Strategy Consultant

Scottish Power Energy Networks are looking for a Strategy Consultant to join them on a 12 month initial contract basis.

Job Purpose Statement

The Architecture & Strategy Team within Business Transformation is seeking a Strategy Consultant to lead, coordinate, and manage the strategic direction of projects across all licence areas.

• Set strategic direction
• Develop a clear digital vision for the business units that is aligned with the wider organisational business plan.
• Conduct regular horizon scanning and playback sessions (technology, regulation, market dynamics).
• Define and align strategic themes (i.e. automation, customer experience, data maturity, modern workplace, or operational efficiency) that map to the business plan.
• Promote a digital-first way of working (agile, user-centred design, data-driven).
• Work with business leads, IT leads and system architects to prioritise projects on the SPEN digital roadmap to determine appropriate strategic approach to programme implementation by the delivery teams.
• Ensure that strategic requirements are reflected in the design and procurement of new IT solutions.
• Identify, plan, and manage the interdependencies between workstreams and other Transformation projects.
• Build and maintain the transformational roadmap.
• Translate strategic priorities into a multi-year transformation roadmap.
• Work with business units to capture high level requirements and opportunities.
• Analyse and rationalise roadmaps to ensure delivery has a clear understanding of the roadmap and an opportunity to organise itself sensibly.
• Work with the Pipeline manager to establish a structured intake process for new proposals.
• Organise and run workshops to identify, define and capture high level business requirements and business needs.
• Drive value
• Drive prioritisation based on value, risk, effort, and alignment with organisational goals.
• Work with Black Belts / PMO to align roadmap items to benefits framework.
• Become a partner
• Develop meaningful relationships with senior colleagues across the business units we support.
• Establish quarterly strategic reviews and roadmap refresh cycles with all partners.
• Partner tightly with Architecture, Delivery, Data, and Change teams.
• Coach, support and provide direction to members of the strategy team, relevant delivery leads and stakeholders with a view to embedding strategic principles and practices into daily transformation activity.
• Support the Strategy Manager in the development of strategic programmes and projects within the Business Transformation Directorate, ensuring alignment with the SP Energy Networks vision and objectives.
• Work with IT leads and systems architects to review solution options, agree and document preferred solution and strategic alignment.
• Develop and nurture broad stakeholder relationships across UK IT, UK Business, and wider Iberdrola Group.
• Work with IT leads to progress projects on the strategic roadmap through the internal governance and approval forums.
• Engage and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management, business functions, customers, regulators, and suppliers, to ensure effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Be a trusted advisor
• Be an active participant and listener in the business units' senior forums.
• Work with the Digital Transformation and other Transformation programmes to ensure alignment.
• Regular 1:1s with relevant directors and Heads of.
• Ensure the strategy is being executed by running a review session every 6 months.
• Produce 2 horizon scanning reports per annum and present to appropriate forums.
• Run quarterly planning session with relevant directors / Head Of.
• Democratise thinking
• Update and publish roadmaps on a regular basis.
• Present insights to Architecture and delivery teams quarterly.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Digital Transformation experience: first-hand experience working in large scale digital transformation programmes, with understanding of strategy, planning and delivery in these environments.
• Delivery Partnership: comfortable working together with external delivery partners and suppliers with a 'one-team' mindset.
• Communication: excellent communication and reporting skills up to Director level coupled with good influencing and negotiating skills.
• Collaboration: ability to influence and collaborate at an executive and senior management level across SPEN and other key external stakeholders.
• Behaviours: highly motivated and positive under pressure with the ability to support, motivate and direct the team.
• Technical: broad technical knowledge covering the main technologies included in the IT estate. Strong knowledge of IT systems delivery and the project life cycle and the ability to operate an IT portfolio.
• Customer focus: ability to balance technical / IT skills with service needs to define a good quality solution on time that meets all stakeholder needs and roadmap milestones.

Qualifications: Agile, PRINCE2, APM, Product Design, CX, Service Design or equivalent qualifications desirable HND or Degree level qualification change management experience (Prosci ADKAR awareness preferable) or equivalent in industry experience.