Business Analyst I - University Advancement

Position Summary
Evaluates business systems and how they align with user needs. Performs tasks to achieve an understanding of business change needs, assessing the impact of those changes, capturing, analyzing, documenting and managing requirements for assigned projects, and then supporting the communication and delivery of those requirements with relevant parties.
The University Advancement systems replacement program is a multi-year program designed to improve Wash U’s operational excellence and ability to make insight driven decisions focused on University Advancement activity. ADIS is the system of record for Washington University alumni and donors, and stores biographical, relationship, transactional, research and activity data for constituents. Critical system functionality supports fundraising and engagement efforts. The University Advancement systems replacement program includes replacing ADIS with a vended, cloud solution, in addition to other identified related systems.

Job Description

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Analysis, Design, Execution:  

• Implements strategies for gathering, reviewing and analyzing data requirements.
• Performs requirements elicitation using techniques per plan.
• Documents requirements, establishes scope and objectives and determines strategy for evaluating requirements implementation in systems to achieve business goals.
• Performs current state analysis and/or root cause analysis as required.
• Prioritizes requirements working with university partners and creates conceptual prototypes and mock-ups.
• Organizes requirements by release and other needed categories and sets up traceability matrix; articulates requirements relationships and dependencies.
• Translates and simplifies requirements for appropriate use; performs gap analysis.
• Works with project management to obtain requirements approvals per project plan; facilitates go/no go decisions.
• Validates requirements throughout process per plan.
• Uses requirements to drive the design or review of test cases, process change requests.
• Builds knowledge of the organization’s technology infrastructure and specific software applications to help the business address changes through technology.

Planning:

• Prepares business cases working with university partners and senior IT staff.
• Works with Project Manager to plan approach to requirements elicitation and methods for requirements management and communication.
• Ensures business opportunities and objectives are clearly articulated.
• Works with Project Manager to plan validation of requirements in managing project scope, user acceptance, installation and deployment; helps determine metrics.
• Performs feasibility analysis as required for projects.
• Coordinates planning activities to meet objectives and timelines of overall program or project; works with Project Manager to forecast required time and resources.

Leadership: 

• Will take on assignments for small to medium projects, and others as assigned.
• Helps monitor the technical team solution to ensure requirements fulfillment and solution evaluation.
• Leads and coordinates activities associated with requirements management vehicles.
• Coordinates activities with other business analysts.
• Enables process improvement and/or reengineering.

Measurement: 

• Monitors requirements adoption metrics and other methods of evaluating the long-term performance of the solution.
• Reviews and monitors the effectiveness of business analysis via test results.
• Participates in recommending and implementing continuous improvement plans for business analysis. 
• Provides status reports.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Business education.
• MS Office and Vision tools.
• Information technology experience.
• ITIL framework and IT product methodologies.
• Familiarity with testing techniques and software.
• Experience in higher education environments.
• Team Skills: Ability to support teammates at all times and in any way necessary to maintain a productive, energetic, efficient and dynamic WashU IT team. Ability to communicate effectively and frequently both verbally and in writing with other members of the team. Ability to collaborate with other teammates to provide assistance, and expertise, as well as to receive expert input and assistance from others delivering the best solution and experience for the customer.
• Customer Service: Possess an aptitude for patience, professionalism, tactfulness and empathy. Enthusiastic and committed to helping others and exhibit the ability to quickly assess the specific needs of the customer to determine an appropriate course of action. Ability to quickly defuse stressful or anxious situations.  
• Business acumen coupled with ability to acquire technical knowledge.
• Strong listening skills.
• Strong research skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including technical writing skills; consultative approach.
• Ability to work proactively.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and independent problem solving skills.
• Ability to contribute and collaborate effectively as a member of a highly-functioning and productive team.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or comparable discipline, or equivalent combination of experience, certification and education.

Grade
G10

Salary Range
$47,300.00 - $78,200.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO/AA Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement
Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

Applicant Instructions
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