Defence Afghan Relocation and Resettlement (DARR) -Business Analyst

City of Westminster, London (region), SW1A 2HB Job Summary The Defence Afghan Relocation and Resettlement (DARR) Directorate is an organisation set up to manage the process for identifying eligible Afghans who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan over the past 20 years to come to the UK, and once here to be assisted to begin their new lives with their families. It is important and rewarding work, supporting one of Defence’s highest priorities. This is a Fixed-Term Appointment (FTA) due to the time-limited nature of the DARR programme. It is expected to last 23 months but may be extended depending on programme and business requirements. This post will begin on your appointment and end 23 months after that date, unless an extension is required and agreed in line with departmental policy. For MOD candidates only: Whilst this is an FTA, all internal MOD employees successfully recruited into DARR will be temporarily transferred into DARR as their new business area for the duration of their appointment, and successful candidates applying on promotion will be substantiated into the new grade. There is no requirement, therefore, for line management approval to apply. At the end of the appointment, DARR will work with the individual to find an alternative position within the department, in line with departmental policy. For OGD: Candidates will transfer to DARR on an inward loan basis and require LM approval to apply. Successful candidates will be paid in accordance with the advertised grade for the period of the loan and will return to their Home Department unit at the end of the Time Limited Posting. If a loan cannot be agreed between all parties, then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA policy for further information. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. All jobs within DARR will be predominantly based at MOD Main Building, with some roles requiring greater office attendance than others. The team support hybrid working with a mixture of home /office-based working. Job Description The Business Analyst works within DARR’s bespoke Tech Team, which sits within the wider Data pillar alongside the Management Information, Data Assurance and Information Management teams. The Data pillar supports business-as-usual and priority operational work for Afghan resettlement across the DARR directorate and wider government. The Tech Team is responsible for the design, development and maintenance of multiple casework systems that underpin vital operational and high-risk activity for DARR. The team is made up of Product Managers, Business Analysts and contracted tech professionals. DARR’s digital capabilities are key to our immediate and long-term strategic objectives. Are you interested in Product Management, with a passion for modernisation and innovation? We’re looking for a high performing and self-motivated Business Analyst to join our Tech Team. In your role as a Business Analyst, you will be a primary point of contact for wider DARR in maintaining the ongoing delivery of suitable tech products for the DARR directorate. The Business Analysts work closely with Product Managers and our contracted tech professionals in the Tech Team, for the delivery of maintenance and further development work on our casework systems. Our casework systems are pivotal to the vital operational work carried out by multiple teams across DARR every day, so you will be regularly communicating with a diverse range of teams across DARR. Your primary responsibilities will be to communicate with other teams in DARR to gather user requirements and draft acceptance criteria for our developers to work with. You will proactively reach out to teams and respond to requests to better understand how our products are currently being used and identify opportunities to deliver an improved user experience. Before the developers launch any updates, you will also be asked to participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT), to ensure our products are delivered as expected. The Business Analysts are also responsible for providing support on our tech products to wider DARR and responding to any tech incidents. Our Business Analysts are also required to provide dynamic support for any emerging priorities going forward. The Successful Candidate Will: • Gather user requirements and draft acceptance criteria, ensuring business requirements are fully understood by all parties involved. • Effectively record, manage and organise tickets for changes to our casework systems. • Liaise between end users and our development teams (including external parties), ensuring development teams fully understand the context behind user requirements. • Support developers by carrying out user acceptance testing of DARR’s products. • Build and maintain strong relationships with a range of different teams across DARR, with different needs and requirements. • Proactively engage with our end users through a range of channels to encourage feedback and open dialogue. • Communicate technical details to diverse audiences with different skills and experience. • Provide ongoing support and advice to wider DARR for our tech products. • Supporting any administration needs of the Tech Team. • Encourage best practices for data management and information management across DARR. You may be required to undertake other tasks related to your own and the wider Data pillar’s teams, commensurate with your grade and experience. The Business Analyst works within DARR’s bespoke Tech Team, which sits within the wider Data pillar alongside the Management Information, Data Assurance and Information Management teams. The Data pillar supports business-as-usual and priority operational work for Afghan resettlement across the DARR directorate and wider government. The Tech Team is responsible for the design, development and maintenance of multiple casework systems that underpin vital operational and high-risk activity for DARR. The team is made up of Product Managers, Business Analysts and contracted tech professionals. DARR’s digital capabilities are key to our immediate and long-term strategic objectives. Are you interested in Product Management, with a passion for modernisation and innovation? We’re looking for a high performing and self-motivated Business Analyst to join our Tech Team. In your role as a Business Analyst, you will be a primary point of contact for wider DARR in maintaining the ongoing delivery of suitable tech products for the DARR directorate. The Business Analysts work closely with Product Managers and our contracted tech professionals in the Tech Team, for the delivery of maintenance and further development work on our casework systems. Our casework systems are pivotal to the vital operational work carried out by multiple teams across DARR every day, so you will be regularly communicating with a diverse range of teams across DARR. Your primary responsibilities will be to communicate with other teams in DARR to gather user requirements and draft acceptance criteria for our developers to work with. You will proactively reach out to teams and respond to requests to better understand how our products are currently being used and identify opportunities to deliver an improved user experience. Before the developers launch any updates, you will also be asked to participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT), to ensure our products are delivered as expected. The Business Analysts are also responsible for providing support on our tech products to wider DARR and responding to any tech incidents. Our Business Analysts are also required to provide dynamic support for any emerging priorities going forward. The Successful Candidate Will: • Gather user requirements and draft acceptance criteria, ensuring business requirements are fully understood by all parties involved. • Effectively record, manage and organise tickets for changes to our casework systems. • Liaise between end users and our development teams (including external parties), ensuring development teams fully understand the context behind user requirements. • Support developers by carrying out user acceptance testing of DARR’s products. • Build and maintain strong relationships with a range of different teams across DARR, with different needs and requirements. • Proactively engage with our end users through a range of channels to encourage feedback and open dialogue. • Communicate technical details to diverse audiences with different skills and experience. • Provide ongoing support and advice to wider DARR for our tech products. • Supporting any administration needs of the Tech Team. • Encourage best practices for data management and information management across DARR. You may be required to undertake other tasks related to your own and the wider Data pillar’s teams, commensurate with your grade and experience. Person specification Essential: • Experience contributing to the delivery of a digital product or digital solution in the public sector. • Experience using an organised approach to identify/gather user requirements for a digital product or digital solution. • Experience building and maintaining relationships with multiple teams concurrently. • Experience communicating technical details to audiences with different technical literacies. Desirable: • Knowledge of and experience using MS Power Platform. • Professional qualifications or comparable certifications in data and/or product management. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: • Communicating and Influencing • Working Together • Changing and Improving • Managing a Quality Service We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: • Communicating and Influencing Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. • Learning and development tailored to your role • An environment with flexible working options • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity • A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. At Sift We’ll Assess You Against The Following: • CV – a name-blind/or anonymous CV, including job history and any relevant skills/qualifications. • Personal statement – a 500-word personal statement, demonstrating the essential criteria set out above. • Behaviour – Communicating & Influencing. In the event of a high volume of applications we will sift applicants against the CV and personal statement. At Interview we’ll assess you against the following behaviours: • Communicating and Influencing • Working Together • Changing and Improving • Managing a Quality Service 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. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment. The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements Open to UK nationals only. 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. 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. 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. 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 : DARR Recruitment • Email : DARR-Recruitment@mod.gov.uk Recruitment team • Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk..