"Head of Business Analysis"

Head of Business Analysis

Location: IT Services, Dartington House, Wellington Square, OX1 2JD

About Us

Spanning the historic streets of the “city of dreaming spires”, the University of Oxford has been ranked the world’s leading university for ten consecutive years. A place where centuries of tradition meet world-changing innovation, we offer you the chance to shape the future while working in an inspiring environment that promotes excellence. Here, you’ll contribute to an organisation which delivers ground-breaking research that tackles global challenges - from advancing sustainability to pioneering healthcare solutions - and join a diverse, inclusive community that champions your wellbeing, development, and aspirations. Apply now to become part of our extraordinary legacy.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head of Business Analysis to join us on a permanent basis.

What We Offer

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as:

• 38 days of annual leave to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.
• One of the most generous maternity and adoption leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay leave, followed by additional statutory and unpaid leave options.
• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.
• An excellent contributory pension scheme.
• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.
• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.

About the Role

We are seeking an outstanding leader to set the direction for Business Analysis within IT Services at the University of Oxford. You will bring strategic vision, the ability to lead teams through cultural and delivery change, and the experience to influence senior stakeholders across a complex academic environment. This role requires a confident, forward-thinking leader who can shape practice, build capability, and guide teams as the University moves from traditional project delivery towards agile, continuous improvement and user-centred service design.

As Head of Business Analysis, you will define and champion the Business Analysis function across a substantial change portfolio. Working within a matrix model alongside delivery, quality assurance and change specialists, you will lead a high-performing team through Lead Business Analysts, oversee the use of specialist contractors, and ensure business analysis adds value throughout delivery.

You will act as the University’s expert in business analysis, advising senior colleagues, contributing to assurance across major initiatives, and aligning practice with architecture, data and service design principles. The role includes responsibility for resource and budget management, developing capability frameworks and communities of practice, and building strong relationships across portfolios, services and external partners to ensure that change is well understood, well governed and delivers clear, measurable benefits.

About You

• Degree educated (or equivalent experience) with substantial relevant professional experience.
• A strategic, forward-thinking leader with a track record of guiding teams through change with clarity and purpose.
• Proven experience of leading cultural and behavioural change in high-performing teams, delivering sustained improvements in engagement and customer value.
• Strong experience as a Business Analyst in complex organisations, shaping scope, costs and benefits to support successful delivery of programmes and projects.
• Excellent communicator, confident working with senior stakeholders across diverse academic and professional environments.
• Experience of leading, developing and performance managing teams within a matrix management structure.
• Demonstrable ability to translate diverse requirements into clear strategies, architectures and deliverable change initiatives.
• Sound understanding of both agile and waterfall delivery approaches, and how formal methods and tools can improve performance.
• Experience of managing significant budgets and resource planning in a project or programme setting.

Application Process

To apply, please upload:

• A covering letter/supporting statement
• Your CV
• The details of two referees

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 2 March 2026. Interviews will take place on Friday 6 March, 2026, and will be held face-to-face.

Pay Scale: STANDARD GRADE 9

Vacancy ID: 183502

Head of Business Analysis_Job Description_Feb 2025 FINAL.pdf

Contact: Daisy Zhang