Specialist advice TECH

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Providing authoritative, professional advice and direction in a specialist area.

SFIA 9 is in development

SFIA 9 beta due in early July 2024
SFIA 9 planned for publication October 2024

This is a prototype for SFIA 9. It is subject to change before publication.

Guidance notes

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This skill entails developing and using specialist knowledge to offer authoritative advice and direction, distinct from general guidance or troubleshooting.

Professional advice is the provision of expert, objective, and evidence-based recommendations, guidance, and solutions to address specific challenges or opportunities, drawing upon the advisor's in-depth knowledge, skills, and experience.

Expertise may cover a particular aspect of information or communications technology, digital practices, methodologies, or application areas, and can extend to applying knowledge from other disciplines, such as legal, finance, public relations, ethics or human resources, to technology-related topics.

Activities include, but are not limited to:

research and analysis to stay current with the latest developments in the specialist area
providing subject matter expert advice and recommendations based on thorough understanding of the subject
collaborating with other specialists to ensure comprehensive and cohesive advice
clearly communicating complex information to non-experts
creating guidelines, standards, and best practices related to the specialist area
providing mentorship and guidance to support the development of specialist knowledge within the organisation

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 reponsibilities.

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 with tasks (generic examples are provided by the essence statements for each level)

Where higher levels are not defined...

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

Levels

Defined at these levels:

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 supervises others, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

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Provides detailed and specific advice to support the organisation's planning and operations, typically related to the immediate area of responsibility.

Actively maintains recognised expert level 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 professionally sound and 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 achieving workgroup objectives and managing work from analysis to execution and evaluation.

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Provides professional advice that informs operational leadership and influences the translation of strategy into operations in their specialist area.

Oversees the provision of specialist advice by others. Consolidates expertise from multiple sources, including third-party experts, to provide coherent and professionally sound 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, fosters organizational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

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Leads and promotes the development and application of specialist knowledge across the organisation, delivering professional advice that shapes direction and high-level decisions.

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

Actively influences professional development planning across a significant part of the organisation to further the development of appropriate expertise and provision of high-quality professional advice.

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.

Small change