Current Positions
Business Analyst II
IMT
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Description
The Business Analyst serves as a strategic IT consultant, building long-term customer relationships through a shared understanding of needs and potential services. This position gathers, defines and upholds business and architecture requirements throughout the service development life-cycle. Acting as a translator between business and technical teams, the person needs to be strong in both. Also serves as a project manager and coaches project management skills throughout IMT. Partners with team members in the discipline of IT portfolio management—rationalizing the mix of services, applications and supporting technologies as they relate to business goals. When meeting with customers, the business analyst constantly references the existing service portfolio, and the portfolio of future projects encouraging common solutions to similar university challenges.
Examples of Duties
- Serves as a business consultant building relationships with key university constituents seeking to capture needs and relate them to existing and future services
- Assists customers by developing business cases, project requests, and change requests when new services are requested or changes to existing services requested
- Conducts requirements gathering sessions to capture business, functional, and technical requirements to assist development teams in meeting business goals while upholding IMT architecture principles
- Research, review and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of existing university processes providing suggestions for improvement to customers and IMT using diagramming, modeling and other tools to effectively communicate
- Acts as an internal consultant working with cross-functional technical teams to develop and review requirements, analyze system and technical architectures
- Act as a project manager—organizing people, goals and work to achieve project success. Works closely with development and deployment teams to plan and implement new services
- Communicates with resource supervisors and sponsors to remove roadblocks to project success
- Assists in effectively communicating the value of information technology and IMT’s vision to its customers
- Develops enterprise level information technology architecture models to be used in the strategic growth of the organization, translating business needs into long-term architecture solutions and facilitating future design plans
- Reviews projects proposals, designs, and technology services for architecture alignment
- Participates within industry standards bodies, consortia, and related forums to address issues of concern to the University and maintain knowledge of industry trends and direction
- Act as an advocate for the disciplines of Project Management, Portfolio Management and Architecture within IMT
- Develop feasibility studies, white papers, and other documentation to present well researched analysis on business opportunities and system challenges
- Perform other related duties as assigned by supervisor.
Education
A degree in management information systems, computer science, business or a related field and / or related professional experience.
Experience
At least five years experience working in at least two IT disciplines (client/server environment, network management, application development, middleware, database management or systems operations).
An excellent knowledge and good track record of customer relations is essential with experience with the following:
• System/Software/Service Development Life Cycle
• IT Portfolio Management practices
• Modern project management methodologies including Agile methods
• Data/Process modeling tools/techniques
• Enterprise or IT Architecture methods and tools
• Professional Consulting experience desirable
Should be an IT generalist, with a broad perspective of how different technologies form systems to deliver business value. Exposure to several of the following technologies is required:
• Service Oriented Architecture, Web Services, and other modern software design patterns
• Software as a Service (SaaS) / Cloud Computing opportunities
• Software development methods, concepts (e.g. Model Driven), and awareness of languages in common use today
• Enterprise resource planning systems (PeopleSoft preferred)
• Relational databases (Oracle, MS SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL etc.)
• Identity, Security and Access Management concerns (LDAP Directories, Web SSO etc.)
• Internet protocols, open standards, and surrounding network technologies
• Windows, Linux/UNIX server platforms
• Windows, Mac and mobile client platforms
• Messaging and collaboration systems
• Enterprise level hardware and systems design
• Disaster recovery, business continuity planning
An excellent knowledge and good track record of customer relations is essential with experience with the following:
• System/Software/Service Development Life Cycle
• IT Portfolio Management practices
• Modern project management methodologies including Agile methods
• Data/Process modeling tools/techniques
• Enterprise or IT Architecture methods and tools
• Professional Consulting experience desirable
Should be an IT generalist, with a broad perspective of how different technologies form systems to deliver business value. Exposure to several of the following technologies is required:
• Service Oriented Architecture, Web Services, and other modern software design patterns
• Software as a Service (SaaS) / Cloud Computing opportunities
• Software development methods, concepts (e.g. Model Driven), and awareness of languages in common use today
• Enterprise resource planning systems (PeopleSoft preferred)
• Relational databases (Oracle, MS SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL etc.)
• Identity, Security and Access Management concerns (LDAP Directories, Web SSO etc.)
• Internet protocols, open standards, and surrounding network technologies
• Windows, Linux/UNIX server platforms
• Windows, Mac and mobile client platforms
• Messaging and collaboration systems
• Enterprise level hardware and systems design
• Disaster recovery, business continuity planning
Skills
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
This person will be required to liaise with IMT customers and external suppliers at all levels, in the appropriate manner.
This person will also be required to work closely with other IMT staff to assist them with project management, budgets and strategic plans, therefore this person requires excellent communication and team building skills, and working with other team members in a co-operative and trusting manner.
This person must also be able to communicate complex technical details in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical staff. Must be confident and articulate, since this position interacts with executives, management and staff in internal and external situations. These details may take the form of written or oral communications, including presentations.
PROBLEM SOLVING / INITIATIVE:
This position requires this person to deal with IMT customers, IMT staff and external customers on a regular basis to solve problems. The ability to absorb a large amount of information, quickly evaluate the nature of the problem, and provide a solution rapidly and decisively is essential.
The problems encountered vary greatly and may require the ability to work as part of a team to find a resolution. In order to be successful this position requires exceptional decision-making, problem solving and analytical skills to resolve project issues and challenges.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
The following skills, and abilities may be acquired through a combination of formal schooling, self-education, prior work experience, or on-the-job training:
• Strengths in strategic thinking, ideation, and pattern finding across disciplines
• Strong teamwork and team management skills
• Must be accustomed and adept at working on various projects simultaneously, ensuring the integrity of each project
• Understanding of business process change principles and processes
• Basic understanding of budgeting and cost/benefit analysis of proposals
• Possess passion, enthusiasm, and strong opinions, yet willing to set aside personal bias
• Demonstrate ability to learn new products and technologies quickly
• Ability to work at an abstract level, and creating abstractions that clarify and contribute to system integrity across the enterprise.
• Ability to use enterprise IT management and planning tools
LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE:
In order to function effectively, this person must have a high level of independence, show a high level of initiative, have the ability to make decisions and be highly motivated. This requires a high tolerance for ambiguity and ability to work consistently at an abstract level. This must be done in a manner consistent with the team management structure that is employed by IMT.
INFLUENCE OF RESULTS:
This person must recognize that the Enterprise Information Architecture is critical to the mission of Azusa Pacific University. The proper management of the computer environment and technical resources will mean that IMT can provide efficient and productive customer service and solutions to the organization, resulting in greater productivity by Azusa Pacific University staff. This requires the person to be well organized and have an extremely high work ethic.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
No direct supervisory responsibility however may be asked to lead project teams.
This person will be required to liaise with IMT customers and external suppliers at all levels, in the appropriate manner.
This person will also be required to work closely with other IMT staff to assist them with project management, budgets and strategic plans, therefore this person requires excellent communication and team building skills, and working with other team members in a co-operative and trusting manner.
This person must also be able to communicate complex technical details in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical staff. Must be confident and articulate, since this position interacts with executives, management and staff in internal and external situations. These details may take the form of written or oral communications, including presentations.
PROBLEM SOLVING / INITIATIVE:
This position requires this person to deal with IMT customers, IMT staff and external customers on a regular basis to solve problems. The ability to absorb a large amount of information, quickly evaluate the nature of the problem, and provide a solution rapidly and decisively is essential.
The problems encountered vary greatly and may require the ability to work as part of a team to find a resolution. In order to be successful this position requires exceptional decision-making, problem solving and analytical skills to resolve project issues and challenges.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
The following skills, and abilities may be acquired through a combination of formal schooling, self-education, prior work experience, or on-the-job training:
• Strengths in strategic thinking, ideation, and pattern finding across disciplines
• Strong teamwork and team management skills
• Must be accustomed and adept at working on various projects simultaneously, ensuring the integrity of each project
• Understanding of business process change principles and processes
• Basic understanding of budgeting and cost/benefit analysis of proposals
• Possess passion, enthusiasm, and strong opinions, yet willing to set aside personal bias
• Demonstrate ability to learn new products and technologies quickly
• Ability to work at an abstract level, and creating abstractions that clarify and contribute to system integrity across the enterprise.
• Ability to use enterprise IT management and planning tools
LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE:
In order to function effectively, this person must have a high level of independence, show a high level of initiative, have the ability to make decisions and be highly motivated. This requires a high tolerance for ambiguity and ability to work consistently at an abstract level. This must be done in a manner consistent with the team management structure that is employed by IMT.
INFLUENCE OF RESULTS:
This person must recognize that the Enterprise Information Architecture is critical to the mission of Azusa Pacific University. The proper management of the computer environment and technical resources will mean that IMT can provide efficient and productive customer service and solutions to the organization, resulting in greater productivity by Azusa Pacific University staff. This requires the person to be well organized and have an extremely high work ethic.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
No direct supervisory responsibility however may be asked to lead project teams.
Physical Demands
Intermittent sitting, standing and walking. Requires repetitive arm, hand, wrist and finger motions. Communication with others requires face to face and hearing on the telephone, with good skills. Walking to various locations on campus. Ability to lift 10-20 lbs occasionally.
Environment
OTHER REMARKS:
This position requires someone who is totally committed to excellence in customer service and a good understanding of Azusa Pacific University culture, business structures and business practices.
This person will be required to support and uphold the IMT Strategic Directions.
This position requires acceptance of the Universities ethos
This position requires someone who is totally committed to excellence in customer service and a good understanding of Azusa Pacific University culture, business structures and business practices.
This person will be required to support and uphold the IMT Strategic Directions.
This position requires acceptance of the Universities ethos
Details
Full-time position. Excellent benefits. Salary to be determined based on qualifications and experience.
View the application procedure ›
