Job Description

Job Purpose: To conduct business analysis and benchmarking for projects within the Anticipatory Action Programme

Location: Hybrid with monthly travel to Chinnor, Oxfordshire and international travel

Salary: \xc2\xa328,922 per annum

Contract: Full time, substantive position for 18 months. Start ASAP.

Reports to: Anticipatory Action Programme Manager

The Opportunity

MapAction is embarking on a new phase of work delivering Geographic Information Management expertise in the field of Anticipatory Action (AA), with a new two year programme of work about to commence.

Reporting to the Anticipatory Action Programme Manager, the successful candidate will provide consulting, planning and organisational support through the execution of projects within the Anticipatory Action Programme. The Business Analyst will investigate and analyse a range of business and operational information to identify cost savings and process improvements in an effort to aid the organisation in achieving their Anticipatory Action goals.

Why MapAction?

MapAction is a leading humanitarian mapping charity delivering information services and products to enhance decision making in disasters and conflicts. In collaboration with our partners, this mapped information helps responders understand vulnerabilities and target their response effectively, contributing to saving lives and minimising suffering. We work through a team of skilled volunteer professionals and a small paid staff team.

We have built a strong reputation in the humanitarian sector and are a technical partner of the United Nations, Non-Government Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, the Red Cross, Red Crescent Movement, regional entities and national authorities.

The humanitarian sector is evolving, and technical expertise such as GIS, mapping, information management, data processing and visualisation are becoming increasingly utilised for improving decision making in complex humanitarian response. MapAction and our partners are uniquely positioned to provide technical expertise in support of this.

We have an exciting and ambitious new strategy which will see us help reduce vulnerability in emergencies for those at greatest risk through supporting local technical and emergency leadership and promoting the exchange of well analysed data. A particular area of focus will be on the use of Anticipatory Action prior to an emergency.

About you

You are an experienced Business Analyst who is passionate about working with clients or partners. You are skilled at building strong working relationships (internal and external) with your interpersonal skills to deliver projects. You are able to listen to partner needs and understand how these translate into deliverable actions relevant to MapAction, with meaningful impact. You are comfortable using tools to support the planning, monitoring and delivery of projects. You are comfortable taking the initiative, problem solving and developing incremental improvements to programme delivery processes and workflows, as well as supporting and coordinating with others to adopt improved ways of working.

Your preferred style is to manage through collaborative working, to ensure the programme objectives are completed to the highest standards. You share the MapAction \'can-do\' attitude, rooted in our volunteer values. You relish a challenge and like us, feel excited about the future and what we can achieve together. You want to work in a diverse organisation that is concerned about minimising its environmental impact and cares about everyone in the team. Be assured, you will be supported in your role as you grow.

What will you do?

This role focuses on business analysis (and benchmarking) in the context of MapAction\'s Anticipatory Action activities over a two year period. You will be key in conducting business analysis activities, generating reports and providing input into the scoping of potential solutions to issues identified. These multiple projects form art of the Anticipatory Action programme, which covers Geographic Information Management activities in anticipation of emergencies affecting vulnerable populations across the world.

The role will require you to develop close collaboration with International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs), technical experts, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the MapAction staff and membership. You will be the focal point for assessing partner needs so that later stages of the programme can scope out and deliver solutions to MapAction partners.

There will be a considerable focus on the sustainability of the activities undertaken during this programme. To this end, you will be working with our Head of Monitoring Evaluation and Learning to ensure that the programme achieves this sustainability goal.

Main Responsibilities

• Carry out business, process and system analysis to identify opportunities and potential areas for improvement
• Assist in the creation and development of business process description and data models
• Use existing and new analytics to identify savings and performance trends
• Provide operational and financial oversight on an ongoing basis
• Make informed, data-driven decisions and recommendations
• Identify and analyse requirements and develop process or systems solutions accordingly
• Perform gap or impact analysis to identify areas for improvement
• Manage information requests, responses and ensure records are properly maintained
• Develop verbal and written reports as needed
• Develop technical project descriptions and collaboration with Innovation and Technology team to ensure delivery of activities such as data preparation, storage and visualisation, data analytics, and Geographic Information Management training.
• Collaborate with the Anticipatory Action Programme Manager to ensure regular and appropriate reporting to the Management Team and donors.

Key Competencies

We have identified some essential competencies but, in understanding the role, you might have skills and experience we did not think of to supplement this list. If you think you do, please tell us about them. This role includes opportunities to develop and grow your competencies over time.

Essential:

• Bachelor\'s degree in business, finance, economics or related field
• At least 5 years\' experience in business analysis, systems analysis, systems design, project management or related field
• Knowledge of data collection, analysis, and problem-solving techniques
• Strong communication, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in Excel and online collaboration tools
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
• Commitment to working with volunteers

Desirable:

• Excellent IT skills, and experience of Microsoft Office, google applications, electronic record keeping (Salesforce) and Atlassian applications (Confluence, Jira) for Project Management
• Comfortable with managing multiple demands on your time
• Humanitarian knowledge/ experience, particularly in the fields of AA and/or Disaster Risk Reduction
• Geospatial information management knowledge/ experience, particularly in the fields of risk and hazard analysis.

Additional Information

• This is a Hybrid position and you will be expected to attend some weekend training events throughout the year (camping at various venues around the UK). Travel expenses are paid and reasonable time off in lieu provided.
• This is a full time position for 18 months with a possible extension to be confirmed end of 2024
• Required to work remotely from the office and to attend team days near the MapAction office in Oxfordshire once a month at own expense.
• 30 days holiday (pro rata) with a workplace pension and also paid training opportunities to help further your career.
• Must have the right to live and work in the UK - MapAction is unable to consider candidates who do not already hold appropriate permissions and can not help facilitate a relocation.
• Part time of 4 days a week will be considered, please state when applying if you would like 4 or 5 days a week.

This is an important role in a small, highly specialised charity and an appreciation of, and affinity with the humanitarian purpose of the charity is essential, as well as a willingness to take up additional tasks outside of the normal role when needed.

Equal opportunities policy

MapAction is an Equal Opportunities employer. All employees have a personal responsibility to promote and support measures designed to create a working environment which is free from harassment or discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, membership of the Traveller community of HIV & AIDS status. MapAction also positively encourages women and those from the BAME community to apply.

How to apply:

Please provide a CV and cover letter that sets out how you meet the required competencies for the role, this is a mandatory requirement for this position. All applications should be made via our website and GoHire. Deadline for applications is 6th September 2023 however we are running a rolling recruitment and will interview any suitable candidates as soon as they apply.

MapAction