Lead Business Analyst

London, England, United Kingdom

11/11/2024

Department: Architecture & Engineering

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

Description

We're a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions.

This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.


What We Are Looking For...

Role Summary:
The Lead Business Analyst role is responsible for shaping and structuring large / complex strategic initiatives without direction. LBA will be required to support ideation and discovery, including conducting relevant analysis to validate requirements and recommend solutions that will achieve desired business outcomes. This role requires excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills to work with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to understand business needs and requirements. As a LBA, you will play a pivotal role in translating business needs and requirements into solutions.
The LBA will step-in (when required) as a proxy Product Owner, wherein you will be primarily responsible for defining and prioritising the product backlog, working closely with stakeholders, and ensuring the engineering team understands the product vision and requirements.
This role will focus on driving continuous improvement through measurable, quantifiable, and repeatable processes. Coach and mentor Business Analysts, including contributing to building the Business Analysis Community of Practice at River Island.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review and input into Business Planning activities, providing the detail and analysis around proposed work and solutions. Assist with business case development and benefits identification.


• Support business stakeholders in defining the scope and ensuring the outcomes meets the product/stakeholder vision.


• Lead and facilitate workshops and meetings with stakeholders to gather and document detailed business requirements, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.


• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation, including business requirements, process flows, use cases, and user stories.


• Translate high level business requirements into detailed user stories (with acceptance criteria) in a timely manner for delivery, highlighting any dependencies.


• Maintain the healthy backlog in collaboration with the delivery teams.


• Work closely with technical teams, including architects and engineers, to ensure accurate interpretation and implementation of business requirements.


• Collaborate with delivery managers and cross-functional teams to prioritise requirements, define business outcomes, and contribute to planning and estimation.


• Assist in business process redesign and training as needed for any new technology solutions implemented.


• Support business acceptance testing by the stakeholders as required.


• Work with the change team to generate appropriate communication, process and educational plans for mitigating the disruption of change.


• Continually seek opportunities to increase business / customer satisfaction, deepen relationships, and effectively manage business expectations.


• Coach and mentor Business Analyst and contribute to the development of the Business Analysis Community of Practice at River Island.


• Where broader improvements are identified outside of the delivery teams, work with Senior Tech stakeholders or other business functions to gain buy in and work towards those improvements.

Experience and Skills:

• Worked as Senior / Lead Business Analyst or in similar role in an agile environment.


• In-depth understanding of retail business processes and familiarity with one or more retail applications or systems


• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate complex business problems, gather requirements and propose effective solutions.


• Ability to demonstrate excellent stakeholder management and highly effective communication skills.


• Strong leadership, interpersonal, negotiation skills are also required.


• Demonstrate lateral thinking with an ability to identify and manage impacts and dependencies.


• Able to apply skillset across other subject matter areas as and when required.


• Ability to perform a Scrum Product Owner role.


• Certified in Business Analysis or any other similar professional certification are preferred

Behavious & Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to gather and interpret complex data, identify patterns and trends, and provide insights for decision making.


• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication.


• Business Acumen: In-depth understanding of the industry, market trends, and organisational objectives, with the ability to analyse complex business problems and provide strategic insights and recommendations.


• Ensures Accountability: Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.


• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including business stakeholders and delivery teams to drive successful outcomes.


• Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing business requirements, priorities, and environments, and effectively manage ambiguity and complexity.


• Willingness to Challenge: Ability to respectfully challenge the status quo in a constructive manner.


• Continuous Learning: Eagerness to stay updated with emerging trends, technologies, and industry best practices in business analysis, retail, and IT, and apply them to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

This Is For You...

• Discount - Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself & a bargain staff shop, all onsite!


• RI Rewards - Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway!


• Island culture - We have a free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café & various social events throughout the year. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!


• Work that stays at work - Flexible working is a given, on top of payday early finishes and Summer Fridays


• Family Hub - Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment


• Giver Island - Give as you earn scheme, a 'Giver Island' day each year and matched funding


• Training on the job - Support with upskilling skills through on the job training and qualifications


• Pension - A contributory private pension scheme


• Bonus - A generous bonus scheme


• Healthcare - With the choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA


• Parking - Free onsite parking


• Holiday - 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday for whatever the need!

We mentioned the discount, right?

Keeping You Safe...

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk

Every Islander Counts

Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.