Senior Functional Consultant (Dynamics 365/ Power Platform)

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Senior Functional Consultant (Microsoft Dynamics 365/ Power Platform)

Permanent

Manchester: £55,700 - £65,759

Smart Working - Approximately 2 days per week in office although this may be more/less depending on work requirements.

Are you ready to lead with impact? Imagine being at the heart of strategic transformation, where your expertise in Dynamics 365 and Power Platform will shape business processes, unlock efficiencies, and drive innovation. Think you’ve got what it takes to make a lasting difference?

At AQA, we need a Senior Functional Consultant to guide the evolution of our Microsoft Dynamics Customer Engagement and Power Platform technologies. You’ll be the trusted technical authority, providing architectural direction, influencing senior stakeholders, and designing solutions that maximize our cost-benefit impact.

What you’ll get: 

• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus all Bank Holidays and additional Christmas office closure. 

• Flexible Working: A 35-hour week with the empowerment to deliver requirements of your role when it suits everyone.

• Develop yourself at work: Receive sponsorship for apprenticeships and other qualifications.

• Competitive Pension Scheme: Excellent contributory pension plan (6% - 11.5% based on your contribution). 

• Your health and wellbeing: BUPA private medical insurance, gym membership/ access and free access the Headspace app. 

• Other benefits: Life assurance, electric car salary sacrifice and an enhanced maternity/paternity scheme. 

What You’ll Do:

At AQA Dynamics 365 is used by 100’s of colleagues , providing front line customer services, sales as well as custom functionality to support our mission to never let a learner down.

In this role, as one of three senior functional consultants, you'll be the driving force behind our system improvements. You will work directly with key stakeholders, leading the delivery of innovative solutions across business units. From scoping and designing to implementation and support, your influence will be felt at every stage. As the go-to expert in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, you’ll manage the application lifecycle, ensure smooth delivery through effective project management, and inspire your team to perform at their best.

Your knowledge of the Microsoft Power Platform will enable you to transform business processes, while your leadership will ensure we stay ahead of industry trends, guiding AQA to new heights. You will also manage relationships with suppliers and other external parties to ensure the seamless integration and functionality of solutions

What You’ll Need:

• Expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365/Power Platform with hands-on solution-building experience, including DevOps and deployment
• Excellent communication and leadership skills to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, from business teams to senior executives.
• A track record in delivering custom solutions built on Power Platform/Dynamics 365
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and project management abilities.
• In depth knowledge of Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform and how it fits into the wider Azure environment
• A proactive mindset, always seeking continuous improvement and innovation.
• Relevant Microsoft Professional certifications (PL200 Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate or MB-230 Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate) (desirable but not essential).

Ready to apply? 

If the role looks of interest and you would like to apply, please do so via our portal. Every application will be provided with a written response! 

We are reviewing applications as they come through and reserve the right to close this role early. 

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose: The Senior Functional Consultant enables the delivery of AQA’s strategic objectives by optimally leveraging the use of key technologies based on the Microsoft Power Platform – Dynamics CE, Dynamics Sales and other related software. This involves the application of in-depth expertise and system knowledge to understand stakeholders’ vision and translate those strategic requirements to design and deliver best practice solutions.
As the Technical Authority for Dynamics 365 it means providing architectural direction and support for the creation of improved and new business processes. The role is responsible for scoping, designing, developing, implementing and supporting the system change that is delivered by the team.Landscape: The Senior Functional Consultants report into the Head of Enterprise Applications and they line manage the other functional roles in the team. The role is a key interface to stakeholders of all levels across all business areas, particularly those in Customer & Product and Chief Operating Office. Other key relationships include those with colleagues in Assessment Technology, Architecture, Security & Risk and external suppliers.
The Senior Functional Consultant works with business teams and senior decision makers to help them understand how Dynamics 365 / Power Platform can unlock business efficiencies and solve complex business problems by designing and delivering best practice solutions to ensure maximum cost-benefit impact. These solutions address both immediate business needs for our customers and the longer-term roadmap.
Activities:
Collaborates and engages with stakeholders throughout the business (up to Exec level) to ensure understanding of Dynamics CE/ Power Platform capabilities and the specification of comprehensive sets of requirements aligned to business and customer objectives with clearly defined benefits
Provides in-depth expert knowledge of the Microsoft Dynamics CE and Power Platform applications and evaluates the business processes against the standard functionality (Gap/Fit). Applies technical understanding of the system to provide best practice advice for all required business processes
Influences and guides stakeholders through the customisation, configuration and deployment of Power Platform components, aligning solutions with organisational strategies
Technical Authority for Dynamics 365 in their solution domain area
Responsible for the whole Dynamics 365 application lifecycle, from solution design through to testing and ongoing support
Takes ownership of escalated issues and progresses to resolution, engaging with external parties (suppliers/ partners) as necessary
Manages and co-ordinates delivery of the team activity pipeline using appropriate tooling (Azure DevOps)
Models leadership behaviours and gets the very best from direct reports and teams by providing clarity, feedback, coaching, mentoring and development, while continuously seeking to enhance performance in line with business objectives
Sets challenging targets and support staff to achieve them whilst managing performance effectively
Ensures the cost effective use of the systems by cost impact assessments and usage of appropriate licence profiles
Leads implementation activities, change control and release planning
Project manages the Dynamics/ Power Platform solutions delivery, including the planning, scheduling of resources and execution of activities. 
Proactively provides the expert voice on Power Platform/ Dynamics 365 to other AQA technical and business teams, including senior management and Executive.
Stays abreast of industry trends and Microsoft updates, utilising this knowledge to provide thought leadership and strategic insights
Supports and enforces the maintenance of data quality and integrity within the system
Assesses the impact of new functionality available in Microsoft releases and identifies technical opportunities to support existing or future business requirements, to support both current delivery plans and future roadmap plans. Also manages any deprecation risks
Advocates for low code/ no code approaches to solve business problems
Manages and retains oversight of any solutions delivered through 3rd parties
Actively manages the applications to ensure they remain efficient, effective and streamlined
Demonstrates commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change
Ensures AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative/ regulatory requirements. Proactively manages relevant risks accordingly
Adopts a continuous improvement approach to ensure the ongoing optimisation of the solutions and service being delivered to the business
Need to know (to be successful in this role, you will need to know):
Experienced Dynamics 365 professional who has a strong understanding and extensive hands on experience of building power platform solutions, including integration with other systems
Excellent communicator – able to consult, influence, challenge and negotiate effectively with stakeholders and partners, both technical and non-technical to achieve desired outcomes. This includes senior leader and Director/ Exec level stakeholders.
Analytical skills to identify, analyse and document complex requirements and produce precise technical specifications
Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills with a keen understanding of the intersection between technology and business strategy
Proven ability to manage issues, risks and problems from identification through to resolution
Strong project manager skills with successful track record of managing delivery using standard methodologies
Ability to translate a vision into achievable goals and provide clear direction to achieve organisational objectives
Strong influencer, able to build stakeholder confidence, plus manage ambiguity and competing priorities to deliver in line with business need
Proven track record of change delivery to improve customer experience and process efficiency
Experience of managing the full change cycle using appropriate software development methodology (including Agile) and tooling (preferably Azure DevOps)
A proactive change oriented leader who can inspire others with a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation and the delivery of results
In depth knowledge of Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform and how it fits into the wider Azure environment
Strong understanding of relevant data management principles and their effective application to software
Agile and resilient – able to make pragmatic decisions and deliver at pace
Solid understanding of project methodologies and ITIL principles (certification desirable)
Microsoft Professional certification desirable
Effective leader of people
Proactive in resolving issues and driving change proactively and pragmatically in a complex organisation through cross-organisational working
Have a “step up” mindset – use sound judgment and take accountability for actions
Experience of writing test plans and coaching users in writing and executing UAT scripts