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UK Research and Innovation

Salary: £50,702
Hours: Full time/Part time (Minimum of 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid Working)

Closing Date: Sunday 25 June 2023

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is an independent, non-departmental public body created in April 2018 with government investment in research and innovation of over £6bn per annum. We are a new unified voice bringing together nine executive council partners (the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK, and Research England) with a shared vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. UKRI also provides coordinated strategic advice to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the balance of funding between research disciplines.

We employ 7,200 staff who support some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects. We develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world and work collaboratively with industry, academia and government in exciting partnerships. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through blue skies research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research and business-led innovation.

Purpose

Project roles are comprehensive, covering initial project definition through to successful project delivery. Our projects employ waterfall, agile, change management and business process improvement techniques, and you will have the opportunity to work across a range of these.

The Senior Business Analyst will understand and lead on the analysis of user and business needs, including defining the approach, tools & techniques to be used in order to capture & prioritise these needs accordingly. They will ensure outcomes are aligned with service vision and business strategy by leading on identifying the link between current and future business models and delivering to the business architecture. They will challenge constructively and act as a critical friend to achieve solutions that are fit for purpose. They will facilitate collaboration and lead effective communication with all stakeholders to support design, build and delivery to meet the user needs.

The role holders will also line manage other Business Analysts within the function. It is expected the Business Analysts at this grade will actively contribute towards the development of the PD&I function, coaches and mentors’ individuals across UKRI’s Project Profession, and contributes to supporting the growing maturity of the UKRI Project Profession.

Responsibilities

• Requirements gathering- Drive the research and gathering of business requirements against those articulated for the project, determining the need and value of performing the activity based on the context.
• Process modelling- If required, employ a range of tools and techniques to map ‘As-Is’ and To-Be’ business processes.
• Gap Analysis- Evaluate requirements against the present state (where we are) & the target state (where we want to be) identifying opportunities to develop successful business requirements needed to make the transition.
• Impact Analysis- Analyse the potential consequences of a change and estimate what needs to be modified to accomplish that change. Focus on scoping changes within the details of the overall project design, identifying potential stakeholders.
• Benefit Analysis- Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of identified benefits analysis and lead on identifying business-related actions that will assist with project delivery.
• Stakeholder management and engagement- Engage with business owners, business change lead sand users to ensure delivery of common purpose.
• Facilitation- Work with business owners and business users to identify needs.
• System Analysis- Coordinate the work of systems analysis to ensure business needs are translated into solutions against identified timelines, & work with technical leads to ensure business needs are translated into the technical solutions.
• Assurance and Quality- Apply recognised methodologies and audit test and quality gates.
• Traceability- Ensure the delivery of change is made against a fully auditable process.
• Business Improvement- Coordinate the work with Business Improvement teams and the identification of BAU enhancements and their solutions to ensure that defined project benefits are delivered.
• Business Solution Design- Engage with policy and strategy to ensure business systems, workflows and processes contribute to target operating model.
• Delivery Products, Tools, and Documentation- Ensure the delivery of change is made against a fully auditable process by producing/assisting with: frameworks; application of methodologies; operating model; functional specification; user cases; user stories; UAT plans and strategy; entry/exit and /or no/no go criteria; defect analysis; forms and templates; guidance; business case.

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills, including a good working knowledge of MS Office packages (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.).
• Ability to engage with senior stakeholders to identify user and business needs, breakdown business problems and offer solutions
• Demonstrable experience using a broad range of business analysis techniques in a project environment, supporting the delivery of requirements from both a technical and business perspective.
• Experience of supporting with the development of business cases.
• Create and present a compelling vision, set clear direction that motivates others to work towards a common goal. Act as a role model, inspiring & empowering others. Also, able to challenge unacceptable behaviour where appropriate
• Able to plan, lead and effect positive cultural change, securing commitment and buy-in and promoting a positive long-term vision. Also, able to recognise when broader culture change is necessary to deliver a project.

Desirable

• Experience supporting the development and prioritisation of project objectives.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder workshops.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Business Analysis qualification e.g. BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis or equivalent.
• APM Registered Project Professional.

Desirable:

• PRINCE2 Foundation or Practitioner.
• Agile Foundation or Practitioner.
• APMG Change Management or other relevant change management qualification
• Ci Green Belt or other relevant Continuous Improvement qualification

Interview Criteria

Behavioural/Leadership Competencies

Essential:

• History of working in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Able to apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity & deal with existing or potential differences of opinion i.e. competing set of requirements
• Able to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, displaying the ability to influence, change & impact decisions.

Desirable:

• Experience in the ability to promote the wider public good in all actions and to act in a morally, legally and socially appropriate manner.
• The ability to recognize, anticipate and effectively deal with existing or potential differences of opinion
• Apply new ideas and ways of doing things. Willing to experiment and follow ideas through to implementation

Technical competencies

Essential:

• Proven expertise in the process of capturing stakeholder needs, assessing, defining and justifying those needs to arrive at an agreed schedule of requirements.
• Significant experience in the ability to identify, document, and analyse the various delivery options including contributing to the development of business cases and selecting the optimal solution.
• Significant experience in the ability to systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests.
• The ability to identify, quantify, map, and track project benefits to justify investment in the project, and to provide assurance that the benefits identified can be realised.
• The ability to identify, share, and promote best practices and lessons learned to create a culture of learning and good practice that supports continuous improvement to optimise project delivery.

Desirable:

• The ability to identify and manage risks & issues, planning how to mitigate / respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.
• Experience of using Lean/Six Sigma techniques
• Experience of using Continuous Improvement techniques
• Knowledge and experience of using Change Management techniques