Lead Business Analyst

Job description

The Government Digital Service is looking for a lead business analyst who wants to add rigour and value to an organisation where business analysis as a specific profession has only recently been introduced. This is an exciting opportunity to help build an analytical capability in a fast paced environment. Not only will you have skills and experience in managing and setting the direction of analytical work for a wider team of analysts, you will be a practitioner who can own and produce outstanding analysis.

As a Lead Business Analyst you’ll:

• have functional management of a number of key analytical pieces of work
• conduct strategic and critical analysis activity to help guide and prioritise programme scope and delivery
• have people management accountabilities for civil servant BAs in the programme
• design and implement processes, ways of working, and standards across the business analysis profession to support the product and delivery objectives
• own specific stakeholder relationships internally and externally to the programme
• promote the platform across the public sector
• coordinate business analysis with other programmes, discipline leads and teams across GDS and wider government
• maintain knowledge of the changing digital and technology landscapes and the opportunities they provide to improve the delivery of public services in the UK
• coach and mentor other members of the business analysis community, identifying learning and development opportunities for individuals and teams
• support the Head Of Business Analysis with development and implementation of the wider One Login strategy

Learn more about what lead business analysts do in government

Person specification

We’re interested in people who:

• can perform business analysis defining the needs, pain points, flows and journeys of high-volume digital products in a fast-paced environment, working with multidisciplinary, agile teams, – from discovery to delivery to live service, and continuous, data-led improvement and iteration of a mature, live product, ensuring that requirements are understood and addressed appropriately
• have strong communication skills that enable you to manage stakeholders, senior leaders and engage with people through a range of channels to identify a common set of needs and priorities, challenge assumptions, or to explain what what is required or how things might need to change in a clear and open manner
• have an understanding of modern technologies used in delivery of cloud-based software products - and able to explain the high level purpose and constraints of these technologies with non-technical people
• have worked in or with public sector organisations, including cross-organisational working and navigating spend control processes and procurement
• have hands-on delivery and iteration of products, working with multiple teams in an agile delivery setting – from discovery to continuous, data-led improvement in a live setting
• have recruited, coached and line managed business analysts, identifying learning and development opportunities for individuals and teams

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 60 minute video interview

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

• seeing the bigger picture
• changing and improving
• making effective decisions
• leadership
• communicating and influencing

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework for the Lead Business Analyst role.

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.