At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical delivery on student systems and digital transformation projects.
- Company: Join PACT Solutions, a specialist consultancy in higher education.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong support for learning and career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transforming UK higher education with innovative solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in technical delivery and knowledge of student information systems required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 € per year.
Location: Bristol or Manchester (hybrid, UK/Ireland travel)
Role Type: Permanent (full-time preferred, flexible considered)
Role Summary: Lead technical delivery across major student systems and digital transformation programmes, combining architecture, integrations, data migration and delivery leadership to ensure scalable, secure and sustainable solutions.
About PACT Solutions: PACT Solutions is a specialist consultancy working with UK higher education institutions to deliver strategy, digital transformation and operational change. We combine deep sector expertise with a collaborative, partner‑first approach to deliver meaningful, lasting outcomes.
The Role:
- Act as a senior technical authority across complex transformation programmes, shaping technical approaches, leading workstreams and supporting clients through system implementation, integration, migration and transition activities.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead technical architecture and delivery across student systems programmes
- Shape integration, migration, testing, cutover and deployment approaches
- Define and assure system architecture, data models and integration patterns
- Lead technical workstreams and coordinate cross‑functional delivery teams
- Provide technical assurance across suppliers, vendors and third parties
- Translate technical complexity into clear recommendations for stakeholders
- Support governance, risk management and delivery planning
- Contribute to proposals, technical approaches and capability development
Our Values: Our values sit at the heart of everything we do:
- Partnership – We work with you, not for you.
- Integrity – We do the right thing, even when it requires difficult conversations.
- Inquisitive – We dig deeper to uncover what will truly deliver value.
- Transformative – We focus on outcomes that create lasting, measurable improvement.
Why join PACT? Develop your data and consulting capability in a fast‑growing consultancy, working on impactful transformation programmes across UK higher education with strong support for learning and progression.
Essential Skills and Experience:
- Proven experience leading technical delivery on major enterprise systems implementations, upgrades, or replacements within higher education.
- Experience acting as a client‑side technical lead, technical design authority, senior technical consultant, solution architect, or equivalent on a significant student systems transformation.
- Strong understanding of Student Information System and student lifecycle processes, including admissions, enrolment, curriculum, assessment, progression, awards, graduation, and related reporting or statutory requirements.
- Experience working with enterprise Student Record or Student Information Systems such as Tribal SITS, Ellucian Banner, TechnologyOne Student Management, Thesis, Unit4 Student Management, or equivalent.
- Strong understanding of systems integration, including REST APIs, SOAP, middleware, iPaaS/ESB platforms, batch interfaces, and data feeds.
- Strong knowledge of data migration strategy, including data mapping, cleansing, transformation, validation, reconciliation, and quality assurance.
- Experience developing, leading, or assuring technical cutover planning, including migration windows, deployment sequencing, rollback planning, dress rehearsals, and go‑live readiness.
- Ability to design and review architecture diagrams, data models, integration patterns, technical specifications, and supplier designs.
- Experience leading technical teams or technical workstreams, including developers, analysts, testers, integration specialists, data specialists, and supplier resources.
- Ability to work effectively with complex legacy estates, including bespoke integrations, local processes, reporting dependencies, and operationally critical interfaces.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts for non‑technical stakeholders.
- Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to bring structure to ambiguous or complex technical and organisational challenges.
- Commercial awareness, including the ability to understand scope, manage expectations, identify delivery risks, and contribute to realistic estimates and delivery plans.
- Ability to adapt technical leadership skills across different client environments, systems landscapes, sectors, and project types.
Desirable Skills and Experience:
- Experience guiding organisations through significant Student Information System transformations or wider digital change programmes.
- Experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP.
- Familiarity with modern DevOps pipelines, release management, automated testing, and environment management.
- Hands‑on experience with database technologies such as SQL Server, Oracle, or similar.
- Experience in Agile delivery approaches such as Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid delivery models.
- Understanding of data protection regulations, including GDPR, and higher education sector compliance considerations.
- Experience contributing to proposals, statements of work, client estimates, delivery plans, or consultancy business development.
- Experience developing reusable consulting methods, templates, accelerators, or technical assurance approaches.
- Technical certifications in cloud, architecture, integration platforms, or related disciplines.
- Project management or Agile certification, such as PRINCE2, Scrum Master, or equivalent.
Qualifications:
- Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Relevant technical, architecture, cloud, integration, project management, or Agile certifications would be advantageous but are not essential.
Personal Attributes:
- Highly collaborative and able to work across technical and non‑technical teams.
- Confident operating as a senior consultant in client‑facing environments.
- Comfortable working with autonomy, taking ownership, and building trusted client relationships.
- Analytical and structured, with strong attention to detail.
- Able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic project environment.
- Calm and methodical during high‑risk delivery periods, including testing, migration, cutover, and go‑live.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and bringing structure to complex technical and organisational problems.
- Able to balance strategic architecture with pragmatic delivery decisions.
- Confident challenging suppliers, technical teams, and senior stakeholders constructively.
- Willing to work beyond Student Information System projects where required, applying technical leadership skills to wider digital, data, systems integration, and business transformation assignments.
Senior Technical Consultant - Student Systems and Digital Transformation employer: PACT Solutions Ltd
At PACT Solutions, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative work culture that values partnership and integrity. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our strong support for learning and progression, allowing you to develop your data and consulting capabilities while working on impactful transformation programmes in the higher education sector. With a hybrid working model based in vibrant cities like Bristol or Manchester, we provide a dynamic environment that fosters innovation and meaningful contributions to our clients' success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Technical Consultant - Student Systems and Digital Transformation
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, webinars, or even local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects and achievements. This is a great way to demonstrate your expertise in technical delivery and digital transformation, making you stand out to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to student systems and digital transformation. Think about how you can translate your technical knowledge into clear, relatable examples that show your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us at StudySmarter. Tailor your application to highlight your experience with student information systems and your collaborative approach to consulting.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Technical Consultant - Student Systems and Digital Transformation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Technical Consultant role. Highlight your experience with student systems and digital transformation, and show us how your skills align with what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:We want to see your technical chops! Include specific examples of your work with Student Information Systems, integrations, and data migration strategies. The more relevant details you provide, the better!
Keep It Clear and Concise:While we love detail, clarity is key. Use straightforward language to explain complex concepts, especially if you're discussing technical architecture or integration patterns. Remember, we want to understand your thought process!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at PACT Solutions Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Student Information Systems and the student lifecycle processes. Be ready to discuss specific systems like Tribal SITS or Ellucian Banner, and how you've led technical delivery in similar projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience leading technical teams and workstreams. Think about how you've coordinated cross-functional teams and managed complex integrations, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Simplify the Complex
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. Since you'll need to communicate with non-technical stakeholders, being able to break down intricate ideas will show your strong communication skills and make a great impression.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations related to risk management, data migration, or system cutover planning. Prepare to outline your thought process and how you would approach these challenges, demonstrating your problem-solving abilities.
