Senior Business Analyst

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Job Profile Summary:

This position acts as the liaison between university departments and IT. Successfully manage the relationship between the departments and IT. Responsible for planning, organizing, and monitoring software projects as well as building and supporting purchased software. Ensures projects meet or exceed technical specifications, customer requirements, policies, budgets, and deadlines. Assembles, directs, coordinates, and assigns responsibilities to project team members. Ensures customers are well informed of area activities and significant problems.

Location: This position requires you to live in Utah and work at our headquarters: 4001 South 700 East Salt Lake City, UT 84107 with the ability to work a hybrid schedule in the office 4 days a week with one day remote.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Assumes responsibility for being the liaison for the Production Operations team.
  • Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, requirements workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios, business analysis, and task and workflow analysis.
  • Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding, and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.
  • Collaborate with developers and subject matter experts to establish the technical vision and analyze tradeoffs between usability and performance needs.
  • Identify and assess both commercially-available and custom-developed solutions that meet university needs.
  • Proactively communicate and collaborate with external and internal customers to analyze information needs and functional requirements and deliver the following artifacts as needed: Functional requirements (Business Requirements Document), Use Cases, User Stories, GUI, Screen, and Interface designs.
  • Successfully engage in and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
  • Develop business case studies identifying alternatives, costs, and project plans.
• Responsible for planning, organizing, and monitoring software projects.
  • Meets with project sponsors and team members to gain an understanding and knowledge of projects and to determine platforms, components, software applications, technologies, and security measures.
  • Chooses appropriate technology from our group of supported platforms selected by business analysts and managers based on best practices and platform strengths. Clearly communicates constraints, conflicts, requirements, compatibility issues, and items that could affect project outcome, final performance level, or customer satisfaction. Offers appropriate alternatives and contingency plans.
  • For large projects, Identify the scope of the project and develop documents outlining key project objectives, goals, plans, requirements, proposals, estimates, schedules, and budgets. Makes presentations, submits requests, and gains necessary approvals. Ensures accurate estimates of time, cost, performance level, and materials to meet project requirements. Modifies plans and schedules as necessary.
  • Assists in assembling the project team. Makes suggestions for team members to departmental areas and IT managers who need to be involved. Gives estimates of the time needed to design and test. Provides necessary training on project objectives, processes, and details.
  • Successfully monitors project status and adherence to schedules, requirements, and deadlines. Communicates progress to appropriate personnel and/or project sponsors. Effectively manages and communicates design changes. Measures results and makes adjustments as necessary.
  • Maintains accurate and complete records during the development process. Ensures related oral and electronic communications regarding project requirements, design changes, problems, solutions, etc., are securely maintained and readily available for review.
  • Set up and coordinate effective testing to evaluate system performance, fulfill project requirements, and eliminate bugs. Ensures test plans are well-documented, relevant to application, and compliant with policies and procedures. Analyzes test results, identifies problems and conflicts, and provides solutions. Ensures problems are resolved quickly and effectively. Repeats testing as needed.
  • Coordinates and manages the creation of related documentation. Ensures accurate technical information is gathered and disseminated to technical writers. Ensures final documents are thoroughly reviewed, accurate, complete, and user-friendly.
• Building and supporting purchased Software
  • For purchased enterprise software, an analyst will configure and implement software using such activities as designing security roles, creating business rules, creating supported platform code, managing workflow, and implementing developed components.
  • Support implemented processes by working with users to identify necessary training, product defects, or implementation defects/design flaws. Suggest or build solutions and coordinate testing and production releases. Work with product support to solve complex issues.
  • Stay current with product releases for the purchased software. Identify needed upcoming functionality and coordinate test installation, testing plans, testing activities, and release opportunities. Work off hours during maintenance windows to be available for testing and assistance around the upgrade activities.
  • Be involved in community efforts around our supported software systems. Look to assist others who are struggling with questions we have solutions for. Learn and ask questions from the communities to ensure best practices and reduce repeated mistakes.
• Assumes responsibility for successfully launching finished products.
  • Ensures software applications are fully functional and meet established project requirements and deadlines. Obtains necessary final approvals and signatures according to established procedures.
  • Ensures final versions of documentation and supporting materials are delivered to customers or project sponsors in a timely manner.
  • Establishes processes for user support, training options, and customer feedback. Evaluate feedback and customer concerns and offer assistance and solutions as appropriate. Communicates updates, future releases, and upgrades.
  • Works to ensure quality service and customer satisfaction with finished products and support services.
• Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining professional working relations and communication with customers, project sponsors, service providers, and outside contacts.
  • Responds to phone calls, emails, pages, or messages professionally and on time.
  • Provide regular updates on the status of projects. Communicates information to appropriate parties.
  • Tracks and resolves problems promptly and effectively.
  • Promotes goodwill and a positive image of the Company.
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining effective communication and coordination with Company personnel and with management.
  • Maintains regular contact with executives, area managers, software developers, programmers, and other project personnel to obtain and convey information.
  • Keeps management informed of projects, area activities, and any significant problems or concerns. Submits project reports as required.
  • Works to achieve established goals and objectives.
• Assumes responsibility for related duties as required or assigned.
  • Stays informed of team and department trends and developments.
• Completes special projects as assigned
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Excellent leadership and project management skills.
• Works well in a team environment.
• Ability to build consensus and motivate others.
• Strong oral and written communication abilities.
• Solid technical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to plan and meet schedules.

Competencies:

Organizational Impact:

• Works to achieveoperational targets that significantly impact department,function, or officeresults. May beresponsible for managinglarge projects orprocesses within thedepartment,function, oroffice.
• Performs workas directed withlimited oversight.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Responsible forleveraging a systems-thinkingapproach,makingmoderate tosignificant improvementsof processes, systems,and plans within thedepartment, Function, orOffice.
• Problems and issuesare numerous andchallengingand requiredetailed informationgathering and analysis.Problems typically affectmultiple areas orspecialties.

Communication & Influence:

• Collaborates cross-functionally withemployeeswithin and outside ofthedepartment.Typicallyhasresponsibility forcommunicating withparties external to theUniversity.
• Works to influenceparties within andoutside thedepartment, Function, orOffice regarding policies,procedures, andpractices.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Isresponsible forproviding guidance,coaching, and training toother employees in thedepartment, Function, orOffice.Responsible for managingprojects involvingdelegation of work andreview of others' workproducts.
• Demonstratesthe WGUleadership principles inall aspects of service tostudents, employees,andpartners ofWGU.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems or Smartsheet with abachelor'sdegree,or3+ years and amaster'sdegree, or adoctorate orterminal degreewithout experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree preferred.
• Smartsheet certification

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. #DEI