Technology Innovation Officer

About Palladium:

Palladium is in the business of making the world a better place, and we believe that collaborative models and systemic approaches are the way to achieve progress and success. It's no longer enough to pursue social progress or commercial growth. In fact, we don't believe you can have one without the other. When you have both, that's what we call "Positive Impact". For nearly 60 years, we’ve been helping our clients to see the world as interconnected – by formulating strategies, building partnerships, mobilising capital, and implementing programs that have a lasting social and financial impact.

In June 2022, Palladium merged with Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc. (GISI) of the United States to become the Global Sustainability and & Impact platform in its workforce now exceeding 14,000 professionals.  In addition to the Construction Services, Engineering & Consulting platforms, Palladium will deliver its services to a market that recognizes that physical infrastructure must be supported by meaningful social infrastructure. www.gisi.com

Palladium selected GISI as a merger partner because as one of its core values, it embraces a partnership approach to transition ownership, enabling its merger partner companies to grow and diversify without compromising their legacies and brands. The Company Management team shares its expertise and provides broader market reach through its industry relationships and networking. The employee ownership concept provides management and key employees the opportunity of ownership in a global enterprise that is well positioned to serve the needs of its partnering companies.

This Opportunity:

The Technology Innovation Officer (TIO) will play an integral role in driving Palladium’s strategic business priorities and transformation by leveraging technology and digital enablement. This role will require a combination of technology and business strategy expertise to optimize operations, improve performance, and contribute to our development of impact. The role is both strategic and operational, responsible for developing the technology approach for the company incorporating solution design to enable the business and appropriate use of emerging technologies, such as AI, to improve business operations and outcomes.

Initially the TIO will prioritise needs assessment, strategy development and solution design as a six-month consulting style assignment, with a Digital Strategy being a key deliverable. Upon completion, the focus will turn to implementation in conjunction with Palladium stakeholders, to include the Global ICT team and client facing digital/technology consulting teams.  In both the initial phase and beyond, the TIO will engage and support the Office of the CEO and COO in developing long-term strategies and communicating the vision of the company to employees and the public. The TIO will concentrate on implementing those strategies and executing related short-term plans including the roll out of training and staff development. In executing the strategies, the TIO will also act as a critical intermediatory between the company’s internal ICT team and the client facing consulting teams. 

Location:

The position is based in Palladium’s London, UK office.

You and Your Career:

If you are a leader and you have expertise in managing complex technology operations, preferably in the international development sector, we are interested in hearing from you. 

We are a learning organization and provide growth opportunities from the start.  We pride ourselves on giving you the freedom, resources, and guidance to chart a fulfilling career!

Reporting Lines:

The role will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and deliver the following reporting requirements:

Manage and/or attend of all meetings as required.
Regular updates with the COO and Co-CEOs.
Exception reports as and when required.
The role will be required to liaise closely with all levels of the business.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities: 

As Technology Innovation Officer, you will be responsible for leading innovations to systems design, technology and AI ensuring the successful delivery of our programs and efficient operations of the business. Working with Global ICT you will also play a key role in shaping the technological strategic direction of the company, ensuring that our technologies are aligned with our overall mission and goals.

Technology Innovation Strategy:

Working with the existing ICT leadership and COO:

Develop and implement the company’s technology innovation strategy in alignment with business goals.
Identify and evaluate emerging technologies to ensure the company remains at the forefront of innovation.
Oversee the development and implementation of technology initiatives to improve cost-effectiveness, service quality, and business development.

Solution Design:

Work with Global ICT to design scalable, secure, and high-performance analytical and transactional IT solutions.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into technical specifications.
Ensure that solutions are aligned with industry best practices, regulatory requirements and client contractual requirements.
Prioritize and drive the development of a cohesive enterprise architecture, creating a systems integration ecosystem across Palladium’s business and technology portfolio.

Client Technology Solutioning:

Working with client facing digital/technology practice areas, focus on digital strategy, technology enablement of client engagements, and complex platform design/commissioning, working with key Palladium market-segment leaders.
Build capabilities in enterprise and solutions architecture, consulting/client engagement expertise, and broaden experience with diverse technologies, including new and emerging areas such as AI.
Lead research and development of future IT solutions for both client and internal usage

Systems Development

Contribute to the selection, development and implementation of systems.
Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, particularly in AI, to ensure the company remains at the forefront of innovation.
Establish processes and oversee system implementation working with key business leaders to roll-out systems using change management frameworks.
Participate in GISI wide initiatives for business data system strategy and integration.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Engage with clients and partners to understand their needs and provide tailored technology solutions, working with key Palladium market-segment leaders.
Promote a culture that embraces technology and acts as a key liaison between the technology team and other departments, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
Present technology strategies and solutions to the executive team and stakeholders, educating and building technology leadership competencies as required.
Act as a key liaison between the technology team and other departments, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.

Capacity Building:

Help build capacity on technology solutions across the company.

Financial Management:

Develop and deliver against an approved technology budget including working closely with the finance team and the COO to ensure that vendor relationships represent best value.
Together with the COO, quantify the impact of technological innovations on the efficiency and performance of the business.
Manage technology budget and project spend, maximizing outputs and project income within our external programs.

Reporting

Ensure continuous monitoring of performance against both budget and strategy to identify areas of concern and to recommend appropriate mitigating measures.

Compliance

Ensure operational compliance with legal, regulatory and client contracting regulations.
Maintain awareness of changes in obligations and markets shifts.

Essential Criteria:

Proven experience in leading and managing complex technology operations, preferably in the international development sector.
Experience designing and executing technology strategies including costing and budgeting
Connected with industry working groups networks to keep ahead of current technology and client requirements
Change management experience
People management experience, including setting clear performance objectives, managing for results, giving and receiving feedback, performance evaluation and mentoring/coaching staff.
Strong understanding of ODA principles and practices, as well as experience with project management, financial management, and risk management.
Familiarity with current Information Technology and Cybersecurity operational and risk environments.
Demonstrated personal and situational awareness to build stakeholder confidence and positive relationships with individuals across all levels and areas of the firm.
Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire teams across different cultures and geographies.
Demonstrated respect for diversity and inclusion and works to actively promote an inclusive work environment and good working relationships amongst other people.
High standard of written, verbal, and presentation communication skills including public speaking.
Proven ability to convey the technology concepts of operations to non-technological managers (training, coaching, tool development).
Commitment to Palladium’s vision, mission and values.
Key Competency Requirements - These competencies are the Palladium core competencies for senior management and executive leadership roles.
Client/Customer relationship – focus on providing results and outcomes for our clients, customers and communities.
Financial and Commercial numeracy and literacy (inc M&A).
Project & Change Management skills/tools – including internal projects.
Building and leading effective teams (including SMEs).
Market & Business Development – either leading or supporting through relevant contribution.
Strategy agility.
Complex/challenging project delivery – external and/or internal.
Embedding institutional capabilities (process and technology).
Developing and managing people.
Communicating – in all environments.
Embracing digital opportunities.
EQ and IQ in balance.

Desirable Criteria:

Education in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.   

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitment process (due to disability, neurodiversity, or for any other circumstance), please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.  

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.