Senior Systems Specialist

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About the Department Digital Solutions & Services are responsible for providing the digital platform to enable the best possible service to staff, students and stakeholders across the University and beyond. We take a collaborative approach to developing strategic goals to provide a diverse range of information technology and business services designed to support learning, teaching and research at the University of Derby.
Digital Solutions & Services are responsible for ensuring that the University’s IT capability is fit for purpose, future focused and able to protect, support and enhance the full breadth of services that will be delivered either on campus or digitally online with contributions across the department. We aim to assist students, teaching staff, support departments and collaborative partners to ensure we are making an impact on the University’s current and future digital landscape.
About the Role As Senior Systems Specialist for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) you will be responsible for the administration, maintenance, and optimization of our Microsoft Dynamics 365 environment. This role is critical in ensuring the platform is stable, secure, and fully aligned with business needs.
In this role, you will oversee the daily administration and maintenance of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 system to ensure optimal performance. You will manage user access, security roles, and permissions to maintain data integrity and safeguard sensitive information. Your responsibilities will include configuring, customizing, and troubleshooting Dynamics 365 applications to streamline workflows and enhance automation.
You will work closely with stakeholders to gather business requirements and implement effective solutions that support and improve operational processes. Additionally, you will monitor system performance, address technical issues, and apply necessary updates, patches, and upgrades to maintain system reliability. As Senior Systems Specialist you will also develop and maintain detailed documentation, including system configurations, business processes, and user training materials. Providing end-user support and training is a key aspect of the role, ensuring that teams can effectively utilize the system. Furthermore, collaborating with IT and business teams you will integrate Dynamics 365 with other enterprise systems, supporting a cohesive and efficient technology environment.
Key Objectives & Deliverables Short-Term

• Gain a deep understanding of our existing Dynamics 365 environment and support current business processes.
• Implement system optimizations and quick wins to enhance efficiency.
• Ensure user access and security settings are correctly configured.

Medium-Term

• Work on automation initiatives, such as Power Automate and workflows, to streamline processes.
• Support the migration of legacy data and ensure system integrity.
• Improve reporting and analytics capabilities using Power BI or similar tools.

Long-Term

• Lead efforts to upgrade and scale the Dynamics 365 system in line with business growth.
• Identify and implement best practices to maximize the system's potential.
• Drive user adoption through continuous training and support.

Team & Working Conditions This role is part of a small team of application specialists, fostering close collaboration and a shared focus on system excellence. There is potential to work with external vendors or consultants on system enhancements, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange and continuous improvement. While the position typically follows standard working hours, it may occasionally require on-call support during system upgrades, critical issues, or key periods of system usage, such as cleaning and enrolment.
Career Development & Growth This role offers the opportunity to gain certifications in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and related Microsoft technologies, supporting professional development and expertise in the platform. Additionally, it provides valuable exposure to Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI) for automation and analytics.
Anticipated interview date: 17/06/25
About You We are seeking a CRM professional with a strong understanding of Microsoft Dynamics. The ideal candidate will have expertise in system administration, service management and customer relationships.
You'll have demonstrable experience in developing, implementing and maintaining CRM systems. Additionally, the role requires the ability to branch out into the support and maintenance of other systems and services.
Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

Key Contact For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Sandra Stevenson-Revill, Business Systems Manager via s.revill@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University.
The offered salary for this role is less than the going rate for the occupation and the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£38,700 per annum). Therefore you will only be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa subject to your individual circumstances which must meet one of the following criteria set out by UKVI:

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

You must also meet the English Language requirement.
Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.
For more information, visit Applying from Overseas.