Business Analyst - Forestry Commission - HEO

Location

Any FC office (subject to office availability), with contact with or travel to Bristol as needed. Blended working optional.

About the job

Job summary

As part of the Forestry Commission (FC), Forest Services (FS) are the Government's 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. They include teams of change and project management professionals alongside development teams of business analysis professionals headed by Development Managers.

Business Analysts help 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 support the development of products and business change initiatives from inception through to delivery, working closely with project managers, change managers, technical specialists and business users.

Examples of recent projects include:

• A module for our Grants Management System to support the management of customer claims against the England Woodland Creation Offer grant.
• A workspace developed using Microsoft Power Automate tools to support technical review, advice and approvals for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier capital project plans.
• A Customer Engagement Tracking capability for our Grants Management System.

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 user and business needs and develop and implement improvements in a holistic way.

Your key work areas will vary depending on the project(s) you are assigned, but will generally consist of:

Business Analysis and Requirements Management

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 clearly defined project objectives.
• Employing a range of tools and techniques to map current ("As Is") and future ("To Be") business processes.
• Evaluating requirements against the current and target states, identifying what is required to bridge the gap.
• Working in partnership with technical colleagues to ensure business needs are translated into appropriate technical solutions.
• Ensuring solutions are delivered in accordance with recognised methodologies and standards (which may include Government Digital Service (GDS) standards where applicable).
• Identifying both quick wins and longer-term opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Undertaking ad hoc analysis requests from the business and recommending appropriate solutions.

Testing and Quality Assurance

• Supporting the planning, coordination and execution of testing activities across projects, including User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Working with business users and delivery teams to define test scenarios, test cases and acceptance criteria.
• Supporting the identification, tracking and resolution of defects and issues.
• Helping ensure delivered solutions meet business requirements and are fit for purpose before implementation.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Undertaking basic data analysis to support business decision-making and service improvement.
• Producing reports, dashboards, metrics and management information to support project delivery and business performance monitoring.
• Interpreting and presenting data in a clear and accessible format for a range of stakeholders.
• Supporting benefits measurement and post-implementation evaluation activities where required.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaising with key stakeholders across FC and the wider forestry sector.
• Representing the team at relevant groups, forums and networks.

Supplier and Delivery Support

• Representing the Development Team at business and supplier meetings.
• Helping suppliers understand business priorities and supporting the resolution of performance or service issues as appropriate.

Continuous Improvement and Professional Development

• Contributing to Development Team meetings and the continuous improvement of the Business Analysis profession within Forest Services.
• Taking responsibility for personal professional development.
• Promoting the value and benefits of business analysis best practice.

Person specification

ESSENTIAL

• Significant experience of working with business stakeholders and external suppliers/contractors to gather, analyse and document business requirements and identify appropriate solutions.
• Experience of translating evidence, analysis and user needs into practical recommendations and service improvements.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Experience of communicating progress, risks and issues to stakeholders using clear and effective communication.
• Experience of producing clear, concise and effective documentation for business audiences.
• Experience of analysing data and producing reports, dashboards or management information to support decision-making and service improvement.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience, with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Competent IT user with substantial experience of Microsoft Office products.
• A recognised Business Analysis qualification (such as BCS Diploma in Business Analysis) or equivalent experience, with willingness to undertake further professional development.

DESIRABLE

• Affiliation with a professional body such as the British Computer Society (BCS).
• Understanding of Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and approaches.
• Understanding of, or experience working within, the forestry or environmental sector.
• Experience of supporting business testing or User Acceptance Testing (UAT) activities.
• Experience of working with reporting and visualisation tools such as Power BI or similar.
• Full current driving licence.