Lead Business Analyst

Health Research Authority; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Health Research Authority seeks a Lead Business Analyst to drive complex projects in digital health research systems. You'll lead stakeholder engagement, analyse business needs, and facilitate a digital transformation. This flexible, inclusive role emphasizes collaboration and innovation in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Commitment to inclusivity and diversity

Professional development opportunities

Healthy work-life balance

Wide range of benefits

Qualifications

• Professional qualification at master's level in an information-related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in Business Architecture and analysis in a complex digital landscape.
• Demonstrable expertise in data and technology solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the business analysis community, understanding and defining business problems.
• Analyse and identify user and business needs to enable effective design and development.
• Contribute to governance and communication across various products and services.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Education

Master's degree in an information-related discipline

Tools

Microsoft development software

Job description

The HRA is a Non Departmental Public Body with the remit to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research. We do this by supporting and promoting a robust and efficient regulatory and governance framework in the UK. We provide the Research Ethics Service (RES), Confidentiality Advice function, assessments and assurances on behalf of the NHS, and learning, guidance and advice for the research community. Our ambition is to make the UK a great place to do research, where more money invested in research goes into carrying out relevant, good quality research.

Our purpose is to ensure that research involving NHS patients and members of the public is approved through a proportionate and robust system, that they are provided with the information they need to help them decide whether they wish to take part, and that their opportunity to do so is maximised by simplifying the processes by which high quality research is assessed. We have already delivered significant improvements by centralising and simplifying the approval of research in the NHS in England, and are undertaking a range of significant programmes to deliver further improvements.

Job overview

The lead business analyst is part of a highly successful team working within the HRA digital directorate, responsible for developing, delivering, and supporting complex solutions within the HRA's portfolio of national information systems for health research. This includes a major digital transformation programme to build a new Integrated Research Application and workflow system and to achieve the successful migration and eventual closure of current systems (IRAS and HARP).

Main duties of the job

The postholder will have a good understanding of the enterprise arena and work in highly complex problem space, typically spanning multiple products or services.

At this role level, you will:

• be a leader in the business analysis community (across HRA and externally)
• actively share knowledge and be seen as a go-to person in the BA discipline
• own the main stakeholder relationships related to your discipline
• analyse, understand, and define a business problem or opportunity
• undertake research and analysis to understand how a business area works, considering the people, organisation, processes, information, data and technology
• identify areas for improvement, explore feasible options, analyse the effects of change and define success measures
• identify and elaborate user and business needs to enable effective design, development and testing of services and business change
• assist the product management team to make decisions related to prioritisation and minimum viable product by using analysis led insights
• ensure new products and services meet business and user needs, and are aligned with programme goals
• understand any business and policy constraints that need to be considered, and assess the implications
• have functional management or people management accountabilities, or a combination of both
• mentor others

The lead business analyst will need to contribute to daily stand-ups, show and tells and sprint planning sessions and other programme governance meetings as applicable.

Working for our organisation

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do.

We're 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 help us to deliver the best services.

We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community. This includes:
• age
• disability
• ethnicity
• gender identity and expression
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation
• other diverse characteristics

We have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement - if it works for you, we'll do our best to make it work for us.

Please note, if applying to our Nottingham or Bristol locations, we are only able to offer the role as home based.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The role sits within the HRA Digital Directorate which is responsible for developing, delivering, and supporting complex solutions within the HRA's portfolio of national information systems for health research. This includes a major programme to build a new Integrated Research Application and Workflow system and to achieve the successful migration and eventual closure of current systems (IRAS and HARP). The HRA Digital team is a collaborative, supportive team consisting of HRA employees, secondees, contractors and vendors. The HRA digital directorate is responsible for (this is not exhaustive):

• Digital portfolio management

• Digital and technology direction

• Service delivery management

• Ongoing delivery of existing systems

• Exit management of Legacy systems

• Helpdesk function

• Programme Delivery, handover and maintenance for all new and existing digital initiatives

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Professional qualification at master's level in an information related discipline or equivalent industry experience
• Evidence of continued professional development

Knowledge, Skills and Expertise:
Desirable criteria

• Managing and/or working with third party suppliers and multiple stakeholders
• Understanding of Microsoft development software

Interpersonal Skills
Essential criteria

• Lead on communication with stakeholders at all levels and actively establish relationships and apply the benefits of professional networks

Knowledge, Skills and Expertise:
Essential criteria

• 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

Experience
Essential criteria

• Significant experience in Business Architecture, analysis, and modelling in a complex digital landscape

Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Essential criteria

• Demonstrable experience of analytical and creative thinking skills to analyse complex business problems and develop innovative, sustainable solutions

Other
Desirable criteria

• Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity

Knowledge, Skills and Expertise:
Essential criteria

• Demonstrable knowledge and skills to identify and elaborate user and business needs to enable effective design, development and testing of services and business change

In return for your commitment, we offer excellent opportunities for personal development and a healthy work-life balance. The HRA is committed to promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality. We welcome and encourage applications, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity and gender expression, disability, race, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, sex or sexual orientation or any other personal circumstances. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can be made upon request, for candidates with a disability. The HRA welcomes applicants who are interested in flexible working including job share, part time work, secondments or home-based working. Please discuss any preferred flexibility at your interview.

The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of applications.

The HRA does not hold a sponsor licence in respect of skilled worker visas and so is unable to employ candidates requiring sponsorship.

In order to be considered for this position you must address the criteria outlined in the person specification in your supporting statement. You will be considered based on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered. All contact is made via our Trac recruitment system. Please check your account regularly.

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

If you have a query relating to your application, please contact the recruitment team on [email protected] or 0300 330 9416.

The NHSBSA is responsible for the processing of your application; a privacy notice is available at the following link to advise you on how we will process your personal data.

HRA Recruitment Privacy Notice

Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download

• Lead Business Analyst JD ( PDF , 216.4 KB )
• Reference Guidelines for Applicants ( PDF , 19.3 KB )
• HRA Verification of ID & RTW ( PDF , 307.0 KB )
• Working at the HRA ( PDF , 286.3 KB )
• Benefits Statement ( PDF , 222.6 KB )
• About the HRA ( PDF , 118.1 KB )
• HRA Recruitment Privacy Notice ( PDF , 70.7 KB )

Manchester, Bristol, Chester, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Milton Keynes, Preston, Reading

Competitive salary, and a wide range of benefits

Manchester, Bristol, Chester, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Milton Keynes, Preston, Reading

Competitive salary, and a wide range of benefits