Specialist advice TECH

Providing authoritative advice and direction in a specialist area.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

Updates for SFIA 9

There is an updated version of this skill for SFIA 9.
Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions).
Guidance updated to aid understanding and application of this skill
Content and/or readability changes have been made to levels 4, 5, and 6.
You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping are not impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

The skill includes developing and exploiting specialist knowledge.

The expertise and specialist knowledge may relate to a specific area of information or communications technology, digital working, techniques, methodologies, products or application areas.

It may also include the application of professional knowledge in other disciplines to information and technology topics. These include disciplines such as — but not limited to — legal, finance, public relations, communications, ethics, human resources management.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...

Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.

Where higher levels are not defined...

Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities

Where higher levels are not defined...

You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Click to learn why SFIA skills are not defined at all 7 levels.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Level 1

Level 1 - Follow: Essence of the level: Performs routine tasks under close supervision, follows instructions, and requires guidance to complete their work. Learns and applies basic skills and knowledge.

Level 2

Level 2 - Assist: Essence of the level: Provides assistance to others, works under routine supervision, and uses their discretion to address routine problems. Actively learns through training and on-the-job experiences.

Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Specialist advice: Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Provides detailed and specific advice regarding the application of their specialism to the organisation's planning and operations.

Actively maintains knowledge in one or more identifiable specialisms.

Recognises and identifies the boundaries of their own specialist knowledge.

Where appropriate, collaborates with other specialists to ensure advice given is appropriate to the organisation's needs.

Specialist advice: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Provides definitive and expert advice in their specialist area.

Actively maintains recognised expert level knowledge in one or more identifiable specialisms.

Oversees the provision of specialist advice by others. Consolidates expertise from multiple sources, including third-party experts, to provide coherent advice to further organisational objectives.

Supports and promotes the development and sharing of specialist knowledge within the organisation.

Specialist advice: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Provides organisational leadership and guidelines to promote the development and exploitation of specialist knowledge in the organisation.

Maintains a network of recognised experts (inside and/or outside the organisation) who can deliver expert advice in relevant areas.

Provides input into professional development planning across a significant part of the organisation to further the development of appropriate expertise.

Level 7

Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise: Essence of the level: Operates at the highest organisational level, determines overall organisational vision and strategy, and assumes accountability for overall success.