Principal Business Analyst in London

At wagamama, food is life and we’re here to make every bite count. With over 165 restaurants across the UK (and growing fast), we’ve been dishing up vibrant, fresh Asian inspired flavours since ‘92. It’s all about good food, good vibes, and good company.

We’re looking for a principal business analyst to join us on our journey. Ready to dive in and stir things up?

What we need:

This isn’t a back-office analyst role delivering traditional requirements. It’s a principal-level position; senior, visible and influential. You’ll work directly with the exec and business teams to solve complex problems, re-architect our operating models, deliver business and technology transformation, and design and deliver change that shapes the wagamama of tomorrow. We’re building a small, senior team of problem solvers. You won’t be lost in layers of governance; you’ll have the freedom, visibility and influence to make things happen. Your work will touch every part of the business, from the guest experience to the way we run our kitchens. And because this is wagamama, you won’t just be in the office. You’ll spend time in our restaurants, staying connected to our teams and the guests who make us who we are.

What you’ll do:

• Act as the trusted, accountable business analyst spearheading one or more of our large-scale programmes of change, flexing between strategic oversight to hands-on delivery.
• Influence our target operating model, setting the blueprint for how wagamama scales and grows strategically.
• Re-engineer guest journeys, making every interaction (in-restaurant and digital) friction free, meaningful and true to our brand.
• Lead structured problem-solving, cutting through ambiguity to design pragmatic, lasting solutions.
• Prove and deliver transformation, driving fast-paced proofs of concept, then staying hands-on through delivery and value realisation.
• Map value chains and capabilities, ensuring our investments and decisions directly enable growth and guest experience.
• Bridge strategy and technology, ensuring systems are business enablers, not constraints.

What you’ll need:

This role needs someone who has already operated at principal or very senior lead analysis level. Someone who can inspire confidence at the exec table, while rolling up their sleeves when detail matters.

• Significant, demonstrable experience in business transformation, strategic operations or senior level business analysis and/or enterprise architecture.
• Track record leading business analysis on large, cross-functional change programmes end-to-end (not just technology but business change also).
• Deep experience in operating model design, process reengineering and customer/guest experience transformation.
• Strong commercial and operational acumen, with advanced problem-solving and options analysis skills.
• Background in multi-site, consumer-facing industries (hospitality, retail, leisure).
• Ideally with experience in consulting, internal strategy teams, or transformation offices.

Who you’ll be working with:

• Head of BA
• Director of Change

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive salary + 20% bonus potential.
• Flexible hybrid working (with option to work and eat from one of our restaurants!).
• Come as you are culture, with modern offices, fresh fruit and soft drinks.
• £200 monthly wagamama food allowance — enjoy all your favourite dishes on us!
• Private healthcare.
• 3% pension contribution.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays + further discounts across retail, hospitality & leisure — perks that make life sweeter.

Supporting you every step of the way! Family-friendly pay: 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay for expectant or adopting parents. Nothing brings people together like great food. No matter where you’re from or who you are, you’ve got a seat at our table because food is the ultimate connector, and here everyone belongs.