Senior Business Analyst

Job Title:  Senior Business Systems Analyst

Client Industry:  Information Technology

Location:
Remote

Job Status:  Part-time

Position Summary:

Our client is looking for a Senior Business Systems Analyst who will play a critical role in the modernization of the school's Facilities and Campus Management's legacy applications. This position involves leading the comprehensive analysis, documentation, and prioritization of 16 existing applications built on outdated and unsupported technology, to develop a strategic roadmap for their upgrade, integration, or replacement.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Inventory and Assessment

• Conduct a comprehensive inventory of all 16 legacy applications, including their current state, functionality, and dependencies.
• Identify and document the location, hosting environment, and infrastructure supporting each application.
• Gather and analyze user feedback, workflows, and usage patterns by interviewing key stakeholders and observing application usage.

Business Process Analysis

• Map out and document the business processes supported by each application, identifying both upstream and downstream dependencies.
• Assess the business value, criticality, and risks associated with each application, particularly in relation to security vulnerabilities and potential failures.

Prioritization and Strategy Development

• Evaluate and prioritize applications based on usage frequency, business impact, technical debt, and security risks.
• Develop a strategic roadmap for application modernization, considering factors like resource availability, budget constraints, and potential integration with existing systems.
• Collaborate with IT teams and management to explore opportunities for integrating legacy functions into more mature systems, reducing the need to rebuild applications from scratch.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Identify and engage with key stakeholders, including IT staff, end-users, and departmental leadership, to gather requirements and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Facilitate workshops, meetings, and demonstrations to communicate findings, gather input, and build consensus around modernization priorities and strategies.

Documentation and Reporting

• Create detailed documentation of each application, including technical specifications, user guides, and process flows, to ensure knowledge retention as staff retire or transition.
• Prepare and present regular reports on the progress of the inventory, assessment, and modernization efforts to stakeholders and management.

Risk Management

• Identify and assess risks associated with maintaining legacy applications, particularly those related to security vulnerabilities, staff turnover, and system failures.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies, including short-term fixes for critical vulnerabilities and longer-term plans for system replacements or upgrades.

Support Project Management

• Assist in the development of project plans, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation for the modernization program.
• Monitor and track progress against project goals, adjusting plans as necessary to accommodate changes in scope or priorities.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including IT, project management, and external vendors, to ensure alignment and effective execution of the modernization strategy.
• Serve as a liaison between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and understanding of requirements, challenges, and progress.

Minimum Skills, Knowledge, and Ability Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience as a Business Analyst, with a focus on legacy system analysis, application modernization, or related IT projects.
• Experience in project management or working closely with project management teams, particularly in technology modernization initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Understanding of Legacy Systems: In-depth knowledge of legacy software systems, especially those built on older versions of Laravel or similar frameworks.
• Application Lifecycle Management: Familiarity with the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and experience with system integration, migration, and decommissioning.
• Security Awareness: Basic understanding of cybersecurity principles, especially as they relate to outdated or unsupported applications.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Proficiency with data gathering, analysis, and reporting tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, or business intelligence software).

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• Business Process Mapping: Ability to map out and document complex business processes, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements.
• Critical Thinking: Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate risks, prioritize tasks, and make informed decisions.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to documentation, ensuring all aspects of the legacy systems and their use cases are thoroughly understood and recorded.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience in engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including technical teams, end-users, and management.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
• Facilitation: Experience leading workshops, meetings, and interviews to gather requirements and build consensus.
• Project and Change Management
• Project Planning: Ability to contribute to project planning, including timelines, resource allocation, and milestone tracking.
• Change Management: Experience in managing change, particularly in guiding users through transitions from legacy to modern systems.

Tools and Methodologies

• Business Analysis Tools: Proficiency with tools like Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, JIRA, or other process mapping and project tracking software.
• Agile/Scrum Methodology: Familiarity with Agile methodologies and experience working in iterative development environments.
• Documentation Tools: Experience with documentation tools such as Confluence, SharePoint, or similar platforms.

Soft Skills

• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing project needs, priorities, and technologies.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Time Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications: Business Analysis certifications (e.g., CBAP, PMI-PBA) or Agile/Scrum certifications (e.g., Certified Scrum Master) are a plus.
• Experience with Higher Education Systems: Understanding of the specific challenges and requirements of facilities and campus management in a higher education context.