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Job Description
Job Title:
S.I.S Business Systems Analyst
Faculty/Department:
University Registrar and Secretary/
Registrar and Secretary’s Office
SIS Service Manager
Continuing
Specialist (IT)
8
Specialist (IT) Band 8
No
AQ0015R
Reporting to:
Duration:
Job Family:
Pay Band:
Benchmark Profile:
DBS Disclosure requirement:
Vacancy Reference:
Details Specific to the Post
Background and Context
The University is investing significantly in Student Information Systems. These information
systems are mission critical, supporting a wide range of business processes and decision
making. The data collected and the information generated are essential to efficient and
effective business operations including institutional planning and forecasting, compliance
management, statutory reporting, student recruitment management, student enrolment,
record keeping and progression management, and student academic performance
management. Generally student data, with financial, HR, Estates and facilities, and research
data is used to achieve effective and efficient business performance management.
Student Information Systems deliver a range of on-line services to students and staff and are
critically seen as essential to achieving an enhanced student experience at the University of
Hull.
The University’s Business Information Management strategy is to use commercial, off-theshelf software solution (COTS) for mission critical information systems wherever possible.
The University has selected Tribal Education Ltd as its Student Information Systems
supplier.
The University is facing a changing Higher Education landscape and must be capable of
changing and adapting in order to remain competitive, relevant and delivering the products
and services our customers want. Student Information Systems have the capacity to
contribute significantly to the achievement of a many of the actions defined in the University
strategic plan. The University wants to ensure it capitalises on its investment in Student
Information Systems by developing and implementing robust, efficient and effective business
processes, supported by capable, flexible and relevant information systems and
management information, which are well supported to ensure high levels of data quality.
Student Information Management spans multiple senior office portfolios, across many central
administrative departments and all Faculties. There are, and will be, a range of IT Systems
which comprise the umbrella term “Student Information Systems”, which must work together
to meet the University’s needs.
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To ensure the on-going efficient and effective use of its investment in Student Information
Systems the University is establishing a Student Information Systems Service Delivery team.
The post holder will play an important role within this team.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities of the post
The primary purpose of the role is to support the student information systems programme in
achieving its objectives. Student Information Systems are mission critical and good practice
in the analysis, design, implementation and support of information systems will be essential
to ensure value for money, efficient and effective operations and management of risk.
Business systems analysts are responsible for achieving the definition of the overall
business and information needs of an organisation in order to develop and align appropriate
business process and information systems solutions, and to quality assure and support the
effective use of the solutions within business operations.
The main objectives of the post are:
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Analysis and design of businesses processes;
Definition, documentation and maintenance of business requirements for Student
Information Systems;
Be the “centre of expertise” of the functional capabilities of the Student Information
Systems for a range of University business functions and business processes;
Configuration of aspects of the Student Information Systems to meet business
requirements;
Quality Assurance of the Student Information System implementation:
o Software test planning and execution;
o Establishing and maintaining the “set up” of Student Information Systems test
environments.
o Data quality assessment and management;
o Defect and fix management;
o Root cause analysis;
End user support and training
o Carry out training needs analysis for users of the Student Information
Systems;
o Authoring, and maintenance, of technical documentation to achieve efficient
and effective use of the Information Systems e.g. User guides, Standard
Operating Procedures, Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs),
training materials;
o Establishing and maintaining the “set up” of information systems training
environments for training and support of end users.
o Maintenance and support of peer support networks to share knowledge and
experiences in the use of Student Information Systems;
o Providing first and second level support to end users of Student Information
Systems;
o Liaising with a wide range of stakeholders including ICT and the Student
Information Systems supplier(s);
Representing the Student Information Systems Service team at University
committees and working groups;
Manage end user access and access control rights
Specification of electronic management information and business intelligence
requirements.
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GENERIC JOB DESCRIPTION
The job duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature
of the role. The duties and responsibilities and the balance between the elements in the role
may change or vary over time depending on the specific needs at a specific point in time or
due to changing needs in the department. Candidates should note that there may not be an
immediate requirement to carry out all the activities listed below.
Overall Purpose of the Role
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The role holder will:
o Be an experienced Higher Education professional who is expected to exercise a
significant degree of specialist and independent responsibility
o Have gained a professional and/or academic qualification and have extensive
experience of business processes in an HE environment
o Be involved in planning and ensuring progress within established procedures and
clearly defined university policy by providing a high level of specialist advice and
expertise to support the Faculty or Departmental activities.
o Contribute to longer term planning in accordance with the wider University strategy.
o Advise senior University management on policy, functional or service priorities and
develop new procedures and polices within existing parameters.
o Plan and organise individual and/or team activity to integrate and coordinate work
across different parts of the University, faculty or department.
Main Work Activities
Communication
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Interprets and explains complex procedures, concepts, and business processes to
senior stakeholders.
Provides specialist advice and guidance to managers and staff where the audiences may
have differing levels of understanding.
Presents information to a wide range of audiences.
Explains new and existing policies in relation to operational activities.
Creates and delivers presentations to communicate information across the institution.
Attends meetings to report on specialist issues.
Provides guidance in formulating project requirements, advises on alternatives and on
the implications of revised systems/processes.
Prepares documentation, guidance and online content to support the implementation,
maintenance and continuous improvement of Student Information Management systems;
Accurately captures information presented to them and relays it on to colleagues,
customers and partner organisations through written means such as emails and
helpdesk call records.
Prepares activity reports for the guidance of managers. As part of this process, advises
management of potential problems or barriers to success, and assists in resolution or
avoidance.
Contributes content to strategic documents for publication across the institution.
Composes departmental frameworks, procedures policies and guidelines.
Prepares business cases and other planning and tendering documentation.
Produces documentation detailing financial and other statistical information.
Teamwork and Motivation
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Provides day-to-day support and cover to other members of the team and members of
staff new to the work area.
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 Provides support to the line manager.
 Will, where appropriate, act as a deputy for the designated line manager including
attending or chairing, when appropriate, meetings across the University.
 Makes a full and effective contribution to team and departmental objectives and goals.
 Provides advice and guidance to the team pertaining to agreed initiatives, services,
processes and procedures.
 May be required to provide leadership to an area. Delegates tasks. Defines objectives,
sets deadlines, allocates work and monitors outcomes.
 Acts in a professional manner and as a respected role model to staff across the
department.
 Provides motivation and mentoring to employees to achieve peak productivity and
performance. Contributes ideas and expertise, ensuring that work is delivered within
departmental frameworks, to budget and on time.
Liaising and Networking
 Working within existing departmental frameworks, proactively develops and maintains
internal and external contacts to benefit the University.
 Communicates and liaises with stakeholders regarding faults, and service issues relating
to the Student Information Management service;
 Proactively ensures the development of effective on-going relationships with University
staff to align existing activity with the strategic direction of the department/faculty.
 Contacts and communicates with external organisations in line with departmental
communications and relationship management frameworks.
 Builds and participates in networks internally and externally.
 Chairs area meetings, meetings with partners and suppliers and other focus and
stakeholder groups.
 Maintains a broad knowledge of the Higher Education sector, management theory and
examples of best practice within their areas of responsibility.
 Maintains a knowledge of Project Methodologies such as Prince II, Agile and other
Frameworks,
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Service Delivery
Ensures universal compliance with existing University policies and procedures.
Working with minimal supervision, provides specialised, customer focussed, support to
staff and students.
Takes responsibility for the operational aspects of service delivery by actively promoting
and ensuring:
o data used for the monitoring of service standards and service levels is provided.
o feedback is obtained from stakeholders on aspects of service development, quality
and operation.
o appropriate action is taken to address the impact of external factors.
o proactive and corrective action is instigated when service availability and quality are
threatened.
Assists with the effective management of the quality of services.
Develops and manages projects that contribute to improving service delivery.
Develops and maintains systems and processes to ensure effective delivery of the
service.
Planning and Organisation
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Plans and organise workloads to ensure that tasks and responsibilities are completed
within designated timescales.
Plans and organises the effective and efficient use of staff and financial resources in line
with departmental strategies and roadmaps.
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 Checks and monitors systems and services are in good working order, and produces
schedules to manage these effectively and efficiently.
 Develops and implements policies, procedures and frameworks.
 Promotes the use of University quality procedures and complies with all internal/external
frameworks and record-keeping requirements.
 Assists in the preparation, presentation and implementation of strategic plans and
operating statements and ensures compliance with reporting requirements within the
University.
 Plans and co-ordinates the analysis, design, development, timely implementation, and
testing of assigned projects, ensuring adherence to University processes and
procedures
 Adheres to internal project management methodologies and manages the production of
project documentation and reports.
 Manages project service suppliers (both internal and external) ensuring that they adhere
to service level agreements and departmental frameworks. Informally arbitrates between
areas when conflicts arise.
 Contributes to the longer term operational planning of the Department.
Analysis and Research
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Keeps up-to-date with the latest developments in Student information and related
systems.
Analyses business process data and produces reports to show performance against
KPI’s and SLA’s within each service area.
Collates data to generate performance statistics in order to identify possible areas for
continuous improvement.
Analyses system improvement proposals. Identifies omissions and errors in
requirements, and conducts feasibility studies and analysis of practice elsewhere in the
sector. Recommends the best way forward and develops systems and/or designs
applications for approved projects.
Reviews all aspects of design, analysis and development for quality and adherence to
standards.
Proactively collects data that will enable effective analysis of quality factors and return on
investment.
Analyses data to provide timely and accurate information, forecasts and advice to line
managers to inform business plans that are set in the context of University strategies and
policies.
Additionally the post holder will be required to:
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Fulfil the employees’ duties described in the University’s health and safety policies
and co-operate with the health and safety arrangements in place within the department.
May be required to undertake specific health and safety roles on request e.g. Display
screen equipment assessor, departmental safety officer, fire warden
Show a commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices
This includes undertaking mandatory equality and diversity training
Comply with University regulations, policies and procedures
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COMPETENCY SPECIFICATION
To fulfil your role, you will need certain knowledge, skills and competencies. The following
competency specification provides a framework within which your performance will be
assessed. The interview assessment may include, for example, testing on IT skills.
The Competencies set out below are essential and are core requirements needed to
perform the role and any candidate who fails the requirement will not be taken forward for
further assessment or to interview.
Competency
Knowledge and Experience
Have gained a relevant professional qualification and / or a
relevant academic qualification or can demonstrate
substantial experience with experiential learning and
continuing professional development which is equivalent.
Identified by
Application/Interview
Has substantial knowledge and experience of one or more
relevant areas of Higher Education administration;
Application/Interview
Can demonstrate the ability to understand higher education
business needs and apply strong analytical skills to achieve
the necessary business process and information systems
solutions
Application/Interview/Test
Can demonstrate knowledge of good practice with respect to
functional and operational requirements engineering
Application/Interview/Test
Has substantial knowledge of Information Management
principles
Application/Interview/
Can demonstrate the ability to understand and use simple
database data models (entity-relationship diagrams).
Application/Interview/Test
Can demonstrate an ability to specify and design
management information reports.
Application/Interview/Test
Can demonstrate knowledge and experience of data quality
management;
Application/Interview
Can demonstrate knowledge and experience of quality
assurance of information or other systems
Application/Interview
Has experience of end-user support and training, preferably
in the use of information systems
Application/Interview
Uses knowledge and experience to develop departmental
frameworks and working practices.
Application/Interview
Has an active approach to continuing professional
development/undertaking training as appropriate for personal
and professional development.
Application/Interview
Communication (Oral)
Can demonstrate the ability to summarise complex ideas or
information which may be highly detailed technical or specialist.
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Application/Interview
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Communication (Written)
Can demonstrate the ability to provide information in a suitable
format so that the others’ needs are met and adjusts the level of
content to help others understand.
Teamwork and Motivation
Can demonstrate the ability to delegate work to others and/or help
to build co-operation to deliver team results.
Application/Interview
Liaison and Networking
Can demonstrate the ability to work across the University and/or
externally to build and strengthen working relationships. Actively
pursues a shared interest and works jointly to influence events and
decisions.
Application/Interview
Service Delivery
Can demonstrate the ability to seek ways to improve and adjust
current levels of service. Initiates contact with customers to obtain
their reactions and views about the service and future needs.
Application/Interview
Application/Interview
Decision Making
Application/Interview
Can demonstrate the ability to consider the wider impact of
decisions, assesses possible outcomes and their likelihood. Uses
judgement to make decisions with limited or ambiguous data and
takes into account multiple factors. Distinguishes between the need
to make a decision, when to defer and when not to take a decision.
Planning and Organisation
Can demonstrate the ability to ensure that time and resources are
used effectively. Develops plans to take into account problems,
delays and new priorities whilst checking and reporting on progress
and achievement against plans to key parties.
Application/Interview
Initiative and Problem Solving
Application/Interview
Can demonstrate the ability to initiate processes and procedures to
resolve new problems. Anticipates possible implementation
difficulties and identifies practical ways of overcoming or preventing
them. Takes account of others and the broader context when
generating options.
Analysis/Reporting
Can demonstrate the ability to design and use data gathering and
analytical methods appropriately. Recognises and accurately
interprets patterns and trends. Recognises when additional data is
required and identifies appropriate sources. Produces reports and
identifies key issues and findings.
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Application/Interview