Business Analyst

Job Description

Job Title: Business Analyst

Grade and Salary range: Grade 7, £38,448 to £48,337 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full-time (35 hours per week), Open-Ended

Organisation Name: Global Project Management Office (University Governance & Operations)

We have 3 opportunities available across the team.

The Business Analyst provides specialist business analysis expertise across a portfolio of strategic and operational initiatives, acting as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and contributing to informed decision-making on complex business change and transformation activity.

Working closely with stakeholders, project teams and subject matter experts, the role operates with a high degree of professional autonomy to investigate complex issues, evaluate options, provide evidence-based recommendations and support delivery of solutions that advance University strategic objectives.

The postholder will act as a key link between business stakeholders and project teams, ensuring that solutions meet business requirements, support organisational change and deliver measurable business benefits aligned to university strategic objectives.

Heriot-Watt University is a leading international university operating across campuses in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia.

The Global Project Management Office supports the delivery of strategic projects, business change and service improvement initiatives across the University. Working with academic and professional service colleagues, the team provides project management and business analysis expertise to support organisational transformation and continuous improvement.

• Lead the elicitation, analysis and management of business requirements for complex initiatives, applying professional judgement to determine the most appropriate business analysis approaches and techniques.
• Facilitate workshops, interviews and engagement activities, influencing stakeholders to achieve consensus on business needs, priorities and desired outcomes.
• Produce high-quality analysis artefacts including requirements documentation, process maps, user stories and business cases.
• Advise stakeholders on requirements prioritisation, balancing strategic objectives, risks, dependencies and resource constraints while maintaining traceability throughout the project lifecycle.

• Critically evaluate business processes and operating practices, identifying opportunities for service enhancement, efficiency and strategic value.
• Design and support implementation of improved processes and ways of working.
• Apply specialist analytical techniques to investigate complex issues, identify root causes, assess risks and develop evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
• Facilitate the design of future-state business processes, service models and operating arrangements.
• Support development of target operating models and service design activities where appropriate.

• Build and sustain effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the University, providing professional advice, constructive challenge and specialist expertise.
• Communicate findings, recommendations and options clearly to a range of audiences.
• Influence decision-making through the presentation of robust evidence, options appraisals, impact assessments and recommendations on complex business issues.

• Lead or facilitate the evaluation of solution options, providing independent analysis and recommendations to stakeholders on feasibility, benefits, risks, organisational impacts and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with project managers, technical teams and subject matter experts, influencing delivery approaches and ensuring solutions remain aligned to agreed business outcomes and benefits.
• Support testing, implementation and post-implementation review activities, including User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Support identification, definition and measurement of business benefits arising from change initiatives.
• Contribute to post-implementation reviews to evaluate outcomes and realised benefits.

• Assess the impact of proposed changes to processes, services and systems.
• Assess organisational, operational and strategic impacts arising from proposed changes, advising stakeholders on risks, readiness and adoption requirements.
• Support development of change…