Lead Business Improvement Analyst

CO-OP; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private healthcare

Pension contributions

Gym access

Discount on Co-op products

Cycle-to-work

Employee support services

Job summary

Co-op Lead Business Improvement Analyst role in Manchester; hybrid working with home and office time. You will drive major process improvements, lead complex projects, and develop financially sound business cases to benefit members and customers.

The role requires Lean advanced practitioner level or Six Sigma Green Belt, strong data analysis and stakeholder engagement, plus excellent communication and collaboration across levels.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex improvement projects and applying Lean at an advanced practitioner level or Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent.
• Strong data analysis and financial awareness with ability to build business cases.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence across organisational levels and build lasting relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex business improvement projects across Co-op.
• Apply improvement tools and techniques to identify and implement changes.
• Build robust business cases and supporting materials.
• Work with teams across the organisation to shape continuous improvement capabilities.

Skills

Lean advanced practitioner

Six Sigma Green Belt

Data analysis

Financial awareness

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Lead Business Improvement Analyst

Manchester

Job ID 1071467 Job category Change Management and Continuous Improvement Hours per week 37.5 Closing date 25-09-2026 Salary £55,000 to £65,000 plus great benefits

£55,000 to £65,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 5)

Manchester city centre - in this role you'll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office based on project needs, typically two days per week (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

We're currently recruiting for two vacancies within the team: one permanent and one 9-month fixed-term contract, we can discuss your preference during the interview.

We're reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.

Why this role matters

We're looking for a Lead Business Improvement Analyst to join our Process Improvement team at Co-op. In this role, you'll drive meaningful change across our business. You'll lead complex improvement projects, working with a talented team of specialists to deliver solutions that make a real difference. If you've got the skills and experience we're looking for, this is a great opportunity to help us build a more efficient and effective Co-op that provides more value for our customers, member-owners, and communities.

What you'll do

• Lead the delivery of complex business improvement projects across Co-op
• Use a range of improvement tools and techniques to solve problems and drive change
• Build strong relationships with colleagues at all levels of seniority
• Use data to identify and solve problems
• Develop financially sound business cases and supporting materials
• Help shape and improve our continuous improvement capabilities across our Co-op

What you'll bring

We're committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you'll need to bring:

• Experience using recognised improvement methodologies, such as lean at advanced practitioner level, six sigma at green belt level, or equivalent
• Solid data analysis, interpretation and financial awareness, with the ability to build robust business cases
• Great communication, facilitation and collaboration skills
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and challenge people inclusively

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don't meet every requirement. At Co-op, we're committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you'll belong

We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We're proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we'll support you.