Lead Business Analyst

Lead Business AnalystThe lead business analyst serves as a team lead within the Project Management Office (PMO) and plays a critical role in bridging the gap between institutional stakeholders and technology solutions. This position is responsible for eliciting, analyzing, and documenting complex business requirements; facilitating process improvement initiatives; and leading junior analysts in delivering high-quality business analysis across Information Technology (IT) projects. The lead business analyst partners closely with project managers, IT leadership, and university departments to ensure that technology solutions align with strategic goals, operational needs, and user expectations.Essential Job Functions and Performance IndicatorsThe intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.Job Responsibilities and ExecutionLeads requirements elicitation sessions including interviews, workshops, surveys, and observation to identify business needs, process gaps, and functional specificationsDevelops and maintains comprehensive requirements documentation including Business Requirements Documents (BRDs), Functional Specifications, use cases, and process flow diagramsConducts thorough gap analyses, feasibility assessments, and cost-benefit analyses to inform solution selection and project scope decisionsFacilitates process mapping and modeling sessions using standard notation (e.g., Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)) to document current-state (as-is) and future-state (to-be) workflowsDefines and manages requirement traceability throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring delivered solutions meet documented business needsDevelops acceptance criteria and supports user acceptance testing (UAT) planning, execution, and defect tracking in collaboration with project teams and stakeholdersTranslates complex technical concepts and solution designs into clear, accessible language for non-technical audiences, including executive stakeholdersPresents analysis deliverables, findings, and recommendations to project steering committees, IT leadership, and executive stakeholdersCollaborates with project managers to define project scope, schedule inputs, resource needs, and risk factors related to business analysis workstreamsManages project change requests and scope change processes by assessing business impact, facilitating approvals, and updating documentation accordinglySupports system implementation projects through data migration planning, system configuration reviews, and integration validation activitiesMaintains up-to-date knowledge of enterprise systems (e.g., Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Student Information System (SIS), and Learning Management System (LMS)) and participates in vendor evaluation and selection processesServes as team lead for business analysis staff within the PMO, providing day-to-day guidance, mentorship, and quality oversight for business analysis deliverablesAssigns and monitors work for junior business analysts, ensuring alignment with project timelines, PMO standards, and stakeholder expectationsReviews and approves requirements documentation, process models, and other business analysis artifacts produced by team members to ensure accuracy and completenessLeads onboarding and skills development for new business analysts, establishing standard practices and tool proficiency across the business analyst teamContributes to the continuous improvement of PMO business analysis frameworks, templates, and methodologiesParticipates in PMO governance activities, status reporting, and portfolio-level planning sessions as a subject matter expert in business analysisCoordinates with the Director of Project Management to align the business analyst team capacity with project portfolio demands and institutional prioritiesService ExcellenceSupports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellenceModels, supports, and holds others accountable to the University's valuesProvides excellent customer service to internal as well as external customersPartners with IT leadership and institutional stakeholders to ensure business analysis efforts support the university's strategic priorities and technology roadmapCommunication, Teamwork, and CollaborationCommunicates effectively with all levels of management and personnelProduces clear and effective written documentationWorks collaboratively throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including business process analysis, solution design support, requirements gathering, testing, and documentation for enterprise software and integrated systemsProactively identifies opportunities to streamline processes, reduce redundancy, and improve operational efficiency through technology solutionsMaintains awareness of higher education technology trends, regulatory requirements, and emerging best practices in business analysis and process improvementAdapts analysis approach and communication style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholder groups across academic, administrative, and technical functionsJob may require other duties as assigned.Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; Master's degree preferredMinimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in business analysis, including complex IT and enterprise system implementation projectsMinimum of 3 years of experience serving in a team lead, supervisory, or project leadership roleCertified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) or PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) preferredProject Management Professional (PMP) preferredExperience working within a Project Management Office (PMO) environment preferredExperience in higher education or similarly complex multi-stakeholder institutional environments preferredKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and culturesComprehensive knowledge of business analysis frameworks, including the BABOK Guide, Agile analysis practices, and requirements engineering methodologiesStrong knowledge of process modeling techniques including BPMN, Unified Modeling Language (UML) use cases, swim lane diagrams, and data flow diagramsKnowledge of Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) standards and familiarity with Agile/Scrum frameworks as they apply to business analysis workstreamsFamiliarity with IT Service Management (ITSM) and IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) frameworks as applied to business and technology alignmentExcellent analytical, critical thinking, and structured problem-solving skills with the ability to decompose complex problems into actionable requirementsExceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the demonstrated ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences and vice versaStrong facilitation and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to lead workshops, resolve conflicts, and drive consensus across diverse groupsStrong customer service orientation with the ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse university departmentsExcellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environmentStrong professional integrity and ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive institutional data and processesAbility to analyze, query, and interpret data to validate business requirements and assess solution effectivenessFamiliarity with enterprise systems commonly found in higher education (e.g., ERP/SIS platforms, CRM, LMS, financial aid systems)Proficiency with enterprise project management and requirements management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Azure DevOps)Knowledge of quality assurance principles, UAT practices, and testing methodology as applied to business analysisSkills in organizational change management, training needs assessment, and stakeholder communication planningWork Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job's functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University's flexible work designation descriptionsGeneral office settingNon-Standard Flex SchedulePhysical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.Ability to work effectively at a computer for extended time dailyAbility to sit/stand for extended periods of timeAbility to lift/carry items commonly found in an office setting including, but not limited to, documents, laptops, keyboards, etc.Ability to use repetitive wrist