At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformation initiatives and bridge business and technology teams for impactful solutions.
- Company: Join Riviera Travel, a leader in creating unforgettable travel experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, hybrid working, and a chance to shape the future of travel.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and meaningful change.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in transforming customer experiences and operational performance.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading complex business and IT programmes with strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Location: Burton on Trent, Hybrid working includes 2x office days (essential)
Day Rate: Up to £580 per day Outside IR35
Duration: Up to 12+ months
Start Date: Within the next 2-8 weeks (ideally)
Department: Technology and Change
Riviera Travel is a leader in creating exceptional travel experiences, known for its high-quality escorted tours, river cruises, and solo holidays. With a strong heritage and a passion for detail, every journey is carefully designed to deliver memorable moments from start to finish. Joining Riviera means being part of a collaborative and people-focused business where your work directly contributes to bringing unforgettable experiences to life for customers across the UK and beyond.
The Role
As Lead Business Analyst, you will play a central role in shaping and delivering key transformation initiatives across the business. Acting as a bridge between business stakeholders and technology teams, you will ensure that new solutions are designed, built and implemented in a way that fully supports business goals, processes and data requirements. You will be a key driver within the Transformation Portfolio, working closely with senior stakeholders to translate strategic objectives into practical, effective solutions that enhance the overall operating model. You will lead the design and delivery of business solutions, working closely with function Heads and key stakeholders to represent their needs and priorities throughout the full lifecycle of each initiative.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the single point of accountability for the end-to-end business solution across all impacted functions
- Ensure the solution meets business objectives, integrates effectively across systems, and supports operational needs
- Work closely with Solution Architects, Business Analysts, and technical teams to align solution design with business priorities
- Work closely with Business Analysts to define and refine user stories and acceptance criteria
- Own the solution scope and ensure all components (processes, data, systems, and change) are coordinated and aligned
- Make decisions on solution trade-offs, sequencing, and priorities in consultation with stakeholders
- Participate in sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives with the delivery team
- Provide timely feedback to developers and testers during development and testing phases
- Act as the main point of contact for business decisions related to the product
- Communicate progress, risks, and changes to stakeholders clearly and regularly
- Support the Change Manager and Training Team in preparing the business for go-live
- Identify and define transitional operating model, including temporary SOPs, workarounds and additional controls to ensure smooth dual-systems operations
- Represent the business in delivery discussions, ensuring the solution is fit for purpose and future-proof
- Oversee the integration of internal IT components and third-party systems into a cohesive solution
- Support the Enterprise Architect in ensuring alignment with enterprise standards and architecture
- Engage with business leaders to validate solution direction and secure buy-in
- Monitor solution delivery progress and elevate risks or issues as needed
- Ensure the solution is ready for operational use, including testing, training, change readiness, and transitional operating procedures and post-live business hypercare
In addition to your primary focus on the programme to replace our Booking Platform, you will also contribute to broader transformation initiatives that are linked to the Booking Platform programme. This includes supporting programmes with cross-functional dependencies, such as changes to contact centre operations and the introduction of new initiatives like a Loyalty Scheme.
About you
You are an experienced solution leader with a strong track record of delivering complex business and technology programmes.
Key Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in leading enterprise-wide solution delivery across complex business and IT programmes
- Strong understanding of business processes, systems integration, and operational impacts
- Experience working with cross-functional teams including business, IT, and external suppliers
- Experience of target and transitional operating model design including transitional process definition
- Ability to balance strategic objectives with delivery constraints and make informed decisions
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- Familiarity with enterprise architecture principles and governance
- Experience in the travel, booking, or customer-facing service industries (preferred but not essential)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Degree or equivalent qualification in business, IT, or a related field
- Experience in Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid delivery environments
This is a high impact role where you will shape a critical transformation programme and influence how the business operates in the future. You will work with a collaborative and forward-thinking team, playing a key role in delivering meaningful change that improves both customer experience and operational performance.
Lead Business Analyst employer: Riviera Travel
Riviera Travel is an exceptional employer that prioritises a collaborative and people-focused culture, making it an ideal place for those looking to lead a dynamic sales team. With competitive salaries, hybrid working options, and extensive employee benefits including travel discounts and career development opportunities, you will thrive in an environment that values personal growth and meaningful customer interactions. Join us in shaping unforgettable travel experiences while enjoying a supportive workplace that encourages innovation and excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Business Analyst
✨Join Business Intelligence Meetups
We can’t stress enough how beneficial it is to attend local Business Intelligence meetups and events. These gatherings often bring together industry professionals and can lead to short-term, temporary roles—perfect if you’re looking to land something quickly. Plus, you’ll get to learn some insider tips and tricks from those already in the game!
✨Leverage Online Freelancing Platforms
Since you’re searching for a temporary gig, check out freelancing platforms like Upwork or Freelancer where businesses often post short-term BI projects. This can be a great way to build your portfolio and gain experience while also showcasing your skills to potential future employers.
✨Show Off Your BI Projects
Whether you’re working on a personal project or a past endeavour, put your work out there! Create a public portfolio that highlights your best Business Intelligence analyses or visualisations. It’ll give you a leg up when you’re approaching companies like Riviera Travel, showing exactly what you can bring to the table.
✨Tap Into University or College Networks
If you're currently studying or recently graduated, make sure to use your university's career services. Many educational institutions have partnerships with companies looking for temporary talent in Business Intelligence, so keep an eye out for exclusive job postings or internship fairs that could lead to a quick placement.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Business Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Data Skills:In business intelligence, it's crucial to highlight your analytical skills and experience with data tools. Make sure your CV showcases any relevant software you’ve used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Add specific examples of how you've used data to drive insights or improvements in previous roles, even if they were in academic projects or internships.
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role like this, hiring managers often have limited time to sift through applications. Get straight to the point in your CV and cover letter. Use bullet points for your achievements, showcasing the impact you've made, like percentage increases in efficiency or specific results from your analyses.
Flexibility is Key:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your adaptability. Mention your quick learning abilities and experiences where you adapted to new tools or processes rapidly. This will show that you can jump in and start contributing effectively from day one at Riviera Travel.
Craft a Tailored Motivation Statement:In your cover letter, focus on why you’re excited about this temporary role at Riviera Travel. Talk about your interest in business intelligence and how this position aligns with your career goals. Remember, it’s not just about what you can offer, but why you’re passionate about becoming part of their team, even for a short time!
How to prepare for a job interview at Riviera Travel
✨Brush Up on Your Data Skills
For a business intelligence role, you'll want to showcase your analytical skills and familiarity with data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI. Be ready to tackle technical questions or case studies demonstrating your ability to interpret data and make insightful recommendations.
✨Plan Your Portfolio of Projects
Since this is a temporary position, we should highlight any past projects you've worked on in business intelligence. Prepare a portfolio that includes a couple of key pieces where you've effectively utilised data to drive decisions—this will show that you're not just a quick fix but someone who can deliver immediate value.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Temporary roles often require us to hit the ground running, so be ready to discuss how you quickly adapt to new tools, teams, and environments. Share specific examples from previous experiences where you thrived under pressure or had to learn a new system or process in a short time frame.
✨Have Your Metrics Ready
In business intelligence, quantifying your impact is key. Come prepared to share metrics from your past work: think percentages, growth figures, or efficiency improvements. This will really help us paint a picture of how your contributions directly benefited those previous roles.
