Business Readiness Lead

Dublin 1, Ireland Posted on 11/03/2026

Job Title: BUSINESSREADINESS LEAD - LEVEL 3 Senior

Office Location: Dublin 1

Attendance Requirement: Hybrid working Model with 2 days in theoffice.

Contract Start Date: 23/11/26 or as soon as possible after.

Contract: 12 Months rolling, with possibility of further extensions.

Organisation Overview

The client is a Government Department in Ireland, responsible for theoversight and delivery of education and youth services nationwide. The ChiefInformation Officer (CIO) Division within the Client plays a pivotal role inenabling Information and Communications Technology (ICT), advancing digitalservices, and driving digital transformation across the education sector.

Role Overview

The Business Readiness Lead will support the Change Manager on thecentralised Common Applications System (CAS) "Apply to School" Project, acrossa range of activities primarily focused on communications and support for thepilot participants.

• Help to develop and deliver a meaningful training and support plan, toensure that schools and school participating in the second pilot are fullyprepared and supported throughout the duration of this pilot programme.
• Be responsible for identifying, assessing and recommending appropriateBusiness-as-Usual (BAU) operating models for the Common Application System,ensuring the service is positioned for sustainable operation, support andcontinuous improvement following programme delivery and nationwide rollout.
• Lead activities to prepare pilot participants for adoption of the CommonApplication System, including demonstrations, familiarisation sessions and UserAcceptance Testing (UAT), ensuring participants have the knowledge, confidenceand support required to engage successfully throughout the pilot.
• Gather effective feedback throughout the pilot, providing lessonslearned, best practices and readiness outcomes to support and inform futurepilots and the nationwide rollout.
• Develop and implement business readiness approaches, includingoperational guidance, process documentation, readiness assessments andmaterials to support operational preparedness, adoption, engagement and thesuccessful implementation of the pilot.
• Help the initiatives stay on track, maintain consistent reporting,manage governance processes and support the delivery of meaningfulorganisational change.
• Bring experience in programme co-ordination and change management,strong organisational and communication skills and the ability to influence andguide teams without direct authority.
• Manage multiple streams of work utilising a collaborative mindset and apassion for enabling others, ensuring pilot participants adopt new trainingprogrammes, process and technology while working effectively in minimisingresistance and maximising engagement to achieve programme objectives.
• Work alongside our Service Delivery team, play a central role instakeholder management, working with both technical and non-technical teams,embedding change effectively while empowering teams to deliver outcomessuccessfully.

Key Responsibilities:

Minimum Requirements (Mandatory)

• 7+ years of extensive professional experience in their specialisedfield.
• Strong theoretical base in subject area, with ability to apply bestpractice principles to the subject matter context.
• Acts as the senior responsible person on major client engagements.
• Experience in leading complex projects/programmes.
• Responsible for leading a high performing team of professionals,including the ability to coordinate contributions of other specialists tocomplete a joint project.

Experience

• It is a mandatory requirement, that the Resource proposed has theequivalent of Senior 7+ years (Level 3) experience, including but not limitedto:
• Minimum 7 years' experience in business readiness role at managerial orspecialist level, in a large organisation.
• Relevant experience delivering business readiness activities in complexpublic sector or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience in programme co-ordination and change management, strongorganisational and communication skills and the ability to influence and guideteams without direct authority.
• Experience of managing multiple streams of work utilising acollaborative mindset and a passion for enabling others, ensuring pilotparticipants adopt new training programmes, process and technology whileworking effectively in minimising resistance and maximising engagement toachieve programme objectives

Qualifications

• It is a mandatory requirement, that the Resource proposed hold thefollowing qualifications or equivalents:
• A primary degree or equivalent in a related field (ex. Degree inBusiness, Project Management, Change Management, IT or related discipline)
• Change Management certification. Ex. MOP
• Project Management certification. Ex:
• Business Analysis certification

Driving License

• Ability to travel to / be on site as needed at any / all client officeslisted ( Blanchardstown,Athlone, Tullamore.) is mandatory

Language Requirements

• Fluent English language skills

The work may include, but is not limited to, the following core areas:

• Drive the business readiness agenda from anoperational and user preparedness perspective.
• Develop and adapt the business readiness strategy,goals and plan.
• Develop and implement meaningful training, guidanceand support plans, including support materials for schools participating in thepilot programme, impacted parents/guardians and DEY staff.
• Support stakeholder engagement and participantreadiness activities associated with familiarisation sessions, demonstrationsand User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Develop and implement business readiness approaches,including operational guidance, process documentation and readiness materials.
• Deliver a range of readiness activities to supportoperational preparedness, adoption, engagement and the successfulimplementation of the pilot.
• Act as the point of contact between business owners,the programme team and wider stakeholder group on readiness matters.
• Facilitate workshops, meetings and planning sessionsto help shape, drive and align business readiness.
• Conduct business readiness assessments.

Requirements

• A strong and relevant track record in leading BusinessReadiness and operational transition activities within a public sectororganisation or similarly regulated environment, including work involvingpolicy interpretation, service establishment and operational transformation.
• The ability to work collaboratively and flexibly withinternal stakeholders, including policy units, operational services, ICT teamsand external partners, operating effectively within established governance,assurance and decision-making structures.