Business Analyst

University of Lancashire; Preston; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Lancashire is seeking a Senior Business Analyst to lead the discovery, analysis, and development of strategic change opportunities across the University. Working with senior stakeholders, architects, project teams, and service leaders, you will translate complex business needs into clear proposals, business cases, and investment recommendations.

You will play a key role in shaping demand, supporting portfolio prioritisation, and ensuring initiatives are aligned with the

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant area or equivalent experiential learning.
• Experience leading analysis activities on complex, high-impact projects.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery, analysis and development of strategic change opportunities across the University.
• Translate complex business needs into clear proposals, business cases and investment recommendations.
• Support portfolio prioritisation and shaping demand.
• Facilitate workshops and present evidence-based recommendations to senior decision-makers.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Requirements elicitation

Process improvement

Benefits management

Portfolio management

Business analysis

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant area

Job description

Learning and Information Services (LIS) plays a critical role in enabling the University's strategic ambitions through technology, digital transformation, and business change. The Architecture and Strategy team works closely with academic and professional service colleagues to identify opportunities for improvement, shape future investments, and ensure change initiatives deliver measurable value.
As a Senior Business Analyst, you will lead the discovery, analysis, and development of strategic change opportunities across the University. Working with senior stakeholders, architects, project teams, and service leaders, you will translate complex business needs into clear proposals, business cases, and investment recommendations. You will play a key role in shaping demand, supporting portfolio prioritisation, and ensuring initiatives are aligned with the University's strategic objectives while delivering tangible benefits and value., Our people are our most important asset. We'll encourage you to make the most of your talents and continually develop your skills and knowledge. As well as realising your career ambitions, you'll be making a positive difference to other people's lives.
You will be an experienced and highly skilled Business Analyst with a track record of leading analysis activities on complex, high-impact projects and transformation initiatives. You will have strong knowledge of business analysis techniques, process improvement methodologies, requirements elicitation, benefits management, and demand or portfolio management practices.
You will possess excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills. You will be comfortable facilitating workshops, developing business cases, evaluating options, and presenting evidence-based recommendations to senior decision-makers.
An undergraduate degree in a relevant area or equivalent experiential learning is essential for this role.
Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience and the written elements of your application should accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience.
We are proud to be a diverse, multicultural university. We are committed to building a truly inclusive culture where diversity is championed. Applications are particularly welcomed from individuals who will support the diversification within the University and support its development of a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all.
The University is committed to providing a safe environment to study, work and visit, protecting children, young people and adults at risk from harm and abuse. Our safeguarding policy and safer recruitment procedure outlines our approach, alongside other internal policies, procedures and guidance which can be found on our page.
Applicants applying for roles in regulated activity and that are listed as an exception under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 will be required to disclose any spent and unspent convictions and undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check at the appropriate level, the University will only ask an applicant to make an application for a DBS check if they are legally entitled to.