About the job

Job summary

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates   

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.  

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education 

As part of the Regional Digital Services, you will be transforming the way government works for schools, trusts and our colleagues in DfE. 

At DfE, we want to deliver quickly and prove we add value, but we want to do so in a way that's sustainable and inclusive. You’ll make sure we build the right things in the right way, keeping up to date with the latest technologies and trends, whilst delivering working software early and often to our users.

You’ll work to help define, deliver and measure digital products and services for our users. You will ensure our products meet the needs of our users and deliver real value to the organisation. You will be supporting teams to follow agile and lean practices, through user-centred methods.

You’ll be working with agile multidisciplinary teams of talented user researchers, developers, designers, business analysts, and content specialists who share a vision for making better government through the smarter use of technology

What we do matters, if you would like to be part of this exciting challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

As a Senior Business Analyst you will:

• Work as part of an agile multidisciplinary team.
• Investigate, analyse, visualise, articulate, and solve complex problems and concepts.
• Lead the gathering and specification of requirements.
• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into compelling user stories.
• Develop and manage strong business relationships.
• Have excellent presentation and communication skills.
• You’re able to challenge and influence senior stakeholders and team members.
• Analyse qualitative and quantitative data to validate decision making.
• Contribute to a diverse, inclusive, supportive culture in the DfE as well as the cross-government community.
• Work closely with researchers and designers to communicate findings to the team and wider organisation so that they share a strong and empathetic understanding of user needs

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Business Analysis: Experience of working as a business analyst for digital services and software products. You take responsibility for investigative work into problems and opportunities in existing and new services. You know how to drive the analysis and collection of information to create recommendations for service improvements. You can analyse large amounts of complex information and use it to produce recommendations and solutions. You can work with and rationalise large complex data sets in order to meet the data needs of stakeholders and the the wider organisation.
• Requirements Definition and Management with User Focus: Experience of being able to identify needs and engage with users or stakeholders to collate user and business needs evidence. Facilitates setting of business priorities for change initiatives of high complexity. Leads on requirements analysis for agile delivery, and developing high quality business analysis artefacts. You take responsibility for investigation and implementation of changes to programme scope, and have experience of creating user stories and writing acceptance criteria. Ensure the delivery of change is made against a fully auditable process.  
• Stakeholder Relationship Management: Is able to influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively. Builds long term strategic relationships and communicates clearly and regularly with stakeholders. Work with business owners and business users to identify needs
• Working in multidisciplinary teams: Experience of helping multidisciplinary teams to manage and visualise outcomes and prioritise work to reach agreed minimum viable product (MVP). Experience of translating requirements into both technical and non-technical language to facilitate communications and engagement.
• Business Process Improvement: Experience of analysing services and processes, and identifying and implementing opportunities to optimise these. You can help to evaluate and establish requirements using relevant techniques. You can establish and communicate how user needs relate to existing resources and stakeholders within the business. You have experience of modelling complex business processes, mapping data flows and mapping user journeys.

Desirable Criteria

• Agile Working
• Business Modelling Experience
• Business Process Testing Experience
• Testing (Business Analysis)
• Digital Perspective

For more information please refer to the Capability Framework Business analyst - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk)

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution, with an average employer contribution of 27%

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a name blind CV and a 750 word Statement of Suitability.

Your CV should detail your experience and key achievements relevant to the essential criteria listed in the advert.  It is recommended that you give clear examples by applying the STAR technique.

Your Statement of Suitability should provide examples to explain how your personal skills, qualities and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. You should refer to the essential criteria listed in the advert. We will assess you against the suitability of statement.

Sift

At sift stage, your application will be assessed by the interview panel who will review your experience. This will be scored holistically by assessing your CV and personal statement together on how well your experience meets the essential criteria.

Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to an interview.

We receive many applications, and unfortunately, we’re not able to provide feedback for candidates who aren’t shortlisted.

Interview

The panel will ask a series of Strengths, Experience and Technical Skills questions about your experience to demonstrate, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria listed in the advert.

Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams. If you are invited to interview, please ensure that you have access to this software and that you have your video turned on.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Key dates

The sift is likely to take place from w/c 8th January 2024.

Interviews are likely to place between Monday 22nd and Friday 26th January 2024.   

Other Information 

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates. 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas. 

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.    

DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location. 

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs 

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information. 

Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.