Business Analyst in Stoke-on-Trent

Location: Civic Centre

Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us: We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision. Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

The Role: The Transformation & Programme Management Team are responsible for the council’s Transformation Programme which includes programme management and continuous improvement activities for the council, including a comprehensive programme of business analysis activity which supports the identification of more efficient and effective ways of working, leading to both financial efficiencies and service improvements. The team direct and deliver governance arrangements required for successful programme delivery, including the corporate Transformation Board.

In this exciting role, you will:

• Lead and facilitate service review workshops
• Analyse processes, customer journeys and data to identify opportunities for improvement
• Develop business cases, forecast costs and savings, and recommend innovative solutions
• Support services in implementing change and adopting new, efficient ways of working
• Collaborate with colleagues, stakeholders and partners to deliver impactful transformation

We’re looking for a skilled Business Analyst to join our Strategy and Resources Directorate and play a key role in transforming how we work across Stoke on Trent City Council. We’re seeking someone with strong analytical abilities, excellent communication skills, and experience using business analysis tools and methodologies. If you enjoy problem solving, influencing positive change, and working in a fast paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Arrange, scope, plan and run service review workshops with stakeholders to understand current processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Analyse service processes, customer journeys, and business needs, using business analysis tools to document findings and propose efficient, innovative solutions.
• Develop business cases by collating, cleansing and analysing data, forecasting costs and savings, and presenting options to senior management and elected members.
• Identify business process inefficiencies and recommend improvements aligned to transformation objectives, customer access goals and digital strategies.
• Support implementation of agreed outcomes, including training staff, creating reporting mechanisms and ensuring smooth transition to business as usual.
• Apply business process management tools and oversee testing of re engineered or new processes to ensure expected benefits are delivered, including supporting user acceptance testing.

About You:

• Strong experience applying a range of business analysis techniques, including requirements capture, process mapping and task analysis.
• Proven ability to analyse and interpret data, including customer insight, financial and performance data, to generate models and option scenarios.
• Excellent communication, presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to explain complex issues and lead workshops effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, challenge and negotiate with stakeholders to support business change and achieve desired outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, able to prioritise workload, work under pressure, and maintain attention to detail throughout multiple concurrent workstreams.
• High proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications (including SharePoint, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Visio) to support documentation, analysis and reporting.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Christina Harrison, christina.harrison@stoke.gov.uk

Pre-Employment Checks:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.