Business Engagement Manager

Smiths Group; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Detection in the United Kingdom seeks a Business Engagement Manager to bridge IT and business units, translating strategy into practical tech roadmaps and value

You will build credibility with senior leaders, influence decision-making and prioritise technology investments to maximise organisational value, while partnering with IT teams to deliver outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in IT–business alignment and strategic partnering.
• Strong stakeholder management with senior leaders.
• Ability to translate business needs into technology opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Act as the strategic bridge between IT and business units.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and department leaders.
• Translate business strategies into technology opportunities and roadmaps.
• Guide demand management, portfolio shaping and ROI assessments.
• Collaborate with PMO, architecture and delivery teams to prioritise initiatives.

Skills

Strategic Partnering

Stakeholder Management

Influencing Decisions

Business Acumen

Communication Excellence

Tools

SAP

Job description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the‑art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

We are looking for a Business Engagement Manager to act as the strategic bridge between IT and the business.

This role sits at the front door of IT, partnering with business leaders to understand challenges, identify opportunities, shape technology demand and ensure the organisation gets maximum value from technology investments. You will build trusted relationships with stakeholders, influence decision‑making, and help translate business priorities into practical technology solutions and roadmaps.

This is not a technical delivery role. Instead, we are looking for someone who can listen, challenge, advise and build credibility with business leaders while working closely with IT teams to ensure the right solutions are prioritised and delivered.

You will operate as a trusted advisor within your business area.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Strategic Business Partnering
• Serve as the primary point of contact between IT and assigned business functions.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and department leaders.
• Understand business challenges, opportunities, objectives and pain points.
• Translate business strategies into technology opportunities and improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate strategic planning discussions and help shape future technology roadmaps.
• Provide guidance on technology capabilities, innovation opportunities, AI solutions and digital transformation initiatives.
• Demand Management & Portfolio Shaping
• Capture, assess and qualify business demand for technology solutions.
• Lead discussions to define scope, benefits, priorities and expected outcomes.
• Challenge and refine business requirements to ensure clarity and value.
• Develop business cases and support ROI assessments.
• Collaborate with PMO, architecture and delivery teams to prioritise initiatives and maintain portfolio visibility.
• Ensure technology investments align with business strategy and enterprise standards.

Relationship Management & Service Excellence

• Act as a trusted escalation point for IT service concerns and business issues.
• Gather feedback from stakeholders and help drive improvements in service delivery.
• Work closely with service, operations and delivery teams to resolve challenges and improve user experience.
• Ensure business functions receive effective support from IT and maintain confidence in technology services.
• Champion continuous improvement and simplification across business processes and technology platforms.

Governance & Collaboration

• Participate in governance forums, leadership meetings and prioritisation discussions.
• Support decision‑making through clear assessment of risks, value, dependencies and organisational readiness.
• Collaborate across architecture, cyber security, data, operations and project delivery teams.
• Ensure enterprise‑wide implications are considered when shaping new initiatives.

What Will Make You Successful?

• Naturally curious and passionate about understanding how businesses operate.
• Able to build credibility quickly with both business and IT stakeholders.
• Comfortable challenging thinking and influencing decisions constructively.
• A strong listener who can identify the root cause behind business problems.
• Commercially aware and capable of evaluating value, benefits and return on investment.
• Confident navigating ambiguity and helping stakeholders shape ideas into actionable initiatives.
• Equally comfortable discussing strategy with senior leaders and operational challenges with frontline teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in an IT Business Partner, Business Engagement, Business Relationship Management, Product Management, Senior Business Analyst or Technology Consulting role.
• Strong stakeholder management experience, including engagement with senior leaders.
• Proven ability to build relationships, establish trust and influence decisions.
• Experience translating business needs into technology initiatives and delivery plans.
• Understanding of IT operating models and technology delivery methodologies.
• Experience gathering requirements, defining scope and shaping business cases.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple stakeholders and initiatives.
• Experience supporting Service, Operations, Customer Support or Field Service functions.
• Exposure to manufacturing, engineering, industrial or global enterprise environments.
• Experience working within portfolio management, PMO or governance frameworks.
• Knowledge of ERP platforms such as SAP.
• Understanding of AI, automation and digital transformation opportunities.
• Experience working within international or matrix organisations

Additional Information

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial andlifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world‑leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website.

By clicking the link above or any third-party link within this posting, you are leaving this site and going to a third‑party website where the third‑party website's terms and privacy policy apply