Lead Business Analyst
Job summary
Are you an experienced Business Analyst who thrives in complex environments, enjoys solving difficult problems, and can confidently lead others through change and uncertainty?
The Health Research Authority (HRA) is delivering an ambitious digital transformation programme that will reshape how health and care research is supported across the UK. We're looking for an exceptional Lead Business Analyst to help drive this transformation and lead our Business Analysis capability.
This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in developing products and services that support researchers, NHS organisations, regulators, universities and industry partners, ultimately helping to improve the UK research landscape.
The role As Lead Business Analyst, you'll set the direction for business analysis in the digital transformation programme. You'll work across organisational boundaries, build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, and lead a team of Business Analysts delivering meaningful change.
You will play a key role in the delivery of our major transformation programme, which is developing of a new digital service, Plan and Manage Health and Care Research, to replace existing national systems.
This role requires someone who is equally comfortable operating at a strategic level and getting involved in the detail when needed. You'll help shape priorities, influence decision-making, and ensure solutions deliver value for users and the organisation.
Main duties of the job
What you'll be doing
- Leading business analysis across large, complex programme delivering digital services
- Managing, coaching and developing Senior Business Analysts and Business Analysts
- Working closely with Product, Subject Matter Experts, User-Centred Design and Technical teams in an Agile environment
- Building trusted relationships with stakeholders
- Facilitating discovery, requirements definition, process modelling and improvement
- Acting as a recognised expert and advocate for business analysis best practice
Who we're looking for
We're particularly interested in people who bring both technical excellence and strong leadership skills.
You'll have:
- Significant experience leading business analysis across complex programmes, portfolios or large-scale digital transformations
- Experience working in an environment with competing priorities and changing demands
- Experience leading, mentoring and developing Business Analysts and high-performing teams
- Strong Agile delivery experience and an ability to adapt methods and approaches to suit the situation
What will make you stand out?
We're looking for a leader who remains calm and effective when priorities change.
Our environment is dynamic, and the most successful candidate will be someone who:
- Thrives in ambiguity rather than being discouraged by it
- Demonstrates resilience when programmes evolve or strategic decisions change direction
- Helps teams stay focused, motivated and outcome-driven when plans need to adapt
About us
At the HRA, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive working environment where we actively invest in the development and empowerment of our staff, enabling them to perform at their best. We strive to promote a healthy workplace culture where wellbeing, collaboration, and professional growth are valued and encouraged.
Working at the HRA, we support flexible working, recognising that home based or hybrid arrangements provides us with the most productive environment to work well. Where possible, we'll offer a working pattern that suits you.
The HRA offers home based contracts for all locations. Newcastle, Manchester and Nottingham based staff can be office based and hybrid working arrangements are also possible. We encourage you to speak with us to explore how this could be accommodated.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification documents for full details about this role.
When completing your application, ensure you clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills align with the criteria outlined for this position.
We recognise that generative AI tools can be helpful in supporting applicants during the recruitment process, particularly for tasks such as proofreading, structuring, or refining written responses. However, we encourage candidates to use AI responsibly and sparingly. Applications should reflect your authentic voice, personal experiences, and genuine qualifications. Over reliance on AI-generated content can result in generic or inaccurate submissions that fail to meet the criteria or convey your individuality. Misrepresentation of skills, knowledge, or experience, including through AI-generated content, may lead to the rejection of your application, withdrawal of your offer, or your dismissal if you do start with us. If you choose to use AI, please ensure it enhances rather than replaces your own input, and be transparent about its use where appropriate. False and insincere examples go against our values of integrity and transparency.
Important information We are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement as we do not hold a sponsorship licence. Applications requiring sponsorship will not be considered.
Applications that do not clearly demonstrate how the essential criteria outlined in the person specification are met will not be shortlisted.
Only the information provided in the application form will be considered. CVs will not be reviewed. We do not accept applications via recruitment agencies or other third parties.
The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.
Our fixed term roles are also open to applicants who wish to apply on a secondment basis. Applicants who fit this category are advised to speak with their line manager before applying and visit their organisations Secondments Policy.
Organisational structure and directorate overview The HRA is made up of five directorates: Approvals, Chief Executive, Digital, Policy and Partnerships and Resources.
This role sits within HRA Digital. The digital directorate is responsible for developing, delivering and supporting complex solutions within the HRAs portfolio of UK-wide information systems for health and care research. This includes a major programme to build new systems, and to achieve the successful migration and eventual closure of current systems. The directorate owns, develops, and delivers the HRAs digital strategy in line with government digital and functional standards. The HRA Digital team is a collaborative, supportive team consisting of HRA employees, secondees, contractors and vendors.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Professional qualification at master's level in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Recognised business analyst certification (either BCS Foundation / Practitioner or IIBA CCBA/CBAP certifications)
- Recognised certification in Agile (for example Scrum Alliance)
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise:
- Demonstrable expertise of working in data, software, and technology solutions to make informed decisions that add value, efficiency and solve a problem
- Demonstrable expertise of implementation and evaluation of business analysis processes
- Managing and/or working with third party suppliers and multiple internal and external business and IT stakeholders with management of relationships across different levels of seniority
- Understanding of Microsoft development software
Experience
- Large portfolio of experience demonstrating successful working at a lead business analyst level supporting the entire projects, programmes and development lifecycle
- Experience of line management
- Experience of coaching/mentoring, and supporting junior colleagues and apprentices
- Experience of working in NHS and/or health research
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
- Demonstrable experience of analytical and creative thinking skills to analyse complex business problems and develop innovative, sustainable solutions
Interpersonal skills
- Lead on communication with stakeholders at all levels and actively establish relationships and apply the benefits of professional networks
Employer details
Employer name
Health Research Authority
Address
Nottingham
Seaton House, City Link
Nottingham
NG2 4LA
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.hra.nhs.uk/