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Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist Degree Apprenticeship standard (Level 7)

1. Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist Overview

A digital and technology solutions specialist is a specialist technical role that includes the mix skills and

knowledge of a business and management perspective together with a technical specialism.

This Masters level degree apprenticeship programme is defined by a common core of the technical

management issues, blended with a range of technical specialism’s appropriate for graduate level entry

into a wide range of digital and technology related occupations. It is delivered through an integrated

master’s degree approach that will result in an MSc qualification. The aim of the programme is to provide

apprentices with the blend of technical and management skills and knowledge that lead to the purposeful

implementation and utilisation of technology for the benefit of an organisation and its employees.

The standard would cover people working in the following technical specialisms:

Software engineering specialist

Data analytics specialist

Digital systems architecture specialist

System test and assurance specialist

IT consultancy specialist

IT Business analysis specialist

Network engineering specialist

IT sales specialist

IT operations management specialist

Digital marketing specialist

IT project management specialist

Information security assurance specialist

Cyber security technology specialist

IT / digital futures management specialist

UX Specialist

The Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist programme is an integrated Masters level degree

apprenticeship programme, based upon a work based learning approach, which will typically be delivered

over 18-24 months. It is designed for those progressing into a Masters level (level 7) degree

apprenticeship through a range of routes to suit different needs of employers. This will include graduates

who have recently completed a full time undergraduate degree in either a relevant technology or non-

technology related discipline. It will also be suitable for existing staff identified by their companies as

having the potential for technical leadership positions at a level where a business and management

perspective together with the specialist technical skills is required for successful progression in the role.

2. Composition of MSc Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist

The proposed programme will have two parts, the taught modules and the Masters project.

The taught modules will comprise the learning and skills development for the core and technical specialism and the end point assessment (EPA) will be the Masters synoptic project. The taught proportion will be in the ratio of 1:2 core to specialism. The MSc project serves to integrate, apply and further develop the different aspects within the taught part of the programme.

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Taught MSc Outline Structure

Typically, the MSc programme (totalling 180 credits) will be made up as follows:

Core Technical Management learning modules 40 credits;

Technical Specialism learning modules 80 credits;

Masters Synoptic Project 60 credits.

This would be designed and delivered by HEI’s in appropriate combinations of modules.

Figure 1 – Relationship of Core and Technical Specialist Learning and Skills to Overall Digital and

Technology Solutions Specialist Programme

Core Technical Management learning and skills outcomes

The common core of the programme comprises technical management learning and skills outcomes and aims to develop critical understanding of:

How to synthesise strategies from a range of approaches to achieve technical and business goals;

Organisational behaviour and how organisations integrate different management functions in the context of technological change;

The role of leadership in contemporary technology organisations;

Organisational structures and the roles of individuals and teams in an organisation, as well as the roles of their managers;

What motivates individuals and of how this relates to the operation of contemporary organisations;

The characteristics of effective teams and methods of maintaining successful teams;

The importance of professional behaviours and the challenge of communication;

Concepts such as “knowledge organisations” and the “customer-responsive culture”.

Learning:

Core

Technical

Management

Technical

Specialism

EPA

Synoptic Project

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Software Engineering Specialist

Designs, codes, tests, corrects and documents complex programs and scripts from agreed specifications, and subsequent iterations, using agreed standards and tools, to achieve a well-engineered result. Takes part in reviews of own work and leads reviews of colleagues’ work.

Job roles: Software engineer, analyst programmer, software developer.

Skills for L7 Software Engineering Specialist

Be able to:

Architect, build and support leading edge concurrent software platforms that are performant to

industry standards and deliver responsive solutions with good test coverage;

Drive the technology decision-making and development process for projects of varying scales,

evaluating different technology design and implementation options making reasoned proposals

and recommendations;

Develop and deliver, distributed or semi-complex software solutions that are scalable and which

deliver innovative user experiences and journeys that encompass cross-functional teams,

platforms and technologies;

Update current software products, improving the efficiency and functionality, and build new

features to product specifications;

Accomplish planned software development tasks that deliver the expected features, within

specified time constraints, security and quality requirements;

Be accountable for the quality of deliverables from one or more software development teams

(source code quality, automated testing, design quality, documentation etc.) and following

company standard processes (code reviews, unit testing, source code management etc).

Technical knowledge for L7 Software Engineering Specialist

Knows and understands:

The rationale for software platform and solution development, including the organisational

context; The various inputs, statements of requirements, security considerations and constraints that

guide solution architecture and the development of logical and physical systems' designs;

The methodologies designed to help create approaches for organizing the software engineering

process, the activities that need to be undertaken at different stages in the life-cycle and

techniques for managing risks in delivering software solutions;

The approaches used to modularise the internal structure of an application and describe the

structure and behaviour of applications used in a business, with a focus on how they interact with

each other and with business users;

How to design, develop and deploy software solutions that are secure and effective in delivering

the requirements of stakeholders and the factors that affect the design of a successful code;

The range of metrics which might be used to evaluate a delivered software product.

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Data Analytics Specialist

Investigates corporate data requirements, and applies data analysis, data modelling and quality assurance techniques, to establish, modify or maintain data structures and their associated components (entity descriptions, relationship descriptions, attribute definitions). Provides advice and guidance to database designers and others using the data structures and associated components.

Job roles: Data analyst specialist, data analyst, data management specialist, data analytics specialist.

Skills for L7 Data Analytics Specialist

Be able to:

Acquire, manage and process complex data sets, including large-scale and real-time data. Identify

where relevant business data is held, the interfaces to be used and where data is to be mastered

utilising industry standard documenting / modelling techniques;

Identify the data that needs to transition from a range of data systems providing clean and

transformed data that is appropriate for each analysis cycle. Identify and communicate any issues

with the achievement of data provisioning. Perform pre-migration profiling to expose data that is

not of sufficient quality taking corrective action where required;

Support the development of data quality rule sets and guidelines. Undertake expert analytical

investigations into the quality and utility of new data to understand the nature and quality of data.

Help develop strategies for sourcing, cleansing and integrating data making recommendations on

how it should best be used and improved;

Formulate analysis questions and hypotheses which are answerable given the data available and

come to statistically sound conclusions;

Conduct high-quality research and analysis, employing a range of analytical software, statistical

modelling & machine learning techniques to make data driven decisions, delivering analytical

solutions to find the evidence that help solve live commercial problems;

Document the data structures and field definitions using a data modelling tool. Select appropriate

visualisation types to support human understanding of complex data sets and create visualisations

using industry standard tools. Produce reports on the findings of data analysis suitable for a

variety of stakeholders including clients and management;

Scope out data analysis projects, seeking input from internal and external stakeholders,

identifying suitable data sources, and defining protocols and other preparatory material. Design

and deliver a coherent set of data projects, developing projects in response to shifting business

priorities, through collaborating and connecting teams across the business. Create and compile

insights and taking ownership of the quality and accuracy of reporting.

Technical knowledge for L7 Data Analytics Specialist


How key algorithms and models are applied in developing analytical solutions and how analytical

solutions can deliver benefits to organisations;

The information governance requirements that exist in the UK, and the relevant organisational and

legislative data protection and data security standards that exist. The legal, social and ethical

concerns involved in data management and analysis;

The requirements, concepts and principles of data driven analysis and how to apply these. Including

the approach, the selected data, the fitted models and evaluations used to solve data problems;

The properties of different data storage solutions, and the transmission, processing and analytics

of data from an enterprise system perspective. Including the platform choices available for

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designing and implementing solutions for data storage, processing and analytics in different data

scenarios; How relevant data hierarchies or taxonomies are identified and properly documented;

The fundamentals of data visualisation in data analysis, including core terminology, concepts, techniques and state-of-the-art tools. Including how data visualisation techniques provide a qualitative understanding of the information on which decisions can be based.

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Digital Systems Architecture Specialist

Contributes to the creation and review of a systems capability strategy which meets the strategic requirements of the business. Develops models and plans to drive forward the strategy, taking advantage of opportunities to improve business performance. Takes responsibility for investigative work to determine requirements and specify effective business processes, through improvements in information systems, data management, practices, procedures, organisation and equipment.

The creation, iteration, and maintenance of structures such as enterprise and business architectures embodying the key principles, methods and models that describe the organisation’s future state, and that enable its evolution.

This typically involves the interpretation of business goals and drivers; the translation of business strategy and objectives into an “operating model”; the strategic assessment of current capabilities; the identification of required changes in capabilities; and the description of inter-relationships between people, organisation, service, process, data, information, technology and the external environment.

The architecture development process supports the formation of the constraints, standards and guiding principles necessary to define, assure and govern the required evolution; this facilitates change in the organisation’s structure, business processes, systems and infrastructure in order to achieve predictable transition to the intended state.

Job roles: Business and enterprise architecture specialist, enterprise architect, business architect, systems architect.

Skills for L7 Digital Systems Architecture Specialist

Be able to:

Design bespoke online, cloud and mobile platform architectures, evaluating alternative architectural solutions, and ensuring the architecture is optimal not only for development, but also for operations, deployment, and continuous enhancements;

Produce architectural logical and physical designs, mapping architectural principles and constraints onto the digital technology platform;

Document and communicate the architecture to all stakeholders, to the detail appropriate to the audience;

Develop system implementation plans/processes for the proposed architecture;

Identify risks and proposes risk mitigation strategies associated with the architecture;

Manage a wide range of stakeholder expectations to reconcile conflicting business requirements.

Technical knowledge for L7 Digital Business and Enterprise Architecture Specialist


The principles and methods for technical System Architecture;

How to communicate architectural design concepts to internal and/or external stakeholders and listen to their input on the concepts;

The importance of usability, reliability, performance, maintainability, and security in architectural development;

The tools, approaches and processes working within an organization’s environment to optimize architectural solutions and mitigate risks;

How to create architecture descriptions and use them to good effect;

How to describe the structure and behaviour of applications used in a business, with a focus on how they interact with each other, the data consumed and produced, and the interactions with business users.

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System Test and Assurance Specialist

A system test and assurance specialist contributes to ensure the high quality of software products and digital solutions through planning and implementing structured system tests and performance tests. Accepts responsibility for creation of test cases using own in-depth technical analysis of both functional and non-functional specifications (such as reliability, efficiency, usability, maintainability and portability). Creates traceability records, from test cases back to requirements. Produces test scripts, materials and regression test packs to test new and amended software or services. Specifies requirements for environment, data, resources and tools. Interprets, executes and documents complex test scripts using agreed methods and standards. Records and analyses actions and results, and maintains a defect register. Reviews test results and modifies tests if necessary. Provides reports on progress, anomalies, risks and issues associated with the overall project. Reports on system quality and collects metrics on test cases. Provides specialist advice to support others.

Job roles: System tester, software test specialist, test engineer.

Skills for L7 System Test and Assurance Specialist

Be able to:

Configure test environments to execute automated and manual tests;

Create test plans and procedures in line with current standards and specifications, and in accordance with customer requirements;

Write clear, intuitive test cases that improve product quality and provide opportunities for testing and assurance automation;

Execute test cases to test software systems using both manual and automated testing tools in a commercial environment;

Manage and maintain test results, defects and resolutions;

Compile written reports on test activities, opportunities and risks, and explain recommendations to stakeholders;

Review test estimates and test assets from other engineers to ensure appropriate coverage and risk mitigation.

Technical knowledge for L7 System Test and Assurance Specialist


Testing and assurance concepts and methods; including integration, system, stress, user acceptance, and regression testing;

How to analyse specifications and definition of test strategy, test plans and test cases;

The testing responsibilities and processes within the software development lifecycle;

What the testing objectives are;

How to implement standard testing and assurance methodologies and procedures for a range of digital solution platforms including front-and back-office enterprise, mobile apps and web based applications;

How to improve current and future test procedures;

How to create, configure and maintain multi-server test environments;

How to test software in line with the test specifications;

How to create and issue test reports;

The importance of reviewing functionality with senior stakeholders;

The need to deliver clear documentation and raise issues to facilitate corrections and improvements.

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IT Consultancy Specialist

An IT consultant works with clients to help meet their business objectives. They advise them how to use information technology to achieve increased business benefits. They review client requirements, collect data, and analyse business problems to propose options for resolutions. They identify, evaluate and recommend options.

Job roles: IT consultancy specialist, IT consultant, business change specialist.

Skills for L7 IT Consultancy Specialist

Be able to:

Work as part of a client engagement team to investigate ways of increasing efficiency, reducing costs and improving services levels, through technology;

Analyse digital business problems through collecting and reviewing business data;

Determine information system requirements and define project objectives;

Make recommendations, such as suggesting appropriate hardware, software and systems;

Create technical documentation to present to the client in the form of proposals and presentations;

Deliver strong and compelling presentations to the client using valid arguments from the business and technical requirements previously identified.

Technical knowledge for L7 IT Consultancy Specialist


A wide range of enterprise digital technologies and their application to business processes, including technology such as servers and hosting infrastructure, API (application Programming Interface) connections, databases and normalization concepts, front-end and back-end technologies, order management systems, ERPs, CRMs, etc;

How to analyse digital business operations to advise on improvements;

How to make compelling presentations on digital solutions and benefits realisation;

How to review and analyse business requirements;

How to prepare and present digital business options, summarising the main features and benefits;

How to make financial assessments of technology investments to guide client decision making.

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IT Business Analysis Specialist

An IT business analyst is focused on precisely documenting business requirements, contributing to software development projects. They investigate operational requirements of new or changed processes, through uncovering, discussing and challenging client requirements, and then document those requirements in the form of a comprehensive specification. They work iteratively with stakeholders, to identify potential benefits and available options for consideration, and define acceptance tests.

Job roles: Business analysis specialist, business analyst’

Skills for L7 IT Business Analysis Specialist

Be able to:

Analyse and document business processes and business rules;

Document current and proposed business process flows using narrative and diagrams;

Lead workshops with business, stakeholders and other project participants to gather requirements;

Define business functional and non-functional requirements;

Document and manage the resultant business requirements, user journeys, functional and technical IT system specifications;

Communicate and present business analysis findings to stakeholders;

Provide the link between the customer and development team regarding software functionality throughout the development lifecycle.

Technical knowledge for L7 IT Business Analysis Specialist


How to analyse and deconstruct project briefs, translating them into detailed functional and technical specifications covering complex scenarios and understanding interdependencies;

The internal and external systems, interfaces and business processes;

How to deliver system requirements through production and analysis of business models and requirements gathering;

How to manage and document change with the business and communicate to the development team;

How to undertake workshop negotiation and facilitation;

How to perform process and business modelling (i.e. UML, use case, activity, and sequence models);

The current information architecture and business systems and processes.

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Network Engineering Specialist

A network engineering specialist creates and maintains network plans for own area of responsibility, contributes to setting service level agreements, and plans the infrastructure necessary to provide the network services to meet such agreements.

Produces outline system designs and specifications, and overall architectures, topologies, configuration databases and design documentation of networks and networking technology within the organisation. Specifies user/system interfaces, including validation and error correction procedures, processing rules, access, security and audit controls. Assesses associated risks, and specifies recovery routines and contingency procedures. Translates logical designs into physical designs.

Maintains the network support process and checks that all requests for support are dealt with according to agreed procedures. Uses network management software and tools to investigate and diagnose network problems, collect performance statistics and create reports, working with users, other staff and suppliers as appropriate.

Job roles: Network specialist, network engineer, network planner, network designer, network support specialist.

Skills for L7 Network Engineering Specialist

Be able to:

Design, implement and test new network features and components on network engineering projects;

Create network services that help customers manage their networks;

Manage network service delivery;

Diagnose and troubleshoot wireless, security, switching, phone and other various network-related issues for network related incidents as well as enhancements providing ownership and accountability for network services;

Provide effective reporting on problem, availability, configuration, release and change and initiate action as required;

Continually analyse the network environment's capabilities against known and forecasted demands;

Identify potential gaps or shortfalls in network performance before they impact network service delivery and implement appropriate solutions.

Technical knowledge for L7 Network Engineering Specialist


Network design, architecture and assurance;

How to build networks consisting of a variety of vendor equipment;

The importance of ensuring that performance, security, availability and continuity standards meet required service levels and business needs;

How to monitor and track network recreate requests;

The OSI (Open Standard Interconnection) model and systematic troubleshooting approaches and how to apply them;

Network industry trends and technical opportunities whilst assessing their viability for use within different business scenarios.

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IT Sales Specialist

An IT sales specialist collects and uses information to achieve sales objectives. Responds to existing sales leads and identifies and qualifies new leads and prospects with a view to developing a pipeline of potential opportunities. Understands customer and needs, and develops and enhances customer relationships, before, during and after the conclusion of agreements/contracts. Key tasks may also include bid management, value analysis, negotiation, presentation and preparation of contracts. Monitors and reports on quota, performance, customer satisfaction, market intelligence and competitors.

Works closely with the sales team to help prospects to clarify their needs and requirements; devises solutions and assesses their feasibility and practicality. Demonstrates technical feasibility using physical or simulation models. Produces estimates of cost and risk and initial project plans to inform sales proposals. Resolves technical problems.

Job roles: IT sales specialist, pre-sales specialist, post-sales specialist.

Skills for L7 IT Sales Specialist

Be able to:

Develop effective sales plans using an appropriate sales methodology;

Prepare and deliver customer presentations and demonstrations of the hardware and / or software solutions, articulately and confidently;

Negotiate commercial and license agreements for IT products and services with clients;

Provide technical advice to customers on all aspects of the installation and use of computer systems and networks, both before and after the sale;

Advise on software features and benefits, and how they can be applied to assist in a variety of contexts, such as accounting, manufacturing or other specialist areas;

Design and develop IT sales and marketing literature;

Gather marketplace information on the pricing, new products, delivery schedules and merchandising techniques of own business and competitors.

Technical knowledge for L7 IT Sales Specialist


Customers' specific technology needs, applying product knowledge to meet those needs;

How to develop new strategies for increasing IT sales;

How to prepare and deliver IT sales presentations to customers;

Own company’s range of products in the context of the wider IT marketplace;

How to arrange for IT hardware and software demonstrations for customers;

The need to follow the IT sales process from start through to close;

The need to consider post sale support to clients;

How to write proposals for prospective clients.

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IT Operations Management Specialist

An IT operations management specialist reviews system software updates and identifies those that merit action. Tailors system software to maximise hardware functionality. Installs and tests new versions of system software. Investigates and coordinates the resolution of potential and actual service problems. Prepares and maintains operational documentation for system software. Advises on the correct and effective use of system software.

Monitors service component capacity and initiates actions to resolve any shortfalls according to agreed procedures. Applies techniques to control the demand upon a resource or service.

Contributes to the availability management process and its operation and performs defined availability management tasks. Analyses service and component availability, reliability, maintainability and serviceability. Ensures that services and components meet and continue to meet all their agreed performance targets and service levels. Implements arrangements for disaster recovery and documents recovery procedures. Conducts testing of recovery procedures.

Performs defined tasks to monitor service delivery against service level agreements and maintains records of relevant information. Analyses service records against agreed service levels regularly to identify actions required to maintain or improve levels of service, and initiates or reports these actions.

Job roles: operations management specialist, operations manager, service manager.

Skills for L7 IT Operations Management Specialist

Be able to:

Review and develop the organisation’s procedures for monitoring and measuring the performance of the IT Operations team;

Produce and maintain detailed documentation on infrastructure systems, processes and procedures;

Ensure that IT systems are secure and compliant with best practice security standards;

Manage 3rd party IT services, business applications and their underlying infrastructure in line with the IT Strategy, ensuring that their availability and performance meets the firm's current and future requirements;

Plan all infrastructure, software releases and patches supporting those releases once live;

Maintain and review business continuity planning.

Technical knowledge for L7 IT Operations Management Specialist


IT Strategy and Road mapping and how to apply them;

How to plan and execute hybrid cloud migrations;

How to manage third party hosting providers for both internal and external customer hybrid cloud solutions;

How to manage a wide range of digital platform environments;

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system and smartphone administration;

Asset management and support for company hardware and devices;

Network administration and client support.

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Digital Marketing Specialist

A digital marketing specialist investigates and analyses customer and competitor dynamics and uses appropriate channels and digital technologies for target marketing and engagement. Provides advice on channel methodology, effectiveness and implementation. Makes creative use of elements relevant to digital environments. Analyses the effectiveness of campaigns and services and their impact on audience behaviour and business outcomes. Organises and participates actively in marketing events.

Engages with senior content owners, using objective evidence to determine the content needs of users. Controls, monitors and evaluates web content to ensure quality, consistency and accessibility of messages. Designs the content and appearance of complex information deliverables (e.g. web pages) in collaboration with clients/users. Moderates content and ensures it can be reused. Creates and tests complex, well-engineered deliverables to support simple, clear, fast services. Interprets analytics data to optimise content so that it meets user needs and is optimised for search engines. Reviews work of other content designers for consistency and accuracy, and takes responsibility for its publication. Understand the implications of publishing content and manages the risks of doing so.

Job roles: digital marketing specialist, web content manager.

Skills for L7 Digital Marketing Specialist

Be able to:

Implement web design and digital content strategies to improve usability, conversion and search engine optimisation (SEO);

Implement a SEO scheme, embedding HTML tags and mark-up code ensuring high ranking positions across a wide range of search items;

Publish digital content to organisational web sites and mobile apps, assessing and resolving technical challenges in displaying content;

Implement changes to site layout and digital content based on usability testing and website analytics;

Implement link building, through applying algorithmic use and analysis of links to grow the profile of a website, improve search ranking and increase website traffic;

Apply the latest web search algorithm updates and how to plan around them;

Configure web analytics accounts and profiles and set analytics metrics to track results.

Technical knowledge for L7 Digital Marketing Specialist


HTML for web creation, formatting and navigation;

How to work with industry standard content management systems;

The factors affecting search engine ranking;

The science behind link building and search engine optimisation (SEO);

The role of digital content and web navigation to help prospects move down the ‘sales funnel’;

How to best monitor and analyse the effectiveness of web and mobile app performance in realising business benefit.

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IT Project Management Specialist

An IT project management specialist defines solution development projects which support the organisation's objectives and plans. Ensures that senior management is both aware of and able to provide the required resources. Contributes effectively to improving solution development processes within the organisation justified by measurable business benefits. Facilitates availability and optimum utilisation of resources, especially in agile projects. Monitors and reports on the progress of development projects, ensuring that projects are carried out in accordance with agreed standards, methods and procedures (including secure software development). Applies secure development improvement practices.

Takes full responsibility for the definition, approach, facilitation and satisfactory completion of medium-scale projects (typically with direct business impact and firm deadlines). Identifies, assesses and manages risks to the success of the project. Ensures that realistic project plans are maintained and ensures regular and accurate communication to stakeholders, consistent with the methods in use (agile, waterfall, etc.). Ensures Quality reviews occur on schedule and according to procedure. Manages the change control procedure, and ensures that project deliverables are completed within agreed cost, timescale and resource budgets, and are signed off. Provides effective leadership to the project team, and takes appropriate action where team performance deviates from agreed tolerances.

Job roles: Software product management specialist, software project management specialist.

Skills for L7 IT Project Management Specialist

Be able to:

Plan and deliver a range of IT projects, identifying and managing risks;

Identify critical capabilities, project resources, budgets and critical path issues;

Work closely with the senior project manager, IT service delivery team and the customer to ensure projects are delivered to scope, in budget and on time;

Ensure that projects are delivered to the necessary standards and guidelines (including ISO27001);

Review & create project related documentation including Business Cases, PIDs, reports etc;

Manage project budget, including spend to date, forecast to close, accounting & changes.

Technical knowledge for L7 IT Project Management Specialist


How to manage IT projects including activities such as budgeting, schedule, resources, documentation and tracking;

How to design and implement effective change management strategies;

How to manage the full end to end project implementation process;

How to ensure that project implementations are delivered on time and to specification and budget;

Understand the need for excellent client and stakeholder management;

Understand how to estimate project activities and allocate resources to projects;

Understand how to develop project schedules to ensure timely completion of IT projects.

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Information Security Assurance Specialist

An information security assurance specialist interprets information assurance and security policies and applies these to manage risks. Provides advice and guidance to ensure adoption of and adherence to information assurance architectures, strategies, policies, standards and guidelines. Uses testing to support information assurance. Contributes to the development of policies, standards and guidelines.

Maintains security administration processes and checks that all requests for support are dealt with according to agreed procedures. Provides guidance in defining access rights and privileges. Investigates security breaches in accordance with established procedures and recommends required actions and supports / follows up to ensure these are implemented.

Job roles: Information assurance specialist, information security auditor, information security compliance manager.

Skills for L7 IT Information Security Assurance Specialist

Be able to:

Plan and lead cyber security audits, in accordance with organisational standards, designed to provide assessment of internal control processes and operational performance;

Identify security gaps and evaluate business risks using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods;

Develop and implement a strong security awareness programme, promoting best practices and influencing a strong security aware culture;

Lead regular cyber security governance & compliance reviews to identify potential cyber security weaknesses and recommend improvements to mitigate/remove identified vulnerabilities and risks;

Plan and prepare cyber security audit communications, including audit reports and recommendations to strengthen internal cyber security controls;

Review and evaluate cyber security analysis and audit evidence prepared by team members for quality, and provide advice and guidance accordingly.

Technical knowledge for L7 Information Security Assurance Specialist


The strategic role of cyber security audits and how to undertake them;

The organisational and international standards that apply to cyber security auditing;

The different types of cyber security controls that can be implemented and how to apply them;

The theory of access control and the role of passwords in controlling access to systems;

The critical elements of creating and managing a Security Awareness Program;

Risk management principles and control systems, and threat and vulnerability management;

How to complete a detailed risk assessment of each audit area;

How to communicate internal audit key performance indicators to senior management;

The importance of maintaining an effective quality assurance improvement program;

How to rank and validate risk priorities to prioritise engagements in the audit plan.

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Cyber Security Technical Specialist

A cyber security technical specialist provides advice and guidance on the application and operation of elementary physical, procedural and technical security controls. Performs security risk, vulnerability assessments, and business impact analysis for medium complexity information systems. Investigates suspected attacks and manages security incidents. Uses forensics where appropriate.

Coordinates the planning of penetration tests, within a defined area of business activity. Delivers objective insights into the existence of vulnerabilities, the effectiveness of defences and mitigating controls – both those already in place and those planned for future implementation. Coordinates the execution of technical cyber security activities. Provides advice and guidance on the planning and execution of vulnerability and penetration tests. Defines and communicates the test strategy. Manages test processes, and contributes to corporate cyber security testing standards.

Job roles: Cyber security technology specialist, penetration tester, vulnerability tester, cyber security forensics specialist.

Skills for L7 Cyber Security Technology Specialist

Be able to:

Assess security risks across a broad range of technical security solutions and designs;

Plan and carry out a variety of security testing strategies on IT infrastructures (wired and wireless), middle-ware and applications;

Research, analyse and evaluate technical threat intelligence to reduce cyber security threats and vulnerabilities;

Troubleshoot issues arising from vulnerability scanning;

Recommend cost-effective mitigations comprising careful combinations of technical, procedural and administrative controls;

Select and apply tools and techniques to carry out a variety of testing strategies including penetration testing, fuzzy testing and ethical hacking.

Technical knowledge for L7 Information Security Assurance Specialist


The motivations and methods adopted by a wide range of threat actors;

The range of modern attack techniques and how and where to research emerging attack techniques;

Vulnerability management processes and network vulnerability scanning;

The different approaches and design principles that are used to engineer secure systems, focusing on the importance of building in security, privacy and resilience in the initial design;

How to develop and implement incident response programmes;

Offensive (testing) and defence (monitoring & logging) security.

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IT / Digital Futures Management Specialist

The management of the IT infrastructure and resources required to plan for, develop, deliver and support IT services and products to meet the needs of a business. The preparation for new or changed services, management of the change process and the maintenance of regulatory, legal and professional standards. The management of performance of systems and services in terms of their contribution to business performance and their financial costs and sustainability. The management of bought-in services. The development of continual service improvement plans to ensure the IT infrastructure adequately supports business needs.

Job roles: IT management specialist, digital futures leader.

Skills for L7 IT / Digital Futures Management Specialist

Be able to:

Align IT infrastructure strategy and planning with business goals;

Optimise the IT infrastructure through an understanding of evolving technology capabilities;

Develop policies, standards and guidelines that direct the selection, development, implementation and use of IT infrastructure within the business;

Work with solutions architects, providers and systems administrators to provide an enterprise- wide approach that is resilient, capable, adaptable, scale-able, user-friendly and focussed on meeting business needs;

Develop and evolve 3 to 5 year roadmaps to represent the company’s IT Infrastructure requirements;

Ensure that Infrastructure solutions focus on achieving stable and robust operational service delivery and high availability.

Technical knowledge for L7 IT / Digital Futures Management Specialist


How to manage IT Infrastructure in a fast-changing business environment;

How to develop and manage 3rd Party supplier based IT infrastructure contracts supporting operational applications and related infrastructure;

How to undertake analysis of incidents and problems to arrive at root cause;

How to ensure that new projects do not duplicate functionality or diverge from the business and IT strategies;

How to undertake risk management of information and IT assets through appropriate standards and policies;

How to review changes to the IT landscape to meet current and future business requirements;

How to undertake financial modelling relevant to IT infrastructure investment.

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UX Specialist

A UX (User Experience) specialist is responsible for leading end-to-end User Centred Design (UCD) activities for a UX team, including planning user journeys, wire-framing, prototyping, process mapping and UX recommendations. They apply UCD thinking to researching and developing strong user experiences to web & mobile devices. They use service design models and frameworks. They look to improve the product/service experience for users through e-commerce and service design initiatives. They work to conceptualise, design, and craft people-centred experiences across a range of contexts, behaviours and touch points through the user journey.

Job roles: UX lead, UX specialist, user experience designer, UX consultant.

Skills for L7 UX Specialist

Be able to:

Lead UX design and user research projects for Web, mobile, and desktop applications;

Design for multiple devices and platforms to meet the user’s needs;

Devise interaction models and workflows that simplify complex scenarios;

Create and apply user personas in UX projects;

Develop insights into users’ behaviour when searching or requesting information;

Undertake a complete walk through the use and interaction of structures, schemes & navigation;

Use UX principles to design high performing landing pages.

Technical knowledge for L7 UX Specialist


How user experience improvements create competitive advantage;

The typical behaviour patterns of digital device users;

How to identify which areas of digital content are noticed or ignored;

How to plan and conduct in-depth user research;

How to create storyboards to communicate context, user flows & interactions;

The fundamental systems of organisation, navigation, browsing and searching;

How eye tracking technology works, and the best tools on the market.

Tony Venus

08.02.2017

digital and technology solutions specialist degree ... · pdf filedigital and technology...

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