will support the strategic growth of the franchise business.

Tinies was established in 1975 and is the largest professional franchise network of childcare recruitment agencies in the UK with a family of 27 branches.

Tinies teams of professional consultants across the UK have supported 1,000's of childcares to find suitable flexible full, part-time work opportunities whilst helping parents to find suitable in-home childcare solutions, and supporting nurseries with their staffing needs, as well as providing event childcare for those special occasions or organisation/charity events.

The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the UK Franchise team as well as engage with US 'Jovie' franchise team colleagues, and Bright Horizon teams as appropriate, including external providers to support the development and delivery of new resources and technology for the UK Franchise system.

What We Can Offer You:

Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

Flexible working and holiday entitlements

Discounted childcare

Quarterly Employee Appreciation Weeks

Annual gala award evening

Fantastic range of discounts on high street retailers, grocery stores, cinema tickets, holidays and more

Wide range of wellbeing resources, supporting our teams for the ups and downs of daily life

Why Bright Horizons?

We've been voted Great Place to Work for the last 18 consecutive years.

We're on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Working closely with the Director of Operations - Tinies, Tinies Marketing & Communications Manager, Director of Technology Jovie in the US, colleagues in the Jovie US team and Franchisees and their consultant teams and where applicable internal Bright Horizon teams on initiatives, timelines, and strategy.


• Main contact for all outside technology vendors including custom development, IT support, email and other products and services utilized Tinies and the national franchise system. Including some suppliers US based who provide and/or support our technology.


• Designated operations team member accountable for all IT systems and technology.


• You will become the in-country SME for a new technology platform driving and supporting the strategic roll out in the next few months in the UK following development in the US.


• This will include manging all documented requirements and working with the supplier and Jovie team to deliver Phase One and future phases of the new Technology platform.


• Collaboration with overseas and internal company teams and developers to support project roll out.


• Leading and supporting internal project meetings with franchisees as part of the formal roll out of the new platform.


• Delivering training in person or remotely to support the training of current Tinies personnel as well as support new on the new platform and any other technology that will be introduced in the future.


• Managing field support, supporting user testing and testing systems operation and associated administration as well as design strategy and project management for the new technology platform and any new systems to be deployed in the future and for any mobile releases.


• Contributes to the overall support team and brand through collaboration with all Tinies personnel, Jovie, and Bright Horizons teams as appropriate to fully understand and develop technical and business requirements of cross functional projects.


• Acting as an intermediary contact with IT US support and developers, Bright Horizon teams where applicable - relating to any technology queries.


• Oversea and monitor new technology UK helpdesk and monitor Tinies website enquiries.


• Provide external customer service support to customers in respect of any general enquiries, or acknowledgement of complaints where applicable and provide internal customer support to support Tinies network of branches day to day enquiries through their help desk portal.


• You will ensure that our various systems are operating effectively and will resolve system functionality issues at a local level or escalate issues, bugs or development items for the relevant parties following agreed procedures as required.


• Assist franchise teams across the network to be able to effectively use our adopted systems and be willing to problem solve and troubleshoot.


• Guide users through processes and system navigation as applicable.


• Manage group email accounts and technology license administration across the Tinies network. Aid in managing future MS Office 365 email system set up, access and ongoing support.


• Raise Purchase Orders for approval purposes to support head office team supplier requirements.


• Assist in day-to-day activities, including document management and content on our intranet.


• Monitor any associated costs with IT Systems, licences, or development.


• Create and maintain excel budget and compliance sheets monthly together with any required reporting.


• Support preparation for Annual Conference plus other franchise related meetings as required.


• Administer and prepare audit data for analysis when required.


• Supporting with administration/IT system tasks in relation to any franchise sale.
  
  Experience in a similar varied IT Customer service role.


• You will possess a flexible 'Can do Attitude' and a passion for developing knowledge in relation to IT systems, delivery, training and improving user experience will be required.


• At least a year or two of experience of progressive responsibilities for testing, deploying and supporting a variety of common and SAAS business applications.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint).


• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Excel, CMS, and CRM Systems.


• Experience with MS Office 365.


• Ideally will have supported and/or been involved in project managing the rollout of a new technology platform.


• Ability to investigate, trouble shoot and promptly resolve IT queries.


• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and pick up new concepts and platforms quickly.


• Exposure to software/website development cycle.


• An understanding of HTML and CSS and their application on responsive platforms would be beneficial although not essential.


• Strong attention to detail.


• Quick learner with hunger to develop knowledge of new systems and tools and become a centre of competence., Degree in business administration, IT or project management with strong proficiency in general IT