Business Analyst

Heriot-Watt University · Edinburgh · £38,448–£48,337 (stated in the posting)

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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. 

Purpose of Role

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.

About our Directorate and Team

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. 

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities

Business Analysis and Requirements

• 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.

Process and Service Improvement

• 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. 

Stakeholder Engagement

• 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.

Solution Development and Delivery

• 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.

Change and Continuous Improvement

• 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 impact assessments and readiness activities.
• Work with stakeholders to identify barriers to adoption and support successful embedding of change.
• Contribute to benefits identification, benefits tracking and post-implementation evaluation.
• Champion continuous improvement and organisational learning, contributing to the development of effective practices, standards and approaches across the project portfolio and supporting the University's wider transformation and strategic change agenda.

Professional Practice

• Act as a subject matter expert in business analysis, applying and promoting recognised standards, methodologies and professional good practice across the University.
• Contribute to the development of business analysis capability, frameworks, tools and standards, sharing expertise and supporting colleagues across the University change community.
• Maintain expert awareness of developments in business analysis, digital technologies and the Higher Education sector, assessing their potential impact and relevance to University priorities.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Degree qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrable experience providing business analysis expertise and professional advice within complex organisational change and transformation environments.
• Experience of requirements elicitation, analysis and management.
• Experience of process analysis, process improvement and solution design.
• Experience of influencing stakeholders at multiple organisational levels, including senior leaders, and achieving consensus across diverse and competing interests.
• Experience supporting projects, business change or service improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical, investigative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate options and make evidence-based recommendations on complex issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a matrix environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications and collaboration tools.
• Experience of business analysis, process modelling and project delivery tools such as Visio, Jira, Confluence, Miro, Power BI and equivalent platforms as well as emerging AI technologies.

Desirable

• BCS Business Analysis qualification or equivalent professional certification. 
• Qualification or training in change management, service design, process improvement or transformation methodologies (e.g. Prosci, Lean, Agile, Six Sigma).
• Experience within Higher Education or a similarly complex public-sector environment. 
• Experience supporting digital transformation or organisational change initiatives.
• Knowledge of Higher Education governance, regulatory or operational environments

How to Apply 

Applications can be submitted up to 23:55 (UK time) on 9^th of November 2026. 

Please must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV. 

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options. 

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. 

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ . 

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University

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