Business Analyst

Summary

Job Category:
Organizational Excellence
Job Title:
Business Analyst
Job Category Definition:
This specialty covers the strategic and tactical activities involving project management practices, business process improvement, and organizational change management. The purpose of positions within this job category is the enhancement of business performance through the planning and execution of strategic initiatives; the design of efficient and effective work processes; the pursuit of overall continuous improvement; the design, implementation and assessment of change management strategies. Organizational Excellence functions include engaging stakeholders to meet organizational goals through effective planning, execution, and on-time/on-budget delivery of projects; determination of solutions to business problems; design and support of solutions for new or existing business processes; identification of change resistance; application and adoption of change management techniques; development and evaluation of effective communication, training plans, and other tools.
Job Title Definition:
Business Analysts work with many project stakeholders, senior leaders, subject matter experts, project managers, change management consultants, and trainers to facilitate a broad range of organizational improvement activities. Business Analysts define, develop, facilitate, and modify new or existing business processes or solutions; visually model current state processes, organizational structure, data structure, and other business information to identify the root causes of business problems; interview stakeholders to elicit, analyze, specify, validate, and verify requirements; identify business needs and determine solutions to business problems; negotiate compromises among stakeholder groups; support, develop, and deliver communications and training related to new business processes or solutions; generate reports and program documentation; conduct and evaluate process analysis, process improvement, organizational change, strategic planning, and/or policy development. Duties are performed at various levels within the defined title.
Working Conditions:
Specific physical requirements and effort are outlined in Job Responsibilities Worksheet (list of essential job duties and responsibilities specific to a particular job at the unit level) in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Other Requirements:

 

Levels

Level 1  

There is currently no Level 1.

Level 2  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ADOE0202 J NonExempt

Level 2 positions typically demonstrate intermediate knowledge of the concepts, practices and procedures of a particular field of specialization; perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas/applications by continuously building on current job knowledge; maintain effective relationships with peers, vendors, and others in a diverse environment; support team decisions and follow through with team responsibilities; interpret information, ideas and instructions and communicate clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing including materials intended for distribution; determine causes of unusual occurrences and apply standard principles and practices to determine and implement solutions; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; typically work under general supervision, while performing assignments that are varied and that may be somewhat difficult in character, but usually involve limited responsibility.

Typical Education & Experience

2+ years related experience

Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Meet with various stakeholders to gather and analyze information about critical business needs
  • Contribute to eliciting requirements using various methods, including but not limited to interviews, document review, requirements workshops, and surveys
  • Participate in verification and validation of business needs or requirements by testing, reviewing, and documenting 
  • Assist in documenting definitions and attributes of business functions using visual diagrams, process models, workflows, process maps, or other tools as appropriate
  • Collaborate in gap analysis and/or in the change definition activities of existing business functions
  • Assist in designing new or improved business solutions based on analysis; oversee subsequent changes to improved business functions; identify and report issues
  • Assist in identifying, documenting, and analyzing business rules, regulations, guidance, and policies that govern the implementation of business solutions; ensure that proposed changes do not conflict with other processes and policies across the unit or institution
  • Contribute to the development of training resources and communication plans; may deliver training and/or stakeholder acceptance plans
  • Utilize and increase knowledge of project management principles and practices 
  • Work collaboratively as part of a team, coordinating efforts with key stakeholders 

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 3  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ADOE0203 K Exempt

Level 3 positions typically demonstrate proficient and comprehensive knowledge of defined skill areas/applications to integrate fundamental elements from other specialties into work assignments; apply knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization to complete difficult assignments; promote a culture that is conducive to effective relationships among diverse team members; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; may lead a project team involved in completion of difficult assignments, requiring proficient knowledge of field of specialization; interpret and communicate information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in writing including materials intended for distribution; incorporate new facts and ideas into group processes and apply creative thinking to develop new solutions; typically work with minimal supervision on difficult assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters.

Typical Education & Experience

4+ years related experience

Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Required Certifications, Registrations or Licensure: Various Industry certifications (e.g., Certified Business Analysis Professional) preferred

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Meet with various stakeholders to gather and analyze information about critical business needs
  • Elicit requirements using various methods, including but not limited to interviews, document review, requirements workshops, and surveys
  • Validate and verify the business needs or requirements by testing, reviewing, and documenting
  • Document definitions and attributes of current business functions using visual diagrams, process models, workflows,  process maps, cost analysis, or other tools as appropriate
  • Analyze existing business solutions in comparison to improved or proposed changes to identify gaps and/or necessary changes; conduct solution comparisons to evaluate, select, and optimize best solutions
  • Prioritize tasks and projects; design new or improved business solutions based on analysis; build consensus; manage subsequent changes to improved business functions
  • Identify potential bottlenecks and/or risks in new or improved business functions and make recommendations for resolution; contribute to continual process improvement; ensure that proposed processes do not conflict with other processes across the unit or institution 
  • Develop and administer training resources and communication plans; administer and collect regular feedback; deliver training and/or stakeholder acceptance plans
  • Partner with key roles such as project managers, other business analysts, process improvement specialists, and change management consultants to maximize business value for the customer
  • Contribute to the establishment of project definition and scope for short-term and long-term projects
  • Provide regular progress updates to Project Manager, Senior Business Analyst, unit leadership, etc.
  • Lead portions of large tasks or projects

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 4  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ADOE0204 L Exempt

Level 4 positions typically demonstrate advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization and complete complex assignments; integrate complex elements from other specialties into work assignments; demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusionary practices which support diversity throughout the University; establish a shared vision and take responsibility for the achievement of team goals, and provide direction for appropriate implementation of plans; present ideas, concepts and instructions in a clear manner, and use persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; develop new techniques, concepts, theories, programs or solutions and apply them to complex strategic operating issues; typically work independently on complex work assignments, review progress and evaluate results and update management as appropriate; may direct and delegate work to lower-level staff.

Typical Education & Experience

8+ years related experience

Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Required Certifications, Registrations or Licensure: Various Industry certifications (e.g., Certified Business Analysis Professional) highly preferred

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Serve as a Senior/Lead Business Analyst; monitor the status of large scope assignments to validate that all deliverables are met; work closely with positions such as project managers, change managers, business relationship managers, and other business analysts to ensure success
  • Establish and maintain best practices for business analysis 
  • Provide formal functional liaison with other units to integrate large scope business needs
  • Contribute to the development of requirements for large scope projects and initiatives
  • Examine business needs to understand impact to people, strategy, systems, policy, data, or general business operations and recommend actions or provide information to stakeholders to manage change; support issue resolution to ensure success
  • Track performance and feedback on business initiatives to serve as the basis of future improvements and monitor and measure the effectiveness of business functions to ensure consistent value delivery
  • Lead the analysis of existing business solutions in comparison with improved or proposed solutions to identify gaps and/or necessary changes
  • Lead the design of new or improved business solutions based on analysis; build consensus; manage subsequent changes to improved business solutions; validate that needs/requirements have been met 
  • Develop new techniques, concepts, theories, programs, and solutions to apply to existing or new complex strategic operating issues; contribute to strategic planning process for department or unit
  • Lead or contribute to the delivery of training and communications strategies related to implementation of business initiatives; determine acceptance criteria and strategies 
  • Support the determination of the impact of organizational change management
  • Conduct project leadership activities such as communicating with resource managers, team leads, etc. in order to track project milestones and keep the focus on delivering project commitments
  • May supervise staff, including hiring and performance management 

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.

Level 5  

Level Details
Job Code Salary Band FLSA Status
ADOE0205 M Exempt

Level 5 positions typically extend mastery of job knowledge to the principles, theories and practices of related specialties; expand knowledge of best practices and incorporate into all work assignments and procedures; evaluate and enhance current practices and efforts to ensure optimal support of diversity; oversee leadership of teams and projects that involve extensive cooperation and coordination between multiple departments across the University or with external customers; prepare written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on highly complex issues and deliver to a broad variety of audiences; identify and implement innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues which may involve unusual circumstances and incomplete or conflicting data; ensure safe practices and environmental consciousness are exhibited in decisions; work independently on highly complex or strategic assignments; may direct and supervise lower-level staff.

Typical Education & Experience

12+ years related experience

Bachelor’s Degree or higher,

Master’s Degree preferred 

Required Certifications, Registrations or Licensure: Various Industry certifications (e.g., Certified Business Analysis Professional) required

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Work Duties
  • Provide leadership and direction to business analysis activities, including major organizational transformations; establish and maintain business analysis best practices, while demonstrating knowledge at a mastery level
  • Incorporate the goals and mission of both the unit and the University in all work assignments and procedures
  • Evaluate and initiate strategic initiatives necessary to enhance integrated business needs
  • Serve as consultant for new business solutions, particularly those using integrated or cross-functional technologies and services
  • Meet with various stakeholders, including those at the executive level; analyze needs and build consensus on the design of business solutions; implement, review progress, and evaluate results on complex and/or strategic work assignments
  • May serve as a member of the senior leadership team; participate in thought leadership with unit or University decision makers; contribute to the establishment and enhancement of the strategic plan 
  • Provide formal functional liaison with other units to integrate large scope business needs
  • Evaluate the impact of strategic initiatives on people, strategy, systems, policy, data, or and organizational business operations and recommend actions or provide information to stakeholders to manage change; support issue resolution to ensure success 
  • Track performance and feedback on strategic initiatives to serve as the basis of future improvements and monitor and measure the effectiveness of business functions to ensure consistent value delivery
  • Lead communication and/or training strategy related to implementation of strategic initiatives
  • Demonstrate an advanced competency in project management and organizational change management 
  • May be responsible for various administrative and budget tasks
  • May direct and delegate work to lower-level staff
  • May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

This profile is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions in this job title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.