Level 1 Business Analyst

Business Analyst

Location or Darlington, with hybrid working arrangements.

About the role

At Railpen, we are committed to helping secure our members’ future through responsible investment and continuous improvement. As a Business Analyst (Level 1), you’ll help turn business needs into clear requirements and practical improvements across our Change & Transformation (C&T) portfolio, helping to ensure that business needs are clearly understood, documented and delivered.

Working alongside experienced Business Analysts, Project Managers, stakeholders and technical teams, you’ll support analysis activities across projects and smaller change initiatives. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop core Business Analysis capability through hands-on experience, coaching and participation in the wider Business Analysis community. As your capability and confidence develop, you may also take ownership of discrete analysis activities on lower-complexity work, with appropriate support and oversight.

To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our careers page  here .

What you’ll be doing

- Supporting the gathering, analysis and documentation of business requirements, helping teams develop a clear understanding of business needs.
- Mapping processes, capturing data and analysing information to identify issues, opportunities and practical improvements.
- Producing and maintaining high-quality project documentation, including meeting notes, action logs, requirements documentation and process maps.
- Coordinating stakeholder input, workshops and follow-up actions to support effective business analysis delivery.
- Supporting the definition, review and sign-off of business requirements in line with agreed governance standards and project timelines.
- Assisting with testing preparation activities, including drafting test scenarios, coordinating business users and supporting evidence gathering.
- Communicating progress updates, decisions and next steps to stakeholders and business users.
- Taking ownership of discrete analysis activities on lower-complexity work as your capability develops, with appropriate support and oversight.
- Building your Business Analysis capability through coaching, feedback, hands-on experience and active participation in the wider BA community.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for a curious, motivated and detail-oriented individual who wants to develop a career in Business Analysis. You’ll be organised and analytical, able to communicate clearly and comfortable working collaboratively with business and technical colleagues. You’ll approach problems in a structured and evidence-based way, ask thoughtful questions and take ownership of agreed actions. A willingness to learn, seek feedback and develop greater confidence and independence will be central to success in the role.

Essential

- Strong organisational and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Some experience of, or exposure to, requirements gathering, process mapping, data analysis or related problem-solving activities. This could have been gained through employment, project work, education or another relevant setting.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver quality outputs within agreed timescales.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both business and technical audiences.
- Good stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
- A structured, logical and evidence-based approach to problem solving.
- Curiosity about how things work, with the confidence to ask questions and constructively challenge existing ways of working.

Desirable

- An awareness of Business Analysis tools, techniques or methodologies, or a willingness to develop this knowledge.
- Exposure to testing, business readiness or change delivery activities.
- An interest in investment, pensions or financial services.

Why is this role exciting now?

This is an opportunity to build a Business Analysis career in a supportive C&T environment. You’ll gain exposure to different areas of the organisation, learn from experienced colleagues and see how effective analysis helps turn business needs into practical change. As your experience grows, you’ll have the opportunity to take greater ownership of analysis activities and develop your professional capability through our wider BA community.

What you’ll get in return

- A competitive salary (depending on experience) plus generous annual bonus plan

- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

- We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay

- 4x Life Assurance cover

- We support hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave

- Take a look at the full range of benefits available to support you, click here (https://www.railpen.com/careers/#great-pension)

Next steps

If you’re excited by the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution and grow your career with us, we encourage you to apply by 8th October 2026.

Inclusion at Railpen

At Railpen, diversity, equity and inclusion are core to who we are.  We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to thrive. Our mission to secure a better future for our members is strengthened by the different perspectives and experiences our people bring.

We are transparent about our gender pay gap and are actively committed to addressing it through fair and inclusive recruitment, progression and reward practices.

We respect and support individuals’ pronouns and encourage colleagues to share them if they feel comfortable to do so.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity, or any other protected characteristic. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know.