Senior Business Analyst

Our client, a Boston-based University, is in need of a Senior Business Analyst, who will serve as the Director of Data Strategy & Analytics’ primary partner for technical data infrastructure owning data mapping, supporting data integrations, and providing direct assistance on Salesforce data model design and system configuration. This role operates at the intersection of business requirements and technical execution, translating the data needs of University Advancement into clearly documented specifications, integration support, and system structure that enables clean, reliable, and well-organized data. This is a temporary (6 months), hybrid – 3 days onsite in Boston, and two days working remotely, full-time (35 hrs a week), contract position. Working closely with the Director, the Senior Business Analyst manages the documentation and lifecycle of data flows across Advancement systems, supports integration monitoring and issue resolution, and contributes to the ongoing design and maintenance of the ascend CRM data model. This role serves as a key liaison between Advancement business units and technical partners in ITS and Advancement Technology. The Senior Business Analyst does not own data governance policy or data quality analysis; those responsibilities sit with the Senior Data Strategy Analyst. This role partners with the SDSA where data structure and governance standards intersect, particularly on migration and integration projects. Minimum & Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required; education or experience in information systems, computer science, data management, or a related field required. Minimum four (4) years of experience with two (2) or more years in a data analyst, business analyst, or systems analyst role. Demonstrated experience in data mapping, including field-level documentation and source-to-target mapping specifications. Experience supporting or monitoring data integrations; ability to identify, document, and elevate integration issues effectively. Salesforce experience required; object configuration, schema understanding, and data model familiarity strongly preferred. Advanced SQL skills and proficiency with Excel required; experience with data integration tools or ETL processes a plus. Demonstrated ability to write clear functional specifications, user stories, and technical documentation for non-technical and technical audiences. Strong project management and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously across the data lifecycle. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong interpersonal skills and ability to work cross‑functionally. Higher education or fundraising experience a plus. Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities Data Mapping Own field-level data mapping documentation across Advancement systems, including source‑to‑target mappings, data flow diagrams, and field relationship documentation for the ascend CRM and integrated data sources. Translate business and reporting requirements into clear, detailed mapping specifications executable by technical teams and usable as the authoritative reference for integration and migration projects. Maintain mapping documentation as a living resource, updating it to reflect system changes, new integrations, and field‑level modifications as they occur. Partner with the Senior Data Strategy Analyst to ensure mapping documentation reflects current governance standards and data definitions. Support Advancement Technology and ITS partners by providing mapping specifications during integration builds, system upgrades, and migration efforts. Data Integration Support Serve as the Director’s primary support resource for data integrations into the ascend CRM from various data sources, assisting with monitoring, issue Write and develop user stories and use case scenarios to facilitate integration design and end‑to‑end testing across Advancement systems. Partner with ITS and Advancement Technology to diagnose and resolve data migration errors, field mapping failures, and integration flow issues. Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date project documentation throughout integration and data migration lifecycles, including requirements, decisions, issue logs, and testing outcomes. Work closely with business stakeholders to understand how integration decisions impact end users across Advancement, translating those needs into functional specifications for technical teams. Coordinate with the Senior Data Strategy Analyst on integration timelines and technical constraints relevant to large‑scale data cleansing and migration preparation. Salesforce Data Model Support Provide direct support to the Director on Salesforce data model design, including object configuration, field schema documentation, and data structure decisions for the ascend CRM. Document current‑state data model configuration and maintain schema documentation as the authoritative reference for the team. Assist in evaluating the impact of system changes, new object builds, or field additions on existing data relationships, integrations, and reporting. Translate business requirements into data model specifications for the Director’s implementation decisions. Conduct analysis to identify areas of data model optimization and present findings with supporting documentation to the Director. CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION & OTHER DUTIES Build and maintain relationships across Advancement units to develop a deep understanding of business priorities and how data structure decisions affect end users. Partner with the Senior Data Strategy Analyst on projects where data mapping, integration, or system structure intersects with governance policy or data quality standards. Participate in requirements gathering sessions, business process reviews, and system planning discussions as a data infrastructure subject matter expert. Assist with organizing and documenting policies and procedures across Advancement units as they relate to data flows and system usage. Assist with Advancement events and other duties as assigned by the Director. #J-18808-Ljbffr