Senior Business Analyst (Research Data)

Senior Business Analyst (Research Data)

Salary: £49,000 - £58,000 plus benefits
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (35 hours per week)
Location: Stratford, London (2 Redman Place) with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)
Closing date: 30 August 2026
Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
Recruitment Process: Two competency-based interviews with a scenario-based exercise
Interview Dates: TBC

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

Every day, our researchers generate vast amounts of data that have the potential to unlock new discoveries and improve outcomes for people affected by cancer. We're investing in a major transformation programme to develop a Research Datahub that will make research data more accessible, connected and impactful.

We're looking for a Senior Business Analyst with a passion for data, research and solving complex challenges. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of research, technology and data governance, partnering with scientists, data owners and technical teams to shape how research data is managed and shared across the organisation. Your work will directly contribute to enabling faster scientific insights and advancing our mission to beat cancer.

• Lead business analysis activities across the delivery of our Research Datahub programme, supporting the transformation of research data management and governance.
• Work closely with researchers, data owners and technical teams to understand, model and prioritise business and data requirements.
• Drive improvements in data sharing and FAIR data practices (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) to maximise the value of research data.
• Translate complex business and data requirements into actionable user stories, epics and acceptance criteria within Agile delivery teams.
• Build influential stakeholder relationships across all levels of the organisation to align business needs with strategic technology solutions.
• Evaluating strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, suggesting areas of improvement, and challenging as needed.
• Identify opportunities, risks, dependencies and process improvements, ensuring solutions deliver measurable value and impact.

• Significant Business Analysis experience, ideally gained within data-intensive, research, scientific, healthcare or complex transformation environments.
• Strong experience of data analysis, data modelling, data mapping and working with large or complex datasets.
• Proven ability to manage multiple work streams and priorities whilst navigating complexity, risks and dependencies.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence decision making and build credibility across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience gathering, documenting and translating business, functional and non-functional requirements into successful technology solutions.
• Ability to evaluate existing processes, articulate pain point and recommend improvements.
• A proactive problem solver who can simplify complex challenges and identify innovative, value-driven solutions.

• Experience working with research communities, research datasets or scientific data platforms.
• Knowledge of data governance principles and FAIR data practices.
• Experience supporting large-scale database, data platform or data transformation programmes.

This isn't just another Business Analyst role. You'll play a key role in shaping a high-profile data transformation programme that will help researchers access and utilise critical data more effectively.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Influence the future of research data management within one of the world's leading cancer charities.
• Work with diverse stakeholders across research, technology and operational teams.
• Lead analysis activities on a complex and strategically important programme.
• Help deliver technology and data solutions that support life-saving research.
• Develop your expertise within a collaborative and highly skilled Business Analysis community.