Solution Analyst (IT / Technology)

We are happy to say that based on our long-term company growth we are looking for a new colleague - Commercial Real Estate Valuer. We seek a high-spirited personality interested in commercial property who will join our new valuation team. Please come talk to us if you have a positive attitude and would like to help us keep our clients happy and satisfied., We have 2 exciting opportunities critical to the success of a new technology demand operating model within the Technology department based in our London head office. These division aligned roles will act as a liaison between the business divisions and technology, application SMEs, product owners, and sponsors to ensure all technology enabled Knight Frank outcomes are assessed, prioritised, have business value and where applicable have supporting documentation, e.g. requirements, business case, etc.

The role supports, the initiation of technology change by providing just enough information around scope, technology solution options, market analysis, cost, complexity, and time, to ensure the business can prioritise and provide funding to achieve their desired outcomes. This forms the initial ideation phase supporting the approval, initiation, and transition into a delivery phase.

As the Solution Analyst, you will be required to examine existing system applications and integrations and the associated business models. You will analyse and document detailed low-level system and integration requirements with precision and accuracy. You will produce options analysis for new technology solutions, the modification, enhancement, or adaptation of existing systems and integrate new features or improvements, all with the aim of improving business efficiency and productivity. You will assess the suitability of solutions in terms of their intended outcomes and liaise with end users and stakeholders to achieve these outcomes.

You must have a strong analytical capability supported by a solid technical expertise and have clear insights into current business practices and associated use cases where technology is utilised.

A key aspect of the role involves shaping and progressing demand items from the Demand Backlog, into solution options for a directional steer, adhering to the architectural solution design principles. These items need to be progressed quickly through the demand lifecycle and advanced, where approved into technology delivery.

Responsibilities, tasks and activities

Primary responsibilities are to analyse project new demand, collating and documenting requirements that translate the Sponsors vision and strategic outcomes, working with the various departments and suppliers to create a fully refined solution that meets with the Sponsors brief, has demonstrable value mapping in relation to project and ongoing operational costs, so that it is ready for prioritisation and approval to move into project delivery.

Key Tasks and Activities

Build domain expertise so that opportunities, value streams and customer journeys are well understood, acting as a bridge between business divisions, technology colleagues and external partners

Define outcome-based roadmaps for divisions and sub-divisions and support the creation and prioritisation of divisional demand backlogs including funding support

Support the business in the initial translation of business outcomes into potential technology solutions options

Support the creation of a high-level business case or technology change mandate to facilitate the approval for technology change initiatives

Identify and document impacts of all requirements from stakeholders inclusive of resource demands

Manage the creation, review, and analysis of all requirements, resource and Operating Models for systems, applying multiple lenses and facets to ensure it meets with the KF strategic roadmap

Translate and communicate requirements into documentation and support subject matter between technical and non-technical audiences

Help prioritise data and functional needs based on user and business management input regarding im-pacts, technical and organisational Strategies

Produce briefs on technical and resource cost estimates for the proposed solution, ensuring focus is maintained on achieving business value

Creation of high-level plans to support solution and delivery options

Liaise with the architecture team to ensure solution steer, is aligned to architectural principles and technology strategy

Ensure appropriate due diligence to manage risk and maintain levels of compliance and security, both to the firm, its clients, our technology, our businesses, and our data

Build and maintain relationships that provide oversight of all procurement activity, inclusive of driving engagements and approvals that will allow for minor investments to be implemented

Utilising core Organisational repositories and tooling to collate new demand assets

Support the business in achieving their desire outcomes through being an expert with the process and creation of Business Cases, inclusive of being able to flex documentation detail, depending on the size and scale of the demand under assessment so that the solution is fully refined

Delivery

Scope - Ensuring Scope (In scope and out of scope) is clearly defined, approved at initiation and managed and controlled throughout initiation

Specialist engagement - As part of initiation, engage with the relevant specialist areas to assure initial due diligence is performed in the best interests of KF. These include, but are not limited to: Data Protection, Information Security, Legal, Procurement, IT, HR, Accounts, Marketing, Communications and Data Office.

Stakeholders - Ensure appropriate stakeholder engagement, encouraging the business to identify value in solutions, be involved in shaping solutions

Perform market analysis for suitable solutions and liaise with internal Procurement where applicable to engage processes including RFPs / RFQs / Statements of work, supporting contract negotiations and work orders

Conducting workshops, presentations and design and solution walkthroughs/reviews

Produce and maintain key documents, such as: Proposals / Business Cases, Reports, Financial Models, requirements, requirements tracing, decision matrices, RAID logs, transformation roadmaps etc

Provide regular reporting to line manager, governance forums and PMO

Stakeholder Management

Identify, build, manage and maintain positive working relationships with core stakeholders across the firm.

Utilise stakeholder relationships to maintain good business insight

Use knowledge of stakeholder businesses and their drivers to help influence key decisions, in line with business outcomes

Empower, Inspire and Set clear expectations of new Demand, being a role model of the values across Knight Frank

Leadership

Use your technical and business experience to actively support across the KF business. Encourage open discussion and challenge to ensure the best outcomes for KF.

Share your knowledge freely, investing in us achieving as a team

Proven experience in a solution, technical analyst or business analyst role

Good technical expertise with track record of understanding how technology can solve problems and provide opportunities across the business

Ability to work with business stakeholders and software vendors to resolve issues, design solutions and refine specifications

Proven ability to quickly learn about business capabilities, supporting processes and its business imperatives and then apply this knowledge to achieve the desired business outcomes

Excellent research techniques and skills to identify suitable solution options based on high-level requirements or desired business outcomes

Ability to quickly develop credibility and rapport with all colleagues to guide and influence through the ideation and demand process

Great at proactively identifying and solving problems

Pragmatic decision making and situation appropriate assertiveness, challenging the status quo where necessary

Polished and professional with the ability to adapt written and verbal communication styles to people at all levels and draw out challenges, opportunities, and requirements

Highly organised, systematic, and adaptable, with the ability to recognise the relative importance of tasks and to prioritise work effectively

Excellent attention to detail

Analytical thinking, acquiring understanding of a problem or situation by breaking it down systematically into its component parts and identifying the relationships between these parts.

Commercial experience, working with 3rd parties and suppliers to provision solutions

Strong collaboration and communication skills both technically and with non-technical people.

Attention to detail applying quality standards to all tasks undertaken and ensuring that nothing is overlooked

Ability to prioritise workload and manage expectations under pressure

Excellent communication skills at all levels

Customer-focused

Knowledge

Ability to create high quality functional documentation and strong requirements gathering skills.

Ability to elicit requirements through value stream and customer journey mapping.

Developing application and integration strategies and associated roadmaps

O365 SharePoint, PowerBI and PowerApp working knowledge

Structured approach to R&D and relevant technology industry developments

RFP process and producing documentation and scoring mechanisms for tenders

Understanding of Microsoft Dynamics applications

Understanding of property management applications in an operational context

Knowledge and understanding of MS Azure technologies (Integration, API's, Frameworks, Logic Apps etc.)

MS Azure Cloud Services

Knowledge and understanding of SQL Server technologies; T-SQL, SSIS and SSRS

Understanding of TOGAF

Qualifications

Additional appropriate certifications are beneficial (including: P3O, SAFe, Less, APMP International - BA, Agile BA Practitioner, BCS Certificate in Business Analysis / Modelling Business Processes / Requirements Engineering, Scrum Master, Agile PM, Prince 2 Agile Practitioner etc)

Career Experience

10 years+ working in a Project/ Product Environment

Experience of managing both business and technical projects

Experience of managing Ideation and New Demand processes

Experience working within a 1,000+ FTE organisation

Established in 1896, Knight Frank is the leading independent property consultancy in the UK offering agency and professional advice across Commercial, Residential and Rural sectors. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank now comprises a global network of over 523 offices in 60 territories.