Senior Business Analyst
Job summary
Business analysis is central to the delivery of digital systems within the Health Research Authority (HRA). We are looking for a qualified senior business analyst who has experience of working in the full business analysis lifecycle, ideally in Scrum or SAFe on large digital developments.
As a senior business analyst you will have expertise in business analysis, including requirement gathering and analysis, process mapping, gap analyses and the creation of detailed documentation, user stories and acceptance criteria.
Main duties of the job
Some of the key duties are:
- Apply structured approaches to identify, investigate, analyse and communicate complex business problems and opportunities, within a defined project
- Identify, analyse, challenge, document and validate business and user requirements
- Work with limited direction and use appropriate requirements management life cycle methods to complete tasks and defined outputs
- Ensure proposed solutions meet business and user needs
- Understand the impact of potential changes and how business processes, systems, data, roles and responsibilities interact
- Develop models and system requirements for bespoke IT systems or software packages
- Identify business scenarios and develop acceptance criteria to ensure requirements can be traced to develop functionality
- Work collaboratively with subject matter experts, user centred design, product and development/test teams to capture and articulate user requirements.
This is not an exhaustive list, see the job description for details.
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
- Recognised business analyst certification (either BCS Foundation / Practitioner or IIBA CCBA/CBAP certifications)
- Evidence of commitment to ongoing personal and professional development and training
- Educated to master's degree or equivalent experience showing capability to work at this level
- Recognised certification in Agile (for example Scrum Alliance)
Knowledge, skills and expertise
- Working effectively with a diverse group of internal and external senior business and IT stakeholders along with management of relationships across different levels of seniority
- Deep understanding of elicitation, documentation and management of high-level and detailed business requirements, working collaboratively with design and technical teams to ensure feasible, user-centred and deliverable solutions
- Proven ability to translate business requirements and designs into clear, testable user stories and acceptance criteria
- Capture and lead end-to-end process mapping using BPMN 2.0 and visio; identifying impacts, dependencies and opportunities for improvement across people, process and technology
Experience
- Large portfolio of experience demonstrating successful working at a senior business analyst level supporting the entire projects, programmes and development lifecycle
- Working at both a strategic and low level, assuring the feasibility of proposed solutions along with the ability to take a holistic view
- Experience of working in complex multi-stakeholder environments (for example complex regulatory settings or where managing divergent stakeholder views)
- Advising senior stakeholders on business change priorities within the context of the organisational strategy and objectives
- Experience of working in NHS and/or health research
Interpersonal skills
- Excellent presentation, oral, written and communication skills with the ability to gather, understand, interpret and disseminate information across all levels
Employer details
Employer name
Health Research Authority
Address
Health Research Authority
Holland Drive
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 4NQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.hra.nhs.uk/