Business Planning Analyst

This review aims to provide potential candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the Business Planning Analyst opportunity at Bupa, highlighting its advantages and key considerations for career growth.

Role Overview:

Bupa is seeking a dedicated Business Planning Analyst to play a pivotal role in shaping and optimizing their operational planning. This position is central to ensuring smooth operations by developing accurate forecasting and capacity models. The insights generated by this role will directly influence Bupa's ability to improve customer outcomes and effectively support their nationwide teams. The role offers hybrid working flexibility with options in Salford Quays or Kirkstall Forge, Leeds, contributing to Bupa's overarching mission of "making health happen."

Key Advantages for Candidates:

• Impactful Work: You'll be at the forefront of Bupa's mission to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives. Your analytical contributions will have a direct and tangible impact on customer experiences and operational efficiency.
• Career Development in a Purpose-Driven Organization: Bupa's unique structure, with no shareholders, means a genuine focus on customers and their wellbeing. This creates a supportive environment for professional development, where your work aligns with a meaningful purpose.
• Flexible Working: Bupa demonstrates a commitment to flexibility, offering hybrid working arrangements and considering various working patterns. This allows for a better work-life balance, a significant advantage for many professionals.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Beyond the competitive salary range of £36,900 - £46,000 DOE, Bupa offers a robust benefits package. This includes excellent holiday entitlements, Bupa health insurance, an enhanced pension plan, life insurance, and wellbeing support through their "Viva" program. Onsite gyms or local discounts further enhance the employee experience.
• Skill Enhancement and Application: The role provides an excellent platform to hone and apply critical skills in forecasting, capacity planning, "what-if" modelling, and data analysis within a high-volume, customer-focused environment.
• Stakeholder Engagement: You will have the opportunity to build strong relationships and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including internal teams and external partners, fostering your influencing and communication skills.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Experience Requirements: Candidates should possess a strong background in forecasting and capacity planning, specifically with experience in "what-if" modelling within high-volume people environments. Experience planning for specialist teams across multiple sites and complex operations is essential.
• Analytical Prowess: A proven ability to analyze large, complex datasets and translate them into actionable business solutions is a core requirement. Strong numerical and analytical skills are paramount.
• Workforce Management Tools: Familiarity and experience with workforce management tools will be crucial for success in this role.
• Communication and Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication skills are vital, as is the ability to present insights effectively and influence decisions at all levels of the organization.
• Industry Knowledge: Knowledge of FCA regulations is a desirable qualification, indicating a need for understanding the regulatory landscape within the health sector.
• Adaptability: The ability to support change initiatives and coach teams on planning best practices suggests a need for adaptability and a proactive approach to process improvement.

Career Path Guidance:

This Business Planning Analyst role is an exceptional opportunity for individuals looking to advance their careers in operational planning, analytics, and business strategy within the healthcare sector. It offers a chance to contribute significantly to a well-respected organization with a strong social purpose. Success in this role could lead to further opportunities in strategic planning, operational management, or specialized analytical functions within Bupa. The emphasis on stakeholder management and influencing skills will also be invaluable for future leadership roles. Candidates who are highly numerate, analytical, and driven by a desire to improve customer outcomes will find this role both challenging and rewarding.