Lead Business Analyst

Full Job Description

Methods is looking for a Lead Business Analyst on a permanent basis.

Methods are based UK wide: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff.

Methods Business and Digital Technology Limited

Methods is a £100M+ IT Services Consultancy who has partnered with a range of central government departments and agencies to transform the way the public sector operates in the UK. Established over 30 years ago and UK-based, we apply our skills in transformation, delivery, and collaboration from across the Methods Group, to create end-to-end business and technical solutions that are people-centred, safe, and designed for the future.

Our human touch sets us apart from other consultancies, system integrators and software houses - with people, technology, and data at the heart of who we are, we believe in creating value and sustainability through everything we do for our clients, staff, communities, and the planet.

We support our clients in the success of their projects while working collaboratively to share skill sets and solve problems. At Methods we have fun while working hard; we are not afraid of making mistakes and learning from them.

Predominantly focused on the public-sector, Methods is now building a significant private sector client portfolio.

Methods was acquired by the Alten Group in early 2022.

The Lead Business Analyst will typically play a strategic role in a DDaT multidisciplinary team in a complex change. This will be within agile and waterfall project, programme, and portfolio environments. They will lead others and work to assess situations and understand problems, eliciting, analysing, validating, and gaining consensus of business requirements and user stories across complex stakeholder landscapes. The role will involve strategically influencing and developing both Methods and our clients Business Analysis practices by leading activity across internal and client communities of practice.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in complex transformations, applying skills in, and leading business analysis across a number of different styles of transformation. They will have experience and knowledge underpinned by the tailored use of several frameworks and methodologies to perform as an effective analyst and leader. They will understand the UK public services landscape, and extensive knowledge in one or more sectors or specialisms. In addition to business analysis skills, they will have experience in modelling new services and operational models to architect change aligned to strategy. They will also have demonstrable experience in using emerging technology and innovation to improve the delivery of services.

The role will be home based and will include work on client sites. It is expected that the Lead Business Analyst will quickly acquire a detailed understanding of Methods Portfolio offering to work effectively for our clients. The Lead Business Analyst will also support the development of Method Business Analysis practice.

The Lead Business Analyst will have the following responsibilities:

• shaping the analysis across complex transformation and stakeholder environments
• and understand complex user and business needs, including where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources
• complex processes and information flows into appropriate artefacts for communication with both stakeholders and the team
• user needs into system functionality requirements
• the internal and external situation and environment, eliciting and managing any non-functional requirements.
• review and manage requirements with appropriate stakeholders to maintain records of traceability and prioritisation.
• with and persuade stakeholders with a balanced consultative approach to ensure that the principles of user centred design are balanced against service requirements.
• clear and concise user stories with clear and testable acceptance criteria.
• role in Methods Business Analysis community of practice, mentoring other business analysts and contributing to client business analysis practice development.
• other business analysts, directing their work, providing oversight and quality assurance of their outputs.
• and overseeing the update and reuse of the analysis artefacts and architecture repository on the start and close of each analysis assignment.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• to strategically shape and lead analysis as part of multi-disciplinary teams operating within programme, portfolio or scaled agile methodologies.
• able to select the appropriate business modelling techniques that are most effective to help people understand the situations, problems, and solutions.
• and influence improvements to business structures, processes and information flows supported appropriately with automation and technology.
• of effective techniques to define and manage requirements, prioritisation, and scope with others in a range of different types of change methodologies and situations.
• and enhancing standards and applying appropriate techniques to elicit and document requirements.
• traceability of, change to and the refinement of requirements, identifying issues and omissions and managing escalations with senior stakeholders.
• work that delivers effectively and efficiently in fast paced environments, in agile and waterfall project methodologies
• experience of working in different project methodologies and awareness of how to adapt their practice
• approach to stakeholder management to understand objectives and resolve tension and conflict.
• Business Analysis or relevant knowledge gained from recognised bodies (BCS, BABOK, Agile PO).
• problem solving and analytical skills, including the ability to create clear observations, analysis and conclusions based on customer interviews, published requirements and data.
• written and verbal communicator.
• approach to personal and professional development and mentoring of others in Business Analysis best practice.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Architecture experience / knowledge (TOGAF, BIZBOK)
• experience and knowledge of Lean practices.
• understanding of public services and technology marketplace with knowledge of products, platforms and emerging technologies.
• knowledge in a business domain or other digital specialism
• knowledge in security, data, and privacy
• and understanding of GDS Service Standards.
• and understanding of Software development lifecycles
• in managing story development in tools such as JIRA, Azure DevOps or similar.
• in collaborative and remote tooling (Teams, Slack, MIRO, Mural).
• in Enterprise Architecture tooling.
• to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills.
• of working in scrum environments with team definitions of ready and done.

Am I the right fit? We're looking for:

• collaboration and team working
• Communication skills
• passion/commitment to improving public services
• determined and tenacious approach to work
• creative approach to problem solving
• listening and comprehension
• stakeholder management

Benefits

Methods is passionate about its people; we want our colleagues to develop the things they are good at and enjoy.

By joining us you can expect:

• to develop and grow your skills and experience
• part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society
• inspiring, and thought-provoking leadership
• supportive and collaborative environment

As well as this we offer:

Development – access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme, and training

Wellness – 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme

Flexible Working – including home working and part time

Social – office parties, breakfast Tuesdays, monthly pizza Thursdays, Thirsty Thursdays, and commitment to charitable causes

Time Off – 25 days of annual leave a year, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy 5 extra days each year

Volunteering – 2 paid days per year to volunteer in our local communities or within a charity organisation

Pension – Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution

Discretionary Company Bonus – based on company and individual performance

Life Assurance – of 4 times base salary

Private Medical Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)

Worldwide Travel Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay

Travel – season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme

For a full list of benefits please visit our website (

This role will require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected. Details of this will be discussed with you at interview