Business Analyst

Details

Reference number

471514

Salary

£40,388

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Pay Band 4

Contract type

Fixed term

Length of employment

Fixed term appointment until 30 March 2027, with the possibility of extension but no guarantee

Business area

FC - Forest Services - The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and facilitate the protection, improvement and expansion of England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector.

Type of role

Environment and Sustainability

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits

Things you need to know

Apply and further information

Location

Any FC office will be considered (subject to office availability), with contact with or travel to Bristol as needed. Blended working optional.

About the job

Job summary

As part of Forestry Commission (FC), Forest Services (FS) are the Governments forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment, and the economy.

The Business Transformation and Major Programmes teams within FS are responsible for driving transformational change and continual business improvement. It includes teams of change and project management professionals alongside development teams (teams of business analysis professionals headed up by Development Managers).

Business Analysts help to identify improvements to business systems and processes, using evidence and analysis to identify those that will deliver the greatest benefits and value for money. They drive development of a product or business change from initiation through to delivery, working closely with colleagues across FS (including project management and change management colleagues and business users). Example of recent projects include:

A new online system for issuing Felling Licences

Improving our mobile working capabilities

Improving internal business processes

Amending systems for plant health forestry operations to meet new Sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements and evolving regulatory obligations

A new Grant Management System

A new geospatial system to support mapping and spatial analysis across Forest Services

This position will require regular contact with or travel to Bristol.

Job description

As a Business Analyst you will facilitate the delivery of changes and improvements to business systems and processes. Working in close collaboration with colleagues across FS, you will use evidence and analysis to understand and analyse user and business needs and to develop and implement improvements in a holistic way.

Your Key Work Areas will vary dependent on the project(s) you are assigned, but will generally consist of:

Working closely with colleagues to identify improvements to FS business processes, IT systems and services by:

Employing a range of tools and techniques to gather business and user requirements against clear objectives articulated for each project

Employing a range of tools and techniques to map 'As-Is' and To-Be' business processes

Evaluating requirements against the present state (where we are) and the target state (where we want to be) and identifying what is needed to make the transition between them

Working in partnership with technical colleagues to ensure business needs are translated into appropriate technical solutions

Ensuring solutions are delivered to recognised methodologies and standards (including GDS service standards)

Identifying quick wins and longer-term solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness of FS business operations

Undertaking ad hoc analysis requests from the business, reviewing and recommending outline solutions.

Liaising with key stakeholders across FC and the wider forestry sector, including representation at appropriate groups and networks.

Representing the Development Team at appropriate business and supplier meetings, ensuring that suppliers understand priorities for FS operational staff and resolve any performance and/or contractual issues as appropriate.

Contributing to Development Team meetings; professional development of the BA function; taking responsibility for personal professional development; and promoting the benefits of BA best practice.

Delivering any digital transformation projects in line with Government Digital Services Technology Code of Practice, Service Standard and Service Manual, helping to ensure these pass ALPHA and BETA service assessments.

Person specification

ESSENTIAL

Substantial experience of working with business customers and external suppliers/contractors at all levels to gather, analyse and document business requirements and to identify appropriate service and system

Ability to work in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment

Experience of communicating progress with business stakeholders, using effective communication skills and showing the ability to listen, tailoring and adjusting communication as necessary

Experience of writing clear and effective documentation that can be easily understood by business

Experience of Agile working, helping teams to manage and visualise outcomes, prioritise work and define and adhere to agreed minimum viable product (MVP), priorities and scope.

Educated to Degree Level or equivalent and evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

Competent IT user with in-depth experience of the MS Office suite of products

A recognised Business Analysis qualification (e.g. BCS Diploma in Business Analysis) or equivalent experience and a willingness to gain qualifications.

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

DESIRABLE

Affiliation to Professional body such as British Computing Society (BCS)

An understanding of Government Digital Service (GDS) service standards

An understanding of or experience of working within the forestry

A full current driving licence would be helpful but is not essential

The post will involve some travel to FS sites across England and therefore applicants need to be willing to stay away from home overnight when necessary.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Making Effective Decisions

Changing and Improving

Communicating and Influencing

Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Knowledge and applicable understanding of formal methodologies and techniques for Business Analysis

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission contributes £11,700 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.

A range of family friendly benefits.

An environment with flexible working options.

Learning and development tailored to your role.

A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.

A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.

25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).

Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.

3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 30th March 2027 with possibility but no guarantee of permanency or extension.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following:

1. A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 3 parts and request: Job History, Full Qualification Details and Previous Skills/Experience.

2. A personal statement: In no more than 750 words please provide details of how you meet the criteria of the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

At interview, you will be assessed against Behaviours, Technical Skills, Strengths and Experience. You may be asked to prepare a presentation as part of this.

Indicative timeline:

Shortlisting to take place from 3rd August 2026

Interviews to be carried out week commencing 17th August 2026

Please be aware dates may be subject to change for both sifting and interviews.

We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be 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 circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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

Successful candidates if using their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the Forestry Commission travel policy on CO2 emissions (115g maximum CO2/km)

Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements. 2022).

Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.

Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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 Government Recruitment Service via FCERecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as 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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

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)

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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name : FS Recruitment

Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.