Product Analyst

Location: Edinburgh

Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time

Grade: Consultant

Hybrid

REQ003818

With offices across the UK and a flexible hybrid working approach, this role can be based at any XPS location.

About XPS Group

XPS Group is a prominent and growing UK consultancy and administration firm within the pensions and insurance sectors. As a FTSE 250 company with over 2000 employees, we leverage expertise alongside advanced technology to serve over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsors. Our goal is to foster a workplace where diverse talents thrive.

About The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and well organised professional, with experience in product/business analysis to fill the role of Product Analyst, supporting our ‘Aurora’ software. Aurora is our inhouse pensions administration platform - servicing our in-house administrators, clients and members. It is multi-faceted software suite, including both internal and external (digital) technology solutions. The Product Analyst supports the Product Management function by leading the Initiation and Discovery stages of the Product Development Process. Working closely with Product Managers, SMEs, clients and stakeholders, the Product Analyst is responsible for understanding business problems, validating opportunities, gathering evidence, and assessing potential value before work progresses into Definition. The role ensures product opportunities are sufficiently understood and evidenced to support an informed governance decision to either:

• Proceed to Define
• Retain for future consideration
• Remove from scope

The Product Analyst does not own detailed requirements, epics, features, user stories or acceptance criteria. These activities are undertaken during the Definition stage, although may support this process. Knowledge of pensions administration and pensions products would be a significant advantage given the nature of the business and its customer base and market positioning.

Key Responsibilities

Discovery planning and facilitation

• Lead Discovery for approved product opportunities, engaging stakeholders and SMEs so business, operational and user perspectives are represented.
• Develop stakeholder maps and RACI models to clarify involvement, accountability and decision input.

Problem and opportunity validation

• Validate business problems, pain points and opportunities using qualitative and quantitative evidence including product analytics and user insights.
• Assess member, client, administrator and business impact to test value hypotheses and support prioritisation.
• Undertake proportionate market, competitor and industry research where it strengthens the evidence base.

Discovery analysis

• Produce validated problem statements, value propositions, dependencies, constraints and key assumptions.
• Shape high-level solution options without progressing into detailed design, requirements or acceptance criteria.
• Assess likely effort, complexity, benefits and risks to inform whether an opportunity should progress.

Governance and decision support

• Prepare concise Discovery outputs, recommendations and evidence for governance review.
• Maintain decision records and support clear outcomes: proceed to Define, retain for later, or remove from scope.
• Ensure approved opportunities are ready for effective handover into Definition.

Discovery outputs

• Workshop notes, stakeholder map and RACI.
• Value hypothesis, dependency map and high-level solution options.
• Discovery decision record and roadmap update recommendation.

Success measures

• Discovery is completed to agreed standards and timescales, with evidence-based problem statements and clear governance recommendations.
• Opportunities entering Define have complete Discovery artefacts, reducing rework caused by unclear or incomplete evidence.
• Product opportunities are clearly aligned to business outcomes, strategic priorities and roadmap objectives.

Due to the changing nature of the business, the job holder may from time to time be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within their capabilities.

Essential

Your Profile

• Right to work in the UK.
• Developed understanding of business/product analysis and Product Management methodologies.
• Excellent organisational and coordination skills with high attention to detail.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret and present data.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable

• A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field is preferred.
• An understanding of UK pensions arrangements and pensions products.

What We Offer

Enjoy a competitive salary, annual discretionary bonus, and 25 days’ holiday with buy/sell flexibility. Benefits include pension matching, healthcare plans, life assurance, and retailer discounts. We support our team with a flexible benefits scheme, employee assistance, and digital GP service. Participating in volunteering events is encouraged with paid volunteer days available. Referral bonuses are offered for introducing suitable candidates to XPS.

Equal Opportunities Statement

XPS Group is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. We welcome applications from all candidates, irrespective of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or belief. As a Disability Confident employer, we ensure accessible and supportive work settings for all employees.

Eligibility

Any employment offer made will be conditional upon you satisfying DBS Disclosure checks, Employment or educational references, Satisfactory credit checks and eligibility to work in the UK before an offer can be made. XPS Group is not able to provide sponsorship to employees.

Who Are We

To find out more please visit: www.xpsgroup.com