Principal Business Analyst - 12 Month FTC in Birmingham

Smiths Group designs, manufactures and delivers smarter engineering solutions for mission-critical applications, solving some of the world's toughest problems for our customers, our communities and our world. For over 170 years, Smiths Group has been pioneering progress by improving the world through smarter engineering. We serve millions of people every year, to help create a safer, more efficient and better-connected world, across four major global markets: Energy, General Industry, Security & Defence, and Aerospace. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs 14,600 colleagues in over 50+ countries.

Smiths BIS (Business Information Services) is responsible for the selection, development, implementation, support, and ongoing lifecycle management of all Smiths Group Enterprise IT Systems. Smiths has a portfolio of core ERP systems and other satellite systems which are integrated into those ERP systems to deliver integrated business processes. To make Smiths Group and its employees more productive, BIS is continually looking at ways to digitise business processes with end-to-end integrated business processes.

As a Principal Business Analyst, you are a recognized expert in your discipline, influencing cross‑functional teams and stakeholders through deep domain expertise, strategic insight, and a strong commitment to user‑centered design. Your role will involve partnering with subject matter experts (Process Owners) in the relevant Group and Divisional functions to understand strategic roadmaps and tactical focuses to ensure requirements and design solutions are developed to achieve these goals.

• Act as primary subject matter expert for the Operational Excellence & Supply Chain Management Transformation value chain: Deliver Products, Source to Pay.
• Accountable for Demand Solutioning in the PMO: Partner with the Group and Divisional stakeholders (where appropriate) to understand the goals and objectives of each function with respect to process automation, transformation, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain oversight for Divisional strategic objectives and how they align to the current technology estate and process transformation efforts.
• Lead the definition and delivery of enterprise-wide business analysis initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and measurable business outcomes.
• Actively participate in Demand and Process Governance Boards.
• Use insights from user research and metrics to transform the business analysis approach, and explain your business decisions clearly.
• Identify transformational and enterprise level business process improvements for products or services to inform recommendations identifying clear benefits and contributing to delivery plans.
• Work collaboratively with designers to direct the creation and iteration of prototypes for the services or product to solve the problems users face.
• Work with the Product Owner and/or Delivery Manager to articulate and maintain a prioritised product, programme or project backlog of what needs to be delivered.
• Develop and present Value-Chain demand solutions roadmap and performance/impact measures.

Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture and Data Management teams to:

• Align working practices and deliver comprehensive solutions to business problems.
• Assess new demand and take accountability for the viability of identified solutions and their alignment with the current demand pipeline and architectural principles.
• Facilitate business requirements sessions to draw out user expectations and value propositions.
• Articulate the rationale and success measures for solutions.

Take ownership of quality by:

• Encouraging and facilitating continuous improvement of the BA team.
• Providing coaching and subject matter guidance to peers and colleagues across the business analysis community, particularly around applying the most appropriate agile and lean tools and techniques.
• Working with the business analysis community to share best practice to ensure high standards, including attending business analysis events and communicating to the wider BIS team.
• Collaborating with the BA community to ensure alignment on deliverables and uphold quality standards.

Education/Training: Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent work experience.

Experience: Leading transformation initiatives as a Principal or Senior Business Analyst role.

Role specific:

• Manufacturing execution systems (QAD, Arena PLM, MES Hydra X, ServiceMax).
• SAP Supply Chain Modules: requires a strong understanding of the various SAP supply chain modules such as Materials Management (MM), Production Planning (PP), Quality Management (QM), Sales and Distribution (SD), and Warehouse Management (WM).
• Business Processes: the candidate should have a good understanding of the business processes involved in supply chain management such as procurement, production, inventory management, order management, and logistics.
• Integration: the candidate should be well‑versed in integrating SAP supply chain modules with other SAP modules and third‑party applications.

Possesses and applies comprehensive knowledge of Operational Excellence & SCM Transformation in a manufacturing/engineering industry. Leverages knowledge to recommend improvements to workflow and establishes procedures that affect immediate organisation(s). Excellent communication skills, with the ability to talk and present to a range of audiences, sometimes acting as a translator between parties. The capacity to motivate others and lead change. The ability to work under pressure on multiple projects within your project timeframes. A passion for creating solutions with a positive attitude to change. Excellent/advanced analytical skills and an informed, evidence‑based approach. A good understanding of information technology. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including VISIO or equivalent tool.

Preferred: Experience of managing Business Process Re‑engineering projects. Experience with Change Management practices. Applications testing lifecycle. Governance mindset and alignment to Service management Minimum standards (e.g. Lean Six Sigma/Agile qualified, CBAP certified, problem solving, business case development, design thinking, ITIL, EA baseline).

Job Requirements:

• Strong organisational skills; ability to manage multiple projects with competing demands for resources, ability to adapt to change, and attention to detail.
• Capable of exercising independent judgment and recognising the critical impacts to the business.
• Strong business acumen and excellent communication skills; verbal and written.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape strategic initiatives through expert‑level business analysis.
• Proficiency in working in a fast‑paced, complex, dynamic, multi‑cultural business environment.
• Self‑starting independent individual who can shape an agenda and drive it.
• Able to build effective relationships with Business and IT counterparts and stakeholders, consulting and driving outcomes.
• Apply subject matter expertise, and identify and solve problems quickly.
• Creative, innovative, and able to successfully seek and seize opportunities as they develop.
• Flexibility, with the ability to work additional hours and in a variety of different business tasks as needed.

Diversity & Inclusion: We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, 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 Group, 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.