At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business analysis for digital systems in health research, tackling complex problems and opportunities.
- Company: Join the Health Research Authority, a flexible and inclusive organisation making a real impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, professional development, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Work remotely from Manchester, Nottingham, or Bristol with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a difference in health research while developing your skills in a collaborative setting.
- Qualifications: Must have business analyst certification and experience in Agile methodologies.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Business analysis is central to the delivery of digital systems within the Health Research Authority (HRA). We are looking for a qualified senior business analyst who has experience of working in the full business analysis lifecycle, ideally in Scrum or SAFe on large digital developments. As a senior business analyst you will have expertise in business analysis, including requirement gathering and analysis, process mapping, gap analyses and the creation of detailed documentation, user stories and acceptance criteria.
Main duties of the job
- Apply structured approaches to identify, investigate, analyse and communicate complex business problems and opportunities, within a defined project.
- Analyse business goals, objectives, functions and processes, using relevant information and data to support the definition of requirements.
- Identify, analyse, challenge and validate business and user requirements.
- Use appropriate requirements management life cycle methods to complete tasks and outputs related to the project.
- Ensure proposed solutions meet business and user needs.
- Work with limited direction to complete tasks and defined outputs linked to the project.
- Understand the impact of potential changes and how business processes, systems, data, roles and responsibilities interact.
- Develop models and system requirements for bespoke IT systems or software packages.
- Identify business scenarios and develop acceptance criteria to ensure requirements can be traced to develop functionality.
- Work collaboratively with Subject Matter Experts in the business, User Centred Design, Product and Development/Test teams to capture and articulate user requirements.
This is not an exhaustive list, see the job description for details.
About us
Working at the HRA, we are reminded daily of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process. When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement - if it works for us, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job responsibilities
This role sits within HRA Digital. The digital directorate is responsible for developing, delivering and supporting complex solutions within the HRA's portfolio of UK-wide information systems for health and care research. This includes a major programme to build new systems, and to achieve the successful migration and eventual closure of current systems. The HRA Digital team is a collaborative, supportive team consisting of HRA employees, secondees, contractors and vendors.
To find out more and to understand the full duties of the role, please refer to the job description attached.
In submitting your application with us, please note the following:
- We currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.
- We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement.
- Where applicants fail to demonstrate how they meet any one of the essential criteria of the person specification, the application will not be shortlisted.
- You will be considered based only on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered.
- The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Recognised business analyst certification (either BCS Foundation / Practitioner or IIBA CCBA/CBAP certifications).
- Evidence of commitment to ongoing personal and professional development and training.
- Educated to master's degree or equivalent experience showing capability to work at this level.
- Recognised certification in Agile (for example Scrum Alliance).
Knowledge, skills and expertise
- Working effectively with a diverse group of internal and external senior business and IT stakeholders along with management of relationships across different levels of seniority.
- Deep understanding of elicitation, documentation and management of high-level and detailed business requirements, working collaboratively with design and technical teams to ensure feasible, user-centred and deliverable solutions.
- Proven ability to translate business requirements and designs into clear, testable user stories and acceptance criteria.
- Capture and lead end-to-end process mapping using BPMN 2.0 and Visio; identifying impacts, dependencies and opportunities for improvement across people, process and technology.
Experience
- Large portfolio of experience demonstrating successful working at a senior business analyst level supporting the entire projects, programmes and development lifecycle.
- Working at both a strategic and low level, assuring the feasibility of proposed solutions along with the ability to take a holistic view.
- Experience of working in complex multi-stakeholder environments (for example complex regulatory settings or where managing divergent stakeholder views).
- Advising senior stakeholders on business change priorities within the context of the organisational strategy and objectives.
- Experience of working in NHS and/or health research.
Interpersonal skills
- Excellent presentation, oral, written and communication skills with the ability to gather, understand, interpret and disseminate information across all levels.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours.
Senior Business Analyst employer: Health Research Authority
The Health Research Authority is an exceptional employer that prioritises professional development and inclusivity, making it an ideal place for those passionate about user research and design. With the flexibility of remote work combined with opportunities to collaborate in the office, employees can thrive in a supportive environment that values their contributions and fosters growth. Located in Newcastle, the organisation offers a unique chance to impact digital services in health, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of service design.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Business Analyst
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to business analysis. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and showcase your experience effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through real-life examples. When discussing your experience, highlight specific projects where you applied your business analysis expertise, especially in Scrum or SAFe environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience in the full business analysis lifecycle. We want to see how you've tackled complex problems and delivered solutions, especially in Scrum or SAFe environments.
Be Specific with Examples:When you're detailing your past roles, use specific examples that demonstrate your expertise in requirement gathering, process mapping, and creating user stories. This helps us understand your thought process and how you approach challenges.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your responses to align with our job description. Show us how your skills and experiences directly relate to what we’re looking for at HRA.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember, we only accept applications through our website, so make sure to submit your application there. It’s the best way for us to review your qualifications and get back to you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Health Research Authority
✨Know Your Business Analysis Lifecycle
Make sure you’re well-versed in the full business analysis lifecycle. Brush up on your experience with requirement gathering, process mapping, and gap analyses. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past roles that showcase your expertise in these areas.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Agile Methodologies
Since the role mentions Scrum or SAFe, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of these frameworks. Prepare to talk about how you've applied Agile principles in previous projects, especially in relation to user stories and acceptance criteria.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement Scenarios
Think of instances where you’ve worked with diverse stakeholders. Be ready to share how you managed relationships and communicated complex information effectively. Highlight your interpersonal skills and how they helped in achieving project goals.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
The job involves identifying and analysing complex business problems. Prepare a couple of scenarios where you successfully tackled such challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.