Business Analyst

Government agencies regularly need experienced Business Analysts to bridge business needs and technical solutions on large-scale IT systems. Many of these engagements combine core business analysis work with functional/system testing responsibilities, so candidates comfortable spanning both are especially valuable. Position Summary The IT Business Analyst works closely with Project Managers, technical teams, vendors, and business stakeholders to define business problems, gather and document requirements, and verify that delivered solutions meet business needs. The BA elicits and manages requirements (features, user stories, use cases), supports design and testing efforts, and serves as a liaison ensuring the business and technical sides of a project stay aligned throughout the project lifecycle. Many roles also carry direct testing responsibilities — developing test plans, executing functional/regression testing, and managing defect tracking through go-live and beyond. Core Responsibilities Requirements & Analysis Elicit, gather, document, vet, and validate business and system requirements from stakeholders and end users Define business problems, determine business solutions, and verify that delivered solutions meet requirements Decompose requirements into user stories and acceptance criteria at a level consumable by developers Lead or participate in requirements-gathering/JAD sessions with Project Managers, SMEs, vendors, and business users Understand "as-is" and "to-be" business processes to keep all parties aligned toward the same goal Create high-level models, prototypes, or mock-ups of user interfaces to validate business processes Identify gaps in data requirements and work with technical teams to ensure data supports the solution Testing & Quality Support Develop, maintain, and execute test plans covering functional, integration, regression, and user acceptance testing (UAT) Document defects through an issue-tracking tool and collaborate with the team to confirm fixes Facilitate and support end-user acceptance testing and post-release validation Provide clear reporting on test results and progress of the testing process Stakeholder & Project Support Act as a liaison between business stakeholders, project teams, vendors, and technical staff Ask probing questions to fully understand requirements and communicate implications clearly to all parties Support Project Managers with project documentation, task creation/estimating, and expectation management Assist with vendor and contract monitoring, including tracking against Service Level Agreements (SLAs) Provide post-implementation support, triaging ongoing issues and business needs after solution delivery Support training, communication, and change management activities tied to system implementations Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of relevant work experience 3+ years of experience working as a Business Analyst or in a closely related requirements/testing role Experience defining business problems, gathering/documenting requirements, and verifying solutions Strong understanding of SDLC methodology; experience with Agile/iterative development a plus Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate across technical and non-technical audiences Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills Ability to manage a heavy workload independently with general direction Detail-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Visio) Preferred Qualifications Experience with system/application testing, defect tracking, and test plan development Familiarity with Team Foundation Server (TFS), Microsoft SQL Server, or similar tools Prior experience with government clients or large-scale public sector IT systems Domain knowledge of public assistance or health and human services programs (e.g., Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, TANF, CCAP) Experience mentoring or providing guidance to junior analysts Relationship management, facilitation, and JAD session leadership experience Ideal Candidate Profile A self-motivated professional who can operate independently under general direction, translate ambiguous business needs into clear, testable requirements, and maintain strong working relationships across business units, vendors, and development teams. Comfortable wearing both the analysis and testing hat when a project calls for it, and confident communicating with everyone from front-line users to executive stakeholders. #J-18808-Ljbffr