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About the role

We are seeking a multi-skilled Senior Business Analyst with strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills to join our team.

In this role you will lead stakeholders through the requirements process ensuring you balance the need for detail and the ability to see the bigger picture.

Utilising your leadership and analytical expertise you will be the bridge between the client and the technical delivery team, ensuring that solutions balance client goals, user needs and technical feasibility.

About CDS

CDS is an agency that enables strategic change in organisations. We help clients create, develop and deliver better services to meet the evolving needs of customers, employees and citizens.

Our experts specialise in technical enablement, operational transformation, experience transformation and business process outsourcing. We improve outcomes by resolving complex insight, digital, data, technology and print challenges.

Consequently, many of the largest, most complex organisations trust CDS to provide solutions that improve health, wealth and safety in the UK. For example:

• Digitally transforming the ability to report crime online for UK police forces.
• Building a new digital platform for the regulator Social Work England.
• Providing behavioural analysis and insight to drive EE's evolving digital and customer service offering and delivering marketing and operational print management services to the Ministry of Defence

Together with our parent company, Bailie Group, CDS is positioned as a leader in enabling change. We are a multi-award-winning agency recognised by the industries we serve and our peers for our innovations and contributions that truly make a positive difference.

Responsibilities and expectations

• Taking a leading role in discovery phase to ensure understanding of business objectives, user needs and technical requirements.
• Leading and guiding clients through the requirements gathering, documentation, refinement and approval process.
• Working with development team translate complex business processes and requirements into detailed user stories, wireframes and functional specifications that can be used to develop / test from.
• Acting as a Product Owner to ensure work is aligned to scope. Also being the voice of the client making recommendations / explaining to the team why things are needed & how the client will gain the most value from activities.
• Ensuring full traceability of requirements.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams including project managers, developers, QA, UX and Accessibility consultants to ensure successful definition and implementation of solutions.
• Analysing, documenting and understanding current business processes / system. Identify areas for improvement, recommend optimised business processes and solutions.
• Demonstrating the ability to seamlessly move between articulating the overall business objectives and the low-level requirements needed to define and build a technical solution.
• Protecting scope by identifying and capturing out of scope tasks in a parking lot.
• Proactively identify risks and issues.
• Supporting delivery managers in reporting and tracking burndown to ensure delivery to time, cost and quality
• Mentoring junior analysts and sharing knowledge across the team.
• Contributing to internal process improvement initiatives.
• Deputising for Lead BA when needed.

Requirements

• Proven track record in delivering in large complex digital and technology transformation projects.
• Solid knowledge of agile, waterfall, and hybrid delivery methodologies and the ability to adapt approaches as needed.
• Ability to elicit requirements from non-technical stakeholders such as SMEs and front-end users.
• Understanding of how complex operational processes fit together.
• Ability to absorb information and data and propose solutions.
• Experience in documenting requirements in both user story and specification formats. Applying best practice when creating user stories including acceptance criteria and definition of done.
• Demonstrating strong leadership skills with all levels of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate clearly and confidently with technical and non-technical teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and facilitation skills, able to guide internal and external teams effectively.
• Ability to build strong relationships with client stakeholders and internal colleagues fostering confidence in your abilities.
• Strong analytical skills with a positive problem-solving attitude.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to self-manage workloads and prioritise in line with project deliverables.
• Experience with tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, Miro, Figma and similar platforms.
• 6+ years of experience as a Business Analyst, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead role.

It would also be beneficial, but not essential to be/have...

• Any familiarity with Accessibility and UX principles.
• Experience of working with both private and public sector clients.
• Experience in highly regulated or compliance driven environments.
• Low code platform experience e.g. Appian
• Knowledge of Public Sector and GDS standards.

Hybrid & Homeworking

To ensure the health, safety & wellbeing of our employees we have minimum standards for homeworking environments which must be maintained. Further details available on request.

Vetting

Due to the nature of this role and the business, you will need to either currently hold UK Government clearance to a minimum of SC level or be able to undergo and maintain this level of clearance.

In return

• Attractive base salary
• 25 days holiday + public holidays
• Company pension and life assurance scheme
• Medicash health plan - online GP access, support services & discounted gym membership
• Complimentary fruit, coffee, tea, and drinks at the office
• Wellbeing events/services in Leeds office
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season pass loan for rail & bus travel
• A business focused on professional development and personal growth opportunities
• Smart, engaged co-workers and a culture of inclusion, innovation, and opportunity

Recruitment Agency Disclaimer:

Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company - CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop) operates with Preferred Suppliers list for recruitment agencies which are reviewed periodically. When we choose to work with a preferred supplier, this supplier will be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for specific roles (submitted via a secure online portal).

Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company - CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop) only pay agency fees where an authorised member of the HR/Recruitment team has provided prior instructions to the recruitment agency to work on our behalf with reference to a particular role. We do not accept unsolicited speculative CVs from recruitment agencies. Receipt of unsolicited CVs via email or any other online platforms does not imply an introduction to Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company - CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop); therefore, no ownership of such candidates will be given. In the event that recruitment agencies submit unsolicited speculative CVs, we retain the right to contact, pursue and hire these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers. Should you wish to be considered as a preferred supplier in the future or feel you have a niche skill set you can help with, then please send some company information to Recruitment@Bailiegroup.co.uk

Naturally, we receive a high level of interest from recruitment agencies, and as such, we will only contact you should we wish to discuss this further, please reframe from sending multiple emails. Submission of any unsolicited speculative CVs to Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company - CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop) will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this statement.

Our inclusive culture

CDS positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We foster an inclusive culture that enables everyone to achieve their full potential and enjoy a fulfilling career with us.