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What do estimators do?
The role of the estimator is to analyse available source information for an initiative and provide a response that supports investment decisions for portfolios, programmes or projects as they progress through the change lifecycle. Estimators in HMRC determine the likely cost of delivering and maintaining the IT assets resulting from each initiative and also the likely amount of time necessary to deliver those assets. HMRCs estimators additionally assure IT quotes and estimates prepared by third parties and provide responses that inform commercial negotiations.
Typically, estimators work closely with IT architects, project and programme managers, commercial officers, finance officers and third party suppliers.
What does a senior estimator do?
Senior estimators provide guidance, support and leadership to estimators and associate estimators, ensuring that all tasks are completed on time, that deliverables are fully fit-for-purpose and that they satisfy applicable quality criteria. Senior estimators also take the lead on estimates that are very challenging, complex or that have unusual characteristics. They set strategy and direction within the team. The role involves a great deal of interaction with stakeholders at all levels in HMRC.
Job description
* Oversee and support the production of credible IT estimates and should-cost models by team members, providing guidance, direction and expertise as needed.
* For an agreed IT scope and IT solution/design/approach, undertake the most complex or challenging IT estimates, usually from limited and/or volatile information.
* Review and assure IT estimates and quote/tender assurance deliverables.
* Authorise release of IT estimates up to the threshold of delegated authority.
* Oversee and support the analysis of third party quote and tender documentation, reporting findings to programmes and projects that inform and support negotiations with third parties, providing guidance, direction and expertise as needed.
* Oversee and support data management activities and assure data deliverables, providing guidance, direction and expertise as needed.
* Formulate insights (e.g. themes and trends) from time and cost information.
Person specification
* Line management of a team of SO Estimators and HO Associate Estimators.
* Ensure that tasks are completed in compliance with relevant processes and any applicable standards and guidance.
* For all IT estimation and quote assurance tasks, ensure that the estimated effect of risk or opportunities upon an IT project or initiative, is calculated based upon relevant factors such as scale, proximity, probability and severity.
* Ensure the potential effect of uncertainty upon an IT project or initiative is drawn out and that each initiative is advised of ways to reduce or mitigate it.
* Provide briefings, advice, guidance and support to stakeholders on estimating in general and also for specific IT estimates.
* Agree strategic direction with the Head of IT Cost Engineering and implement it, taking any wider business context into account.
* Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and ever better ways of working, whilst encouraging other team members to do the same.
* Lead and/or sponsor innovation within the team, ensuring that the team is always abreast of developments across HMRC and well positioned to add maximum value to stakeholders. Some of these innovations will be transformational e.g. adoption of AI tools.
* Support and progress change initiatives that are sponsored by HMRC, by CDIO Group, by the CTDO Directorate and, more widely, the cross-Government Public Sector Advisory Community for Estimating (PsACE) community of interest.
Essential Criteria
* Demonstrate an analytical, innovative approach to problem solving.
* Be able to work with incomplete, ambiguous or fast-changing information where uncertainty is high.
* Be able to demonstrate strong people management/mentoring experience.
* Be able to articulate key messages to stakeholders at all levels up to ExCom level.
* Demonstrate a track record of consistently meeting aggressive deadlines.
Desirable Criteria
* Experience of estimating or forecasting the budgetary requirements for large change initiatives.
* An understanding of IT design, build and test processes and methodologies.
* Awareness or knowledge of software / hardware commercial cost models.
* Experience or knowledge of software sizing metrics e.g. Function Points.
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