At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to enhance and innovate core business systems.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation focused on reliability and efficiency.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for innovation.
- Other info: Exciting chance to work with cutting-edge technologies and industry trends.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving meaningful system improvements and user experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing application support teams and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Why we need this role
The Systems Manager – Applications will lead a small, high-performing internal team and multiple external partners responsible for ensuring our core business systems are reliable, efficient, and continuously evolving to meet organisational goals. This role balances day-to-day service management with driving a roadmap of improvement and value creation from our business system investments and offers the opportunity to drive meaningful system improvements that enhance efficiency and user experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Business Systems Support team, providing direction, coaching, and prioritisation across L2/L3 support and change activities.
- Ensure business systems within the team’s domain remain fit-for-purpose, stable, and aligned with evolving business needs.
- Manage third-party providers who perform much of the hands‑on build and support work, ensuring quality and alignment to standards.
- Define and deliver an incremental roadmap for business system enhancements, optimisations, and integrations to maximise business value.
- Own and report on BAU service performance, including incident management, problem resolution, and service metrics.
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and feedback loops to measure and report on the success (health, adoption, performance) of business systems within the domain.
- Partner with business stakeholders across functions to understand priorities, evolving processes and regulatory requirements and translate these into clear technical deliverables and solution designs.
- Evaluate new features, releases, and technologies within the business systems landscape.
- Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies and drive innovation within the organisation making use of approaches such as proof of concept to demonstrate value.
- Champion best practices in system governance, documentation, release management, and user adoption.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide initiatives to strengthen systems alignment, interoperability, and process consistency.
- Champion automation and standardisation across processes and system usage.
Skills and Experience
- Proven experience managing business or enterprise application support teams.
- Hands‑on familiarity with business systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O, Workday, and SugarCRM.
- Demonstrable experience with D365 F&O is advantageous.
- Skilled at managing third‑party service providers and ensuring quality, value, and compliance.
- Strong track record managing vendor relationships and delivery through mixed internal/external resources.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to translate complex system functionality into understandable business context and outcomes whilst also translating complex business requirements into unambiguous technical design.
- Experience balancing operational delivery with roadmap planning and continuous improvement.
- Strong project management capability, ideally with exposure to Agile and ITIL ways of working.
- Strong analytical and reporting capabilities to track service performance and outcomes.
- Experience with business process mapping and optimisation methodologies.
- Background managing integrations between ERP and data/BI platforms is useful.
- Experience within the construction industry can be advantageous.
- Strong project management skills and experience managing cross‑functional teams.
- Vendor Management, particularly Managed Service Providers.
- Experience balancing BAU operations with project and change delivery.
Applications Systems Lead: Roadmap, Reliability & Innovation employer: Colt Technology Services
As an Applications Systems Lead, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work environment that prioritises innovation and employee development. Our company fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, offering ample opportunities for professional growth while ensuring our core business systems are reliable and efficient. Located in a vibrant area, we provide a unique chance to make a meaningful impact on our organisational goals through cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Applications Systems Lead: Roadmap, Reliability & Innovation
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its systems. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around business systems and innovation. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! We recommend crafting a concise summary of your skills and experiences that relate to the role. This will help you communicate your value clearly and confidently during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Applications Systems Lead: Roadmap, Reliability & Innovation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Applications Systems Lead. Highlight your experience with business systems like Microsoft Dynamics 365 and any relevant project management skills. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about driving system improvements and how you can lead our Business Systems Support team. Keep it engaging and personal – we love a bit of personality!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage teams and improve systems. Use metrics where possible to show the impact of your work. Numbers speak volumes, and we appreciate a results-driven approach!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy – just follow the prompts!
How to prepare for a job interview at Colt Technology Services
✨Know Your Systems Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the business systems mentioned in the job description, like Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O and Workday. Brush up on their functionalities and how they can be optimised to meet organisational goals. This will show your potential employer that you’re not just familiar with the tools, but you understand how to leverage them for maximum impact.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team, be prepared to discuss your experience in managing and developing teams. Think of specific examples where you’ve provided direction, coaching, or prioritisation. Highlight how you’ve successfully balanced day-to-day operations with long-term improvements, as this is key to the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Vendor Management Experience
Be ready to talk about your experience managing third-party service providers. Share examples of how you ensured quality and compliance while maintaining strong vendor relationships. This will illustrate your ability to manage external resources effectively, which is crucial for this position.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you’ve faced in previous roles, particularly around incident management and service performance. Prepare to explain how you approached these situations and what the outcomes were, as this will demonstrate your analytical and reporting capabilities.
