About the Skill levels

Autonomy

• Works under routine direction.
• Uses limited discretion in resolving issues or enquiries.
• Determines when to seek guidance in unexpected situations.
• Plans own work within short time horizons.

Influence

• Interacts with and may influence immediate colleagues.
• May have some external contact with customers, suppliers and partners.
• Aware of the need to collaborate with the team and represent users/customer needs.

Complexity

• Performs a range of work activities in varied environments.
• May contribute to routine issue resolution.
• May apply creative thinking or suggest new ways to approach a task.

Knowledge

• Has gained a basic domain knowledge.
• Demonstrates application of essential generic knowledge typically found in industry bodies of knowledge.
• Absorbs new information when it is presented systematically and applies it effectively.

Autonomy

• Works under general direction.
• Receives specific direction, accepts guidance and has work reviewed at agreed milestones.
• Uses discretion in identifying and responding to complex issues related to own assignments.
• Determines when issues should be escalated to a higher level.
• Plans and monitors own work (and that of others where applicable) competently within limited deadlines.

Influence

• Interacts with and influences colleagues.
• May oversee others or make decisions which impact routine work assigned to individuals or stages of projects.
• Has working level contact with customers, suppliers and partners.
• Understands and collaborates on the analysis of user/customer needs and represents this in their work.
• Contributes fully to the work of teams by appreciating how one’s own role relates to other roles.

Complexity

• Performs a range of work, sometimes complex and non-routine, in a variety of environments.
• Applies a methodical approach to routine and moderately complex issue definition and resolution.
• Applies and contributes to creative thinking or finds new ways to complete tasks.

Knowledge

• Has sound generic, domain and specialist knowledge necessary to perform effectively in the organisation typically gained from recognised bodies of knowledge and organisational information.
• Has an appreciation of the wider business context.
• Demonstrates effective application and the ability to impart knowledge found in industry bodies of knowledge.
• Absorbs new information and applies it effectively.

Autonomy

• Works under general direction within a clear framework of accountability.
• Exercises substantial personal responsibility and autonomy.
• Uses substantial discretion in identifying and responding to complex issues and assignments as they relate to the deliverable/scope of work.
• Escalates when issues fall outside their framework of accountability.
• Plans, schedules and monitors work to meet given objectives and processes to time and quality targets.

Influence

• Influences customers, suppliers and partners at account level.
• Makes decisions which influence the success of projects and team objectives.
• May have some responsibility for the work of others and for the allocation of resources.
• Engages with and contributes to the work of cross-functional teams to ensure that customers and user needs are being met throughout the deliverable/scope of work.
• Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who share common objectives.
• Participates in external activities related to their own specialism.

Complexity

• Work includes a broad range of complex technical or professional activities, in a variety of contexts.
• Investigates, defines and resolves complex issues.
• Applies, facilitates and develops creative thinking concepts or finds innovative ways to approach a deliverable.

Knowledge

• Has a thorough understanding of recognised generic industry bodies of knowledge and specialist bodies of knowledge as necessary.
• Has gained a thorough knowledge of the domain of the organisation.
• Is able to apply the knowledge effectively in unfamiliar situations and actively maintains own knowledge and shares with others.
• Rapidly absorbs and critically assesses new information and applies it effectively.

Autonomy

• Works under broad direction. Work is often self-initiated.
• Is fully responsible for meeting allocated technical and/or group objectives.
• Analyses, designs, plans, executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets.
• Establishes milestones and has a significant role in the assignment of tasks and/or responsibilities.

Influence

• Influences organisation, customers, suppliers, partners and peers on the contribution of their own specialism.
• Makes decisions which impact the success of assigned work, i.e. results, deadlines and budget.
• Has significant influence over the allocation and management of resources appropriate to given assignments.
• Leads on user/customer and group collaboration throughout all stages of work.
• Ensures users’ needs are met consistently through each work stage.
• Builds appropriate and effective business relationships across the organisation and with customers, suppliers and partners.
• Creates and supports collaborative ways of working across groups/areas of responsibility.
• Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who have diverse objectives.

Complexity

• Implements and executes policies aligned to strategic plans.
• Performs an extensive range and variety of complex technical and/or professional work activities.
• Undertakes work which requires the application of fundamental principles in a wide and often unpredictable range of contexts.
• Engages and coordinates with subject matter experts to resolve complex issues as they relate to customer/organisational requirements.
• Understands the relationships between own specialism and customer/organisational requirements.

Knowledge

• Is fully familiar with recognised industry bodies of knowledge both generic and specific, and knowledge of the business, suppliers, partners, competitors and clients.
• Develops a wider breadth of knowledge across the industry or business.
• Applies knowledge to help to define the standards which others will apply.

Autonomy

• Has defined authority and accountability for actions and decisions within a significant area of work, including technical, financial and quality aspects.
• Establishes organisational objectives and assigns responsibilities.

Influence

• Influences policy and strategy formation.
• Initiates influential relationships with internal and external customers, suppliers and partners at senior management level, including industry leaders.
• Leads on collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders across competing objectives within the organisation.
• Makes decisions which impact the achievement of organisational objectives and financial performance.

Complexity

• Contributes to the development and implementation of policy and strategy.
• Performs highly complex work activities covering technical, financial and quality aspects.
• Has deep expertise in own specialism(s) and an understanding of its impact on the broader business and wider customer/organisation.

Knowledge

• Has developed business knowledge of the activities and practices of own organisation and those of suppliers, partners, competitors and clients.
• Promotes the application of generic and specific bodies of knowledge in their own organisation.
• Develops executive leadership skills and broadens and deepens their industry or business knowledge.

Autonomy

• At the highest organisational level, has authority over all aspects of a significant area of work, including policy formation and application.
• Is fully accountable for actions taken and decisions made, both by self and others to whom responsibilities have been assigned.

Influence

• Inspires the organisation, and influences developments within the industry at the highest levels.
• Makes decisions critical to organisational success.
• Develops long-term strategic relationships with customers, partners, industry leaders and government.
• Collaborates with leadership stakeholders ensuring alignment to corporate vision and strategy.

Complexity

• Applies the highest level of leadership to the formulation and implementation of strategy.
• Performs extensive strategic leadership in delivering business value through vision, governance and executive management.
• Has a deep understanding of the industry and the implications of emerging technologies for the wider business environment.

Knowledge

• Has established a broad and deep business knowledge including the activities and practices of own organisation and a broad knowledge of those of suppliers, partners, competitors and clients.
• Fosters a culture to encourage the strategic application of generic and specific bodies of knowledge within their own area of influence.