Job Description and Person Specification. Post Number: HCI.C24 JE Ref: JE028

Transcription

1 Job Description and Person Specification Job Title: Business Analyst Post Number: HCI.C24 JE Ref: JE028 Grade: PO1 (SCP 35 39) Other payments: Service: Progression: Hours per week: Accountable to: N/A Corporate Services Progression through the grade is dependent on satisfactory performance 37 hours Programme Office Manager Date created/ reviewed: July 2014 OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE The overall purpose is to deliver a range of specific effective and efficient services to the people, businesses and community of St Albans or internally to the Council through the provision and application of specialist skills, knowledge and expertise, which supports the Council in the delivery of services ensuring compliance with statutory provisions and corporate policy. JOB DESCRIPTION FOR BUSINESS ANALYST Job Purpose To provide a dedicated data analysis service to support effective project and performance management to help the Council deliver its corporate priorities and improve services for local residents. 1

2 Accountabilities 1. Provide business analysis expertise to support the Programme Management Office by feeding into the project and programme management processes and identifying where there is a need for support on priority projects, business transformation and service improvements. 2. Work closely with senior managers and their teams to identify how they can best use customer data, service and performance data, and benchmarking to identify issues, opportunities and potential solutions for improving efficiency. This will include supporting on design and interpretation of data and developing clear and attractive ways of presenting information to support informed decision making. 3. Lead on developing and maintaining an effective data information hub which drives service improvement, by advising and supporting senior managers and other staff (primarily departmental performance leads) to develop relevant and robust performance measures. 4. Review and challenge performance reports and identify where there are opportunities for improvements and feed in to the Programme Management Office. 5. Provide technical data expertise to support the Programme Management Office and departments to shape, analyse and present research. 6. Able to deputise for the Programme Office Manager. Demands Mental Demands Able to plan own day to day activities. Able to manage multiple deadlines (weekly). Able to manage and prioritise requests from the Programme Office Manager, Customer and Delivery Manager, customer and delivery team colleagues and Heads of Services, and other officers and councillors, and respond appropriately (weekly). Able to work within recognised policies and procedures (daily). Able to seek advice from supervisor on complex problems/issues (daily). Able to research, analyse and interpret complex and varied information and performance data relating to service management and delivery and propose improvements often to tight deadlines (weekly). Able to present complex and varied information to senior managers and councillors verbally, including through presentations, and in writing (quarterly). Able to use good communication skills to advise others, negotiate, present or persuade others (daily). Able to develop completely new ideas, analyse non-routine problems and provide solutions based on good quality evidence (monthly). Able to demonstrate technical analytical skills for assessing information and carrying out research projects effectively (weekly). Able to liaise with specialists in complex technical areas (weekly). Able to keep up to date with best practice through research and networking and apply it in practice (monthly).

3 Able to determine when confidentiality is required and to maintain discretion appropriately at all times either in relation to politically or commercially sensitive material or discussion of staff issues (daily). Physical Demands Much of the postholder s time will be spent at a computer carrying out research and analysis (daily). Working Conditions Normal office demands. Other Employment requirements The job holder would be required to attend evening meetings on a regular basis. This job would involve some remote or home working. Desk sharing will be a feature of working at the Council Offices. PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR BUSINESS ANALYST Qualifications Degree or equivalent qualification or experience equivalent to having gained this level of qualification in a technical role. Desirable Relevant professional/project management qualification Knowledge Expert knowledge of research methods including data analysis Awareness of business improvement and customer service principles Awareness of programme and project management Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office 2010, specifically spreadsheets and other data analysis e.g. Excel (including pivot tables, charts and macros), Word and PowerPoint Awareness of the requirements of working in a political environment Understanding of corporate equalities standards and diversity issues Awareness of data protection, security and confidentiality issues Desirable

4 Knowledge of local government Experience Evidence of experience of: Supporting change projects or service improvements by providing business analysis within a complex organisation Effectively communicating ideas and information to colleagues, including senior managers Building and maintaining good working relationships at all levels Working in a political or similar complex stakeholder environment Effectively influencing, negotiating with and persuading others Effectively dealing with service requests from colleagues across the organisation Interpreting and presenting complex and varied information, compiling data and preparing reports Providing practical project management related advice and guidance Experience of carrying out quantitative and qualitative business analysis Experience of performance management, including systems, developing performance indicators and target setting Desirable Evidence of working effectively in a similar complex role

5 GENERIC ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR PRINCIPAL OFFICER Service Management 1. Supervise, coach, mentor and be involved in the recruitment of team members and assist them in their development to ensure individuals and team s objectives are achieved to agreed standards 2. Provide input and feedback on the development and progress of the business plan to ensure that work area objectives are achieved and the Council continues to comply with relevant standards and regulations 3. Manage and monitor the delivery of work area objectives to ensure a high performing service is being delivered and ensures the Council complies with relevant standards and regulations 4. Contribute to project work, promotions and initiatives, engaging with colleagues, customers, councillors, external agencies and partnerships, ensuring that deliverables are within agreed timescales and resources, to meet service plan objectives 5. Assist in the development and implementation of robust management systems, processes and infrastructures to ensure that data / information within the work area can be collected and verified to meet service delivery requirements and fulfil statutory duties 6. Contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and review of service area policies and guidelines to meet statutory and Council s standards and support the delivery of services 7. Investigate, research and assess a range of situations and activities and provide information so that appropriate action can be taken to meet the needs of customers and comply with relevant standards and regulations 8. Provide complex technical and professional advice, guidance, consultation and solutions to customers, colleagues and external agencies within specialist or specific work area and within defined guidelines to meet service delivery requirements 9. Design, develop, plan and deliver solutions, including enforcement and court action, to resolve issues for internal and external customers and external agencies and partnerships, to meet work area objectives and ensuring that the Council s statutory and regulatory obligations and guidelines are met 10. Identify and recommend change and continuous improvement initiatives to own and/or team s activities to enhance and improve performance and service delivery 11. Contribute to embedding a performance improvement culture to further improve and enhance service delivery 12. Research, analyse, diagnose, interpret and evaluate complex data / information (using specialist software and interrogation techniques where appropriate) and take action or make recommendations to enable users to make informed decisions

6 13. Monitor, collate and evaluate information and produce accurate and timely factual reports to enable the monitoring of service delivery against service requirements 14. Ensure compliance to agreed policy and quality systems and procedures within specific work area to minimise risk to the Council and its partners and uphold excellent standards of governance 15. Participate in business continuity arrangements in the event of emergencies and local critical incidents in accordance with the Council s emergency plans 16. Build, maintain and promote effective working relationships with councillors, colleagues, customers, partners and external agencies to ensure that work area objectives are effectively delivered 17. Work effectively with other teams across the organisation and sometimes with partners and agencies to deliver improved, cost-effective and value-added services 18. Keep abreast of the relevant changing legal and statutory obligations, promptly updating management systems, policies, processes and infrastructures as required, to ensure compliance 19. Demonstrate the Council s Managing Effectively competencies leadership, managing performance, developing talent, managing resources, communicating with the team, managing change, acting with integrity and customer focus to ensure that leadership is provided in a purposeful and positive way 20. Ensure that effective arrangements are in place to secure the overall well-being and health and safety of all employees and people delivering services for the Council 21. Ensure that all activities and ways of working build upon the Council s positive approach to equal opportunities and comply with the relevant statutory duties 22. Provide cover, where required, and general assistance to line manager to ensure effective delivery of objectives Resource Management Depending on the nature of the specific role some of these accountabilities may not be directly applicable 1. Monitor allocated team resources to meet budgetary and service performance requirements 2. Contribute to generating and securing funding for relevant areas of work so that work area objectives can be efficiently delivered 3. Co-ordinate and monitor contractor performance to ensure specified delivery requirements and standards are met 4. Monitor specific team / service resources and contribute to the procurement of external resources to ensure the service area has the capability and capacity to deliver high performing services

7 5. Monitor and evaluate significant physical resources to meet the needs of internal and external customers and comply with statutory provisions and/or Council policy The job holder will be required to be flexible and undertake any other duties according to the needs of the organisation. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities, but rather an outline of the main areas of responsibility. Any reasonable changes will be discussed and agreed with the job holder before any variations to the job description are made.

8 Principal Officer Team Leader Qualifications Educated to degree or equivalent level Membership of appropriate professional body or equivalent experience Evidence of continuous professional development Mandatory practising certificates, where appropriate Knowledge Up to date and working knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, standards and core disciplines of work area Knowledge and understanding of: - functions of local government - major issues and challenges facing specific work area - performance management - project working - procurement and contract management Commitment to and clear understanding of equal opportunities Understanding of health and safety issues relevant to work area Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and work specific software packages Experience Experience of successfully achieving work area objectives in a relevant role Experience of successfully supervising a team Evidence of dealing effectively with change Understanding of continuous improvement Experience of providing input into policy development and implementing policies, practices and service improvements Experience of monitoring budgets Desirable Competencies All Business Support Managers at this level are expected to be fully competent in all aspects of the Council's Competency Framework: Managing Effectively at Team Leader Level Personal Effectiveness - Communicating with others 8

9 - Leadership - Managing Change - Acting with Integrity - Communicating with the Team - Managing Performance - Developing Talent - Managing Resources - Team working - Respecting others - Managing work - Striving for excellence - Responding to change - Customer focus