Digital Project Officer - £34,524-£35,712 Tourism continues to be one of Northern Irelands most recognisable good news stories. Tourism NI is responsible for the development of tourism product and experiences across Northern Ireland as well as marketing to visitors within Northern Ireland and from the Republic of Ireland. Tourism is an industry that makes a real difference to the economy and job creation, accounting for 70,000 jobs, 9% of all jobs in Northern Ireland. In 2023 overnight visitors to Northern Ireland spent £1.2 billion, demonstrating tourisms importance to the Northern Ireland economy. Tourism NIs consumer brand Embrace a Giant Spirit has been widely adopted and is playing an important role in creating stand out for Northern Ireland as a destination. The brand encapsulates the spirit of the people, warmth of the welcome and the authenticity of the visitor experience in Northern Ireland. Brand campaigns are encouraging more visitors from key markets to experience a trip to Northern Ireland with particular success in attracting more visitors across the border. In 2023 there was an unprecedented number of visitors from the Republic to Northern Ireland, with over 1.3 million trips accounting for almost one quarter of all trips made in Northern Ireland. Overseas visitor accounted for over one third of all trips in Northern Ireland in 2023, while increasingly more Northern Ireland product is being added to tour operators itineraries from international markets. Tourism NI works closely with Tourism Ireland to win a bigger share of visitors to the island of Ireland. In 2024, Tourism Ireland set the target to grow regional, off-peak overseas tourism revenue by an average 6.5% year on year to 2030. Current investment includes a multi-million-pound refurbishment programme at Titanic Belfast, new hotels in Belfast, DerryLondonderry, and the North Coast and an expanding screen tourism product. Tourism NI is currently part of the bidding process to attract a number of major international events to Northern Ireland over the next five years, while planning is already underway to make the most of the opportunities in 2025 when The Open will return to Royal Portrush. Tourism NI is also closely involved in the tourism elements of the City and Growth Deal Programmes which will be crucial in helping to secure more spend from international visitors to the island. The Belfast Stories attraction, a maritime visitor attraction for Derry, the extension to The Gobbins, the Mourne Gateway Project and the regeneration of Hillsborough will add to our portfolio and complement the better known attractions. With a significant investment by both Tourism NI and the Department for the Economy in supporting the industry through recent challenges, the focus is now firmly on full recovery and a return to growth. DIGITAL PROJECT OFFICER GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY The Digital Services team works with colleagues across the organisation and third-party suppliers to deliver exceptional digital products which transform the way Tourism Northern Ireland (Tourism NI) works and meet the needs of tourism industry stakeholders. The Digital Project Officer is responsible for overseeing and managing multiple projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards. Key tasks include project planning, stakeholder communication, scope control, and quality assurance in the execution of digital projects. This includes the integration of business improvements using a customer-centric approach into all of Tourism NIs activities. MAIN DUTIES The Job Holder will be responsible for the following areas and activities: Leading and managing the digital project delivery lifecycle, from requirements gathering and scoping through to deployment. Obtain a deep understanding of relevant business area(s) and business requirements to be able to recommend solutions and build high-quality requirement. Identify opportunities to improve digital systems; champion a seamless and intuitive user experience. Engaging stakeholders and developers as team players to achieve outcomes largely through influence. Create paperwork as appropriate, including business case documentation, scope documentation, and business processes. Develop project proposals including justification, assessing limitations, risks, value, costs and expected benefits of new projects. Develop project plans, in consultation with Tourism NIs suppliers, for the implementation of digital projects. Support delivery teams as they develop, test, and deploy solutions. Review output to ensure requirements are correctly interpreted and define and execute test cases. Deliver user training and associated documentation as part of the Digital Work Programme Manage project suppliers, contracts and budget to ensure the delivery of successful outcomes. Assist with or manage the procurement of support or systems from third-party suppliers. Budget Management Assist in the delivery of the Digital Services Unit budget for this post thus ensuring Value for Money (VFM) in line with Tourism NIs Financial Procedures. Provide regular budget reports, as required, to the Unit Manager. Assist with providing Digital Services departmental returns. Employee & Project Management Support the Unit Manager in recruiting (resource dependent), managing, motivating and developing the team to ensure that key activities are undertaken professionally in an efficient and effective manner. Support the Unit Manager to ensure that Project/Unit activities are managed in line with Tourism NI policies, procedures, values and behaviours. Provide Line Management responsibilities for employees within the Digital Services unit including, motivation, coaching and learning and development. Additional Duties Assist in the delivery of project work within the Unit and across Tourism NI including representation at working groups and meetings. Contribute to the development and delivery of the Annual Unit Operating Plan, the achievement of targets and promote corporate values and behaviours within the team and across the organisation. Provide cover for Management within the Division to include decision making and attending meetings in their absence. Attend training as and when required and keep abreast of current and projected developments in your area of work. Provide briefing material and draft responses and reports/e-mails as and when required by Tourism NIs Executive Leadership & Senior Management Teams/Management/Employees, the Board, the Department for the Economy, the NI Assembly and members of the tourism industry/public within the specified timelines, in an appropriate format. Maintain, store and dispose of unit records in accordance with Tourism NI policy including the use of record management systems including Microsoft Teams and SharePoint. Manage the procurement and delivery of systems from external suppliers, including budget management. Any other relevant duties required by Tourism NI management. This Job Description has been written at a time of organisational change, and it will be subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolve. The Job Holder is therefore required to be flexible, adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the Job Description, but which are commensurate with the role and/or grade appointed or present an opportunity for development. PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL CRITERIA EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE Option 1 A sixth-level qualification (undergraduate degree) as detailed in the qualification framework (see Additional Information Section). AND A minimum of 2 years experience in Digital/ IT project delivery, to include: ownership of project or organisational goals and objectives. OR Option 2 i. A minimum of 4 years experience in Digital/ IT project delivery, to include: ownership of project or organisational goals and objectives. ESSENTIAL CRITERIA - Personal Effectiveness The Job Holder will also possess a high standard of: Collaborative leadership skills, with the ability to develop and maintain highly successful partnerships and motivate others to deliver a project. A customer-centric mindset, with the ability to balance competing pressures while maintaining the strategic direction of a project. A proven ability to analyse complex information and make effective decisions. Strong communication, problem resolution and influencing skills. DESIRABLE CRITERIA Leading and managing the delivery of digital projects to support business change. Prince 2 Project Management Certification or equivalent. Experience in Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Database management. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This is not an exhaustive list of duties and requirements. The nature of the organisation is such that it must respond to the dynamic environment in which it operates and the nature of duties, tasks, knowledge and skills required for this post will evolve and change in time. The Job Holder is expected to adapt to these changes and develop the role as a result. Applicants must also possess a current driving licence and use of a car for business purposes or have access to a form of transport which will permit the applicant to meet the requirements of the post in full. EQUALITY STATEMENT Tourism NI is committed to equality and will comply with the Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) statutory duties which requires designated public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the nine equality categories and to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief; political opinion; and racial group. The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) Section 49A requires designated public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons, and to the need to encourage participation by disabled persons in public life. Qualification Framework Some roles within Tourism Northern Ireland require a specific or minimum level of education which will be stipulated in the essential criteria for the role. When stating a particular qualification level, Tourism Northern Ireland will accept those at, or equivalent to, recognised list of Qualification Levels. FOR FULL APPLICATION PACK PLEASE CLICK APPLY BELOW. COMPLETING APPLICATIONS Those wishing to apply you should submit a completed application by clicking Apply below no later than Monday 3rd March 2025 at 12 noon. CVs will not be accepted as a substitute/supplement to the application form. TOURISM NI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER