Lead Business Analyst

As a Lead Business Analyst, you will play a key role within the Digital team at Thames Water, supporting the delivery of digital transformation initiatives across a portfolio of projects. 

This role contributes to Thames Water’s digital transformation by managing the ideation, analysis, and implementation lifecycle of digital initiatives, while leading and developing a team of Business Analysts. You will collaborate across the organisation to ensure effective delivery, high-quality analysis, and continuous improvement in ways of working.

What you’ll be doing as a Lead Business Analyst

• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, influencing and communicating effectively across all levels of the organisation.
• Champion the Business Analysis function, promoting its value, vision, and strategic direction.
• Manage the allocation and utilisation of Business Analysts across initiatives, ensuring optimal resourcing and alignment with skills and development goals.
• Take ownership of early-stage requirements through structured processes such as Stage Gate requests.
• Provide leadership and management to a team of Business Analysts, including coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback.
• Adopt a strategic approach to business analysis, focusing on complex solutions and identifying new opportunities for value creation.
• Support stakeholders in visualising outcomes, prioritising work, and delivering minimum viable products (MVP).
• Support Digital transformation objectives, including improvements to processes, adoption of new ways of working, and capability development.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within the Business Analysis practice, including adoption of Agile principles and cultural change.

Base location – Hybrid – Clearwater Court, Reading.

Working pattern – 36 hours Monday to Friday.

What you should bring to the role

• Extensive experience working in a Digital Business Analysis environment.
• Experience managing portfolios of initiatives and early-stage demand (e.g., “Front Door” requests).
• Proven experience leading and managing teams, with the ability to coach and mentor others.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and build relationships.
• Ability to communicate complex business and technical concepts clearly and effectively.
• Strong customer-focused mindset with the ability to manage expectations and priorities.
• Experience directing business analysis activities, including requirements elicitation and problem-solving.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Technical experience and skills

• Strong knowledge and application of Business Analysis methodologies and practices.
• Ability to work across a range of delivery methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall.
• Experience supporting portfolio prioritisation, planning, and delivery tracking.
• Ability to produce high-quality documentation and analysis outputs aligned to business objectives.

Desirable qualifications and experience

• Proactive and adaptable approach, with the ability to work independently and manage varied workloads.
• Deep expertise in Business Analysis practices and frameworks.
• Understanding of the water industry, including regulatory and operational considerations.
• Experience working across both large and small project teams.

Desirable technical skills and qualifications

• BCS Diploma or equivalent qualification in Business Analysis.
• Experience or certification in DevOps tools, processes, and methodologies.
• Management or leadership qualification.
• Degree-level qualification in Information Technology or a related field.
• Experience working within a Digital Cyber Security Portfolio, including supporting security‑focused initiatives, understanding cyber risk, and collaborating with security architecture, operations, and governance teams.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £65,000 to £80,000 per annum.
• Annual Leave 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays) 
• Car Allowance.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.