Application Consultant (TOMS) - Kempton Park at DHL

Role Outline

The role of the Application Consultant is to “translate” – in close cooperation with the Business Analyst – customer/business requirements and processes into a standardized IT solution. The emphasis of this role is to set up, test and train the applications to work according to the agreed business requirements and guide the business in its proper use. Moreover, the Application Consultant is to support the engagement of the Application Developers to help the design of the required customizations in agreement with the actual application configuration.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Implement IT solutions
• Working out in detail improvements of existing IT solutions
• Acting as the go-to expert for medium to complex technical questions on IT solutions
• Independently obtaining expert input from and aligning with Business Analyst on design and improvements of blueprints
• Guarantee adherence to defined standardized IT solutions 

Analysis and translation of requirements

• Understand business requirements and processes in all its details
• Support definition of technical detail of the IT solution as requested by DePICT and ONE.DEPLOY methodologies
• Document the chosen solution
• Communication of technical information to a non-technical audience and vice versa

Realise a chosen solution

• Setup of chosen solution in the application (no coding)
• Work closely together with suppliers to get the agreed deliverables including developments from Application Developers
• Create and execute (non-UAT) tests; document and communicate results to the Project/Workstream Leaders
• Acceptance of supplier deliverables
• Deliver requested deliverables as defined by Project/Workstream Leaders in agreement with DePICT and ONE.DEPLOY methodologies

Prepare for “go-live”, support during “go-live”

• (Support) data collection activities
• Checking collected data and execute data conversion
• Train operational (key) users in the use of the IT solution
• Support business during “go-live”
• Document delivered solution as part of project closure activities

Hypercare Activities

• Provide configuration and data support (L1/L2 application support) during hypercare in case of production issue
• Write documentation for handover of GAPs to L2 centralized support team and help local team to be prepared for L1 support

Implement assigned deliverables withing agreed budget and timeline

• Clearly communicate any deviation in budget & schedule with explanation on the reason of the deviation
• Transmit passion to the work and to the DPDHL and MLEMEA strategic programs
• Guide people in the change process from actual operative procedures to the new procedures

Qualifications/ Skills/Competencies/Experience

• Matric – Essential
• Bachelor/Master's degree in Computer Science, Business Administration or relevant education and work experience in supply chain and/or logistics
• Prior training and certification in strategic products (e.g. RP Manhattan, OTM, OPSi) is a strong advantage
• Familiar with business analysis. BABOK certification is an advantage
• Good knowledge of and insight in E2E supply chain management
• Familiar with operational standardization concepts within Supply Chain and/or in other businesses
• Familiar with or specialist in DHL Operational Standards and sector best practices
• Minimum 1 year experience with the setup of logistics processes and related applications
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with the setup of logistics processes and related applications (senior)
• Minimum 1 year project delivery experience
• Minimum 3 years project delivery experience (senior)
• Familiar with, specialist or expert (depending on level) in DHL IT products implementation/configuration skills, good testing, and training skills
• Familiar with or specialist (depending on level) in the major DHL IT solutions – product knowledge, good implementation/configuration skills, being able to configure (normal/high complexity) E2E implementations independently                     

Competencies & Skills

• Ability to translate process requirements into system requirements
• Analytical skills
• Customer and supplier contact
• Ability to manage own and outsourced work in an organized and methodical way, maintaining accurate records and reporting progress
• Ability to train colleagues in the system
• Ability to help colleagues with specific expertise and to coach on content and skills (buddy principle)
• Detailed knowledge of logistics processes (warehousing and transportation)
• Understand impact of IT solution on standardized operations, incl. sparring with engineer to propose alternative (e.g. operational) solutions
• Travel in EMEA may be required (depending on project)
• Ability to work in a high-pressure demanding environment
• Maintains effective relationships with customers
• Develops and delivers high quality / innovative services and solutions
• Focuses on customers and gains their commitment
• Gains management and colleague support to meet customer needs
• Act in line with DPDHL strategy
• Communicates DPDHL strategy
• Establishes clear, challenging, and achievable objectives
• Coordinates effort and aligns resources to achieve objectives if required by the project
• Regularly reviews and communicates progress against objectives and adjusts as needed
• Takes responsibility for own decision and recognizes the contribution of others
• Provides candid and regular feedback
• Supports the development of others
• Inspires others to develop themselves
• Conveys a clear sense of personal goals and values
• Actively seeks feedback to improve performance
• Develops new skills and modifies behaviours based on feedback
• Takes responsibility for understanding client requirements, collecting data, delivering analysis and problem resolution. Identifies, evaluates, and recommends options, implementing if required. Collaborates with, and facilitates stakeholder groups, as part of formal or informal consultancy agreements. Seeks to fully address client needs, enhancing the capabilities and effectiveness of client personnel, by ensuring that proposed solutions are properly understood and appropriately exploited.
• Maintains an in-depth knowledge of specific specialisms and provides expert advice regarding their application. Can supervise specialist consultancy. The specialism can be any aspect of information or communication technology, technique, method, product, or application area.
• Configures software and equipment and tests platform-specific versions of one or more software products. Reports the outcome of testing and identifies potential improvements to the process and to the software products according to agreed designs and standards.
• Accepts responsibility for creation of test cases using own in-depth technical analysis of both functional and non-functional specifications (such as reliability, efficiency, usability, maintainability, and portability). Creates traceability records, from test cases back to requirements. Produces test scripts, materials, and regression test packs to test new and amended software or services. Specifies requirements for environment, data, resources, and tools. Interprets, executes and documents complex test scripts using agreed methods and standards. Records and analyses actions and results, and maintains a defect register. Reviews test results and modifies tests if necessary. Provides reports on progress, anomalies, risks and issues associated with the overall project. Reports on system quality and collects metrics on test cases. Provides specialist advice to support others.
• Identifies and resolves issues with applications, following agreed procedures. Uses application management software and tools to collect agreed performance statistics. Carries out agreed applications maintenance tasks.