Business Analyst

Job summary

As part of Forestry Commission (FC), Forest Services (FS) are the Governments forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment, and the economy.

The Business Transformation and Major Programmes teams within FS are responsible for driving transformational change and continual business improvement. It includes teams of change and project management professionals alongside development teams (teams of business analysis professionals headed up by Development Managers).

Business Analysts help to identify improvements to business systems and processes, using evidence and analysis to identify those that will deliver the greatest benefits and value for money. They drive development of a product or business change from initiation through to delivery, working closely with colleagues across FS (including project management and change management colleagues and business users). Example of recent projects include:

• A new online system for issuing Felling Licences
• Improving our mobile working capabilities
• Improving internal business processes
• Amending systems for plant health forestry operations to meet new Sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements and evolving regulatory obligations
• A new Grant Management System
• A new geospatial system to support mapping and spatial analysis across Forest Services

This position will require regular contact with or travel to Bristol.

Job description

As a Business Analyst you will facilitate the delivery of changes and improvements to business systems and processes. Working in close collaboration with colleagues across FS, you will use evidence and analysis to understand and analyse user and business needs and to develop and implement improvements in a holistic way.

Your Key Work Areas will vary dependent on the project(s) you are assigned, but will generally consist of:

1. Working closely with colleagues to identify improvements to FS business processes, IT systems and services by:
   • Employing a range of tools and techniques to gather business and user requirements against clear objectives articulated for each project
   • Employing a range of tools and techniques to map 'As-Is' and To-Be' business processes
   • Evaluating requirements against the present state (where we are) and the target state (where we want to be) and identifying what is needed to make the transition between them
   • Working in partnership with technical colleagues to ensure business needs are translated into appropriate technical solutions
   • Ensuring solutions are delivered to recognised methodologies and standards (including GDS service standards)
   • Identifying quick wins and longer-term solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness of FS business operations
   • Undertaking ad hoc analysis requests from the business, reviewing and recommending outline solutions.
2. Liaising with key stakeholders across FC and the wider forestry sector, including representation at appropriate groups and networks.
3. Representing the Development Team at appropriate business and supplier meetings, ensuring that suppliers understand priorities for FS operational staff and resolve any performance and/or contractual issues as appropriate.
4. Contributing to Development Team meetings; professional development of the BA function; taking responsibility for personal professional development; and promoting the benefits of BA best practice.
5. Delivering any digital transformation projects in line with Government Digital Services Technology Code of Practice, Service Standard and Service Manual, helping to ensure these pass ALPHA and BETA service assessments.

Person specification

ESSENTIAL

• Substantial experience of working with business customers and external suppliers/contractors at all levels to gather, analyse and document business requirements and to identify appropriate service and system
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
• Experience of communicating progress with business stakeholders, using effective communication skills and showing the ability to listen, tailoring and adjusting communication as necessary
• Experience of writing clear and effective documentation that can be easily understood by business
• Experience of Agile working, helping teams to manage and visualise outcomes, prioritise work and define and adhere to agreed minimum viable product (MVP), priorities and scope.
• Educated to Degree Level or equivalent and evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

• Competent IT user with in-depth experience of the MS Office suite of products
• A recognised Business Analysis qualification (e.g. BCS Diploma in Business Analysis) or equivalent experience and a willingness to gain qualifications.

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

DESIRABLE

• Affiliation to Professional body such as British Computing Society (BCS)
• An understanding of Government Digital Service (GDS) service standards
• An understanding of or experience of working within the forestry
• A full current driving licence would be helpful but is not essential

The post will involve some travel to FS sites across England and therefore applicants need to be willing to stay away from home overnight when necessary.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Knowledge and applicable understanding of formal methodologies and techniques for Business Analysis

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission contributes £11,700 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
• Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agr