Business Analyst at Better Cotton – London, England

Starting Date: ASAP

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: £45,227

Location: London

Application closing date: 27th March 2026

About the Job

Better Cotton Initiative is seeking a Business Analyst to play a critical role in how our digital products evolve to support our mission. As IT & Data moves toward SCRUM-based delivery, the Business Analyst anchors the process by serving as the first review and clarification point for incoming change requests, feature ideas, and operational needs raised across the organisation.

As a Business Analyst, you will sit at the heart of our digital delivery ensuring the right problems are understood, scoped, prioritised, and delivered through agile ways of working. You’ll help the organisation focus on high‑value digital improvements that accelerate our impact.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

Are you purpose-led and ready to help shape the future of sustainable cotton? Join us at Better Cotton Initiative as a Business Analyst and contribute to the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative.

Responsibilities

The Business Analyst will be responsible for:

Serve as the first review and clarification point for incoming technology requests from across Better Cotton Initiative. Validate business need, urgency, scope, dependencies, and alignment with product vision. Conduct initial impact assessments and determine whether items enter the backlog, need redirection, or require clarification. Facilitate structured discovery (interviews, workshops, process reviews) and translate complex needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria, and process documentation. Support Product Manager/Owner and SCRUM Masters to maintain a healthy, prioritised product backlog. Contribute to sprint planning, backlog refinement, and readiness checks (Definition of Ready). Work closely with Product Managers, IT platform teams, and internal/external engineers to shape feasible, value-led solution approaches. Capture and structure feedback from field operations, partners, and internal teams, integrating insights into product improvements. Maintain clear, accessible documentation for processes, workflows, and system behaviours.

Experience

The successful candidate will bring the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Essential

Experience as a Business Analyst, Product Analyst, or similar role in a digital, data, or product-led environment. Strong understanding of agile delivery, particularly SCRUM. Proficiency in documenting user stories, acceptance criteria, workflows, and business processes. Experience conducting workshops, interviews, and structured requirement-gathering sessions. Understanding of system behaviours, integrations, APIs, data flows, and platform capabilities. Ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences. Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills. Fluency in English required.

Desirable

Experience using agile delivery tools (Azure DevOps, Jira, or equivalent). Ability to create low-fidelity prototypes, diagrams, and BA artefacts. Understanding of databases, APIs, integration points, and system interactions. Familiarity with UAT processes, test case creation, and defect management. Knowledge of data governance principles and user access management. Experience in NGOs, sustainability, agriculture, or global programme environments is advantageous.

What we offer

- Competitive salary

- Hybrid working – One day per week in our office in Canary Wharf

- The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year

- Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time

- Continuous learning and development

- Pension scheme

- A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home

- Enhanced parental benefits

- The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 27.03.2026 via the application link.

In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human-led assessment experience.

Our hiring process

Initial Screening:

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

Interviews:

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton Initiative may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

Assessment and Testing:

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

Reference Checks:

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton Initiative to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

Offer stage:

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:

Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible) As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic) Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic) Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic) Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)

Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.