The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (The CISI)
Assistant Director - Dynamics Transformation Programme
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
AD - Dynamics Transformation Programme (fixed-term)
Reports to:
Executive Director, Technology & Change (programme SRO)
Job level:
Level 2
Contract:
Fixed-term, for the duration of the programme
Location:
London, with some travel
Key relationships:
- ED, Technology & Change (SRO)
- ExCo
- Business owners across membership, CPD, exams, events, learning and marketing
- IT
- Finance
- TOM / business change
- The implementation partner
Role purpose
The AD – Dynamics Transformation Programme is a fixed-term senior role, created to lead the day-to-day, client-side delivery of CISI's technology transformation programme. It supports the ED, Technology & Change, who is the programme's Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), and is central to a programme that underpins many of the Target Operating Model (TOM) changes currently in train.
This is a large, multi-phase programme. It spans the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 (including Sales, Customer Service and complaints, and Finance) and the replacement of CISI's core system (Bitmark), encompassing the learning platform and customer portals, membership, CPD, exams and events, together with the supporting integrations, data migration and reporting. It is a demanding, multi-year undertaking with significant interdependencies.
CISI does not currently have in-house Dynamics expertise. This role exists to bring that expertise in, to be the person who knows what 'good' looks like, sets the standard for delivery, and works alongside the implementation partner as an intelligent, demanding client rather than a passive recipient. The role is deliberately pitched to attract a leader with the seniority and credibility to challenge a specialist partner and advise ExCo, rather than just being a programme administrator.
The role combines deep technical and programme-delivery credibility with strong business-change judgement and carries clear authority to lead delivery and supplier assurance day to day. It is distinct from the SRO role held by the ED, Technology & Change and from the business ownership held by individual business owners. The Programme Director drives and assures delivery; accountability for the programme and for business outcomes remains with the SRO and the business.
Key accountabilities
- Lead the day-to-day, client-side delivery of the programme across all phases and workstreams, with clear authority for delivery and supplier assurance, while accountability as SRO remains with the ED, Technology & Change and business ownership remains with the respective business owners.
- Set the standard for what good delivery looks like, bringing hands-on experience of previous Dynamics and comparable core-system implementations to a team that does not currently hold that expertise.
- Direct and assure the implementation partner once procured, holding them to account for delivery, quality, pace and value while maintaining a constructive working relationship.
- Design and run the internal programme structure including the workstream model, change control, risk and issue management, and the decision making and governance forums as well as providing clear, honest reporting to the ED, Technology & Change and ExCo.
- Assure the data model, migration and integration approach, ensuring data quality, sound integration design and reliable migration across Dynamics, the core-system (Bitmark) replacement and connected platforms.
- Lead the mapping and redesign of customer-journey workflows, so the new platforms support simpler, better end-to-end processes rather than replicating current ones.
- Drive benefits realisation and adoption, defining and tracking the benefits, adoption and usage metrics that show the programme is delivering the intended value.
- Work through and with business owners, IT, Finance, TOM / business change and partner resources to deliver a shared outcome, rather than personally owning every element of delivery.
- Champion the use of AI and automation, ensuring the programme designs in AI-enabled processes and self-service where they improve efficiency, service and insight, in line with CISI's ambitions and its move towards a single customer view.
- Lead knowledge transfer and capability building, so that Dynamics and platform understanding is embedded internally and CISI's reliance on external expertise reduces over the life of the programme.
- Work with the ED, Technology & Change and IT leadership to shape the future technology operating model, including the appropriate mix of in-house and partner-provided capability, and help define the ongoing capability CISI will need once the programme completes.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Nature of the role
This is a fixed-term, delivery-focused role for the life of the programme. It leads delivery and supplier assurance with clear day-to-day authority, but it is not the Senior Responsible Owner role, that accountability sits with the ED, Technology & Change and it does not replace the ownership held by business owners for their areas. There may be an ongoing permanent role once the programme completes, but it would be different in shape and focus centred on running and optimising the platform rather than implementing it and would be subject to a separate process.
Person specification
We are looking for an experienced technology transformation and programme-delivery leader with genuine, hands-on Dynamics implementation experience and the seniority to challenge an implementation partner and advise ExCo credibly. This is a role for someone who has done it before, at scale, knows the pitfalls, and can lead confidently in a client-side role alongside a specialist partner.
Knowledge, experience and qualifications
- A demonstrable track record of delivering Microsoft Dynamics 365 implementations at scale, in a senior client-side or programme-lead capacity with the credibility to challenge a specialist partner, not simply administer a plan.
- Experience of large, multi-phase transformation programmes, ideally including core system replacement and the integration of multiple platforms.
- Strong programme and project management experience, with recognised methodology (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, Agile) or equivalent demonstrable delivery experience, including designing programme structure, governance and change control.
- Experience of directing and assuring implementation partners or systems integrators, holding them to account for delivery, quality and value.
- Sound understanding of data model, migration and integration assurance, and of the risks these carry in a complex programme.
- A good technical understanding of customer journey workflow mapping and process design, and how these translate into system configuration.
- Experience of benefits realisation and adoption, defining, measuring and driving the value a programme is meant to deliver.
- Awareness of how AI and automation can be designed into modern platforms to improve efficiency, service and insight.
- Experience of technology operating model change, including right-sizing and the use of partner or outsourced arrangements.
- The credibility and communication skills to advise senior leaders on technology matters and to report honestly on progress and risk.
- A relevant degree, professional qualification, or equivalent professional experience.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Competencies
The competencies below are drawn from the CISI competency framework used across the organisation. They describe how the role holder is expected to operate.
Technological know-how
Brings deep, current Dynamics, core-systems and platform expertise — including data, integration and AI — and sets the technical standard the programme is held to.
Project & change management
Designs and runs programme structure, governance and change control; leads day-to-day delivery across all phases, landing technology and business change together.
Problem solving & critical thinking
Anticipates the pitfalls of a complex, multi-workstream implementation and resolves issues with sound, evidence-based judgement.
Communication & influence
Advises the COO and ExCo credibly, works through business owners and functions, and directs the partner as a clear, demanding client.
Commercial awareness & financial acumen
Holds the partner to account for value, drives benefits realisation, and shapes a cost-effective future technology operating model.
Collaboration & teamwork
Works with and through business owners, IT, Finance, business change and partner resources to deliver a shared outcome and build internal capability.
Resilience & personal responsibility
Holds delivery steady through the pressures of a major, multi-year programme and owns delivery within a clear governance structure.
Planning & organisation
Structures a complex, multi-phase programme and sequences delivery, data migration, readiness, adoption and handover cleanly.
This is a fixed-term role for the duration of the programme. The job description reflects the role as currently envisaged and may evolve as the programme and Target Operating Model develop. It is not exhaustive.
Benefits
We offer a competitive remuneration package, which includes:
- 7½% company pension contribution into a personal pension, in addition to your own contribution of 1½% via salary exchange
- A Wellness Allowance of up to £30 a month
- 26 days annual leave and additionally the Institute closes for three days between Christmas and New Year.
- A travel allowance which has a value of £2,500 per annum
- Hybrid working arrangements (minimum of three days in the office)
Candidate Adjustments
At CISI we encourage applications from a neurodiverse workforce so please do reach out to HR@cisi.org to discuss reasonable adjustments if required.
Our London office is open plan with agile desk booking; however, we are able to arrange reasonable adjustments for candidates that require a fixed working space.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills