Job Description
Job descriptionFlexible working: We recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balanceand offer a range of working patterns, including full-time, part-time, andcompressed hours. Homeworking may be possible depending on businessneeds, but it is limited due to the nature of our work. We also support flexiblestart and finish times to help you manage your personal and professionalcommitments.About usAt GCHQ, we unlock the complex world of data and communications to keepthe UK and its citizens safe, both in the real world and online. Working closelywith our British Intelligence partners in MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK fromthreats including serious organised crime, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. A rolein GCHQ means you will have varied and fascinating work in a supportive andencouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.The roleAs one of our Business Analysts, you will be at the heart of delivering changeacross GCHQ. Leading analysis for a portfolio of projects and contributing tolarger, more complex initiatives, the focus is on understanding and definingproblems, then recommending and supporting the delivery of solutions. Thework involves collaborating within a multidisciplinary team and engaging awide range of stakeholders to understand strategic goals, assess options, andtranslate business and user needs into clear, actionable outputs. The aim:solving the right problems, in the right way, and delivering value for colleagueswho depend on this insight.On a day-to-day basis, the role centres on producing clear, high-qualityanalysis such as business models, process designs, option appraisals,requirements artefacts, and written briefings. These include eliciting,understanding, and prioritising the needs and goals of different colleagues andbusiness areas, while managing differing perspectives and constraints. As anexperienced practitioner, there is also the opportunity to contribute to higher-level strategic work, translating policy and wider organisational objectives intopractical impacts on services, teams, and delivery plans. The role involves a blend of independent work, acting as a primary businessanalysis contact within a team, and collaborating with external partners suchas suppliers and government departments. Line management may come later,
but mentoring and supporting colleagues is an important part of the role fromthe outset. As involvement in more complex projects grows, so does theresponsibility for guiding less-experienced team members, sharing knowledge,helping them develop their skills, and strengthening the wider businessanalysis community. You could be working within departments such as technology, facilities, orinformation, giving you a varied workload that spans both vital internalsystems and new technology supporting mission-critical activity. It is anopportunity to be part of significant projects across GCHQ that keep the UKsafe, applying analytical skills to meaningful and unique challenges. About youExtensive practical experience as a Business Analyst is essential, includingindependent delivery analysis across a range of projects and programmes.Sound business-modelling skills mean confidence in leading process analysisand improvement, and in creating high-level organisation, process, system,and data models to support decision-making. A solid background inrequirements management, process improvement, stakeholder engagement,digital systems, assurance activity, and cross-organisation working isimportant. The environment can be complex, with shifting priorities and ambiguousrequirements, so adaptability and resilience are crucial. Robust capability ineliciting and managing user requirements is vital, along with the ability to tailoroutputs to different audiences and collaborate effectively across multipleteams. Leadership potential is also important, particularly the motivation to progressinto line management over time, with training and support provided whereneeded. Confidence working independently and representing the businessanalysis community in conversations with senior stakeholders will alsocontribute to success in the role. A degree or specific qualifications are not required; the focus is on skills andexperience. Business analysis expertise may have been gained in any sectorfrom government to large private enterprises.
Training and developmentWhen you start, you will receive an organisation-wide induction and be assigneda buddy to help you settle in. We are proud to offer an inclusive and supportiveworking environment, and as an organisation that values and nurtures ourcolleagues both professionally and personally, we’re dedicated to helping youfulfil your potential.Progression opportunities exist within business analysis, and your ongoinglearning and development will be fully supported, with 20% of your workingtime protected for professional development activities. You’ll have access to
internal and external training courses, along with opportunities to be supportedby a mentor or coach within the organisation.Rewards and benefits You’ll receive a starting salary of £53,496 plus other benefits including: 25 days’ annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years of service,plus an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme an interest-free season ticket loan an excellent pension scheme a cycle to work scheme facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at somelocations) paid parental and adoption leave Equal opportunitiesAt GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK,we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. Thisincludes diversity in every sense of the word: people with differentbackgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways ofthinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We thereforewelcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those fromgroups that are under-represented in our workforce, such as women, peoplefrom ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities, and individuals fromlow socio-economic backgrounds.Visit our website to find out more about our culture, working environment anddiversity.We’re Disability ConfidentGCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department forWork and Pensions’ Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed atencouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action toimprove how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. As a DisabilityConfident Leader, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number ofdisabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for thisposition, will be offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. Thisknown as the offer of an interview. The essential criteria below are assessedat application sift stage. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essentialcriteria (in order of the application process) are: experience eliciting, analysing, challenging, and documenting business anduser needs, and translating these into structured requirements or analysisartefacts.
ability to understand business context, define problems, analyse processes,evaluate options, and make evidence-based recommendations. experience managing stakeholder relationships, communicating analysis to arange of audiences, and working within multidisciplinary teams to build sharedunderstanding and consensus. A wide range of support is also available throughout the recruitment processto help you perform at your best. Visit our How to Apply page for information on the reasonable adjustments wecan offer.
What to expectOur recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is abrief overview of each stage, in order: Application sift. Virtual interview (assessing your technical skills and the organisationalcompetencies). If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment.Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process toprogress to the next. Your application may take around 6 to 9 months toprocess including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employmentuntil you have received your final job offer.Before you applyTo work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual Britishnationality. Read about our eligibility criteria. This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting(DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes.Find out more about the vetting process. Please note we have a strict drugs policy, once you start your application, youmust not take any recreational drugs, and you will be required to declare anyprevious drug use at the relevant stage.Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate emailaddress for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and applicationcorrespondence remain separate. Try to avoid using identifying features inyour email address, such as your first or surname or date of birth. This is goodpractice and will help you manage your application more securely.The role is based in Cheltenham, so you will need to live within a commutabledistance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities beforeapplying, as we do not offer relocation costs.
We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full detailswill be provided with your interview or assessment invitation. Reimbursementis discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate ExpensesPolicy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel,using the most economical option, and provide original hard copy receipts forreimbursement. You should only launch your application from within the UK. If you areoverseas, please wait until you visit the UK before applying, assubmitting an application from outside the UK may affect our ability toprocess it. You should not discuss your application except with yourpartner or a close family member. Right to withdraw statement: Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date forthis role once a certain number of applications have been received. Weencourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience toavoid disappointment.