Job Summary
Research, design, document, implement, configure, and validate solutions to business needs. Solve highly complex technical problems. May manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Reporting to an Associate Director on the Research Administration and Compliance Systems team to deliver software solutions to the research administration and research compliance community. Harvard’s research portfolio relies on a set of software applications, both custom and vendor-provided, supporting the research life cycle. The team is responsible for designing and enhancing those IT systems and supporting the academic and administrative staff to manage their research projects. The Senior Business Analyst supports the service delivery of systems, solutions, and services with a focus on the vendor-provided application for effort reporting, ecrt, and a Harvard custom research administration portal supporting administration and compliance to do lists, action items, and financial management. This position works closely with the user community, fellow team members, technical partners, and vendors to design, test, implement, and validate solutions to support ongoing and emerging needs. An additional component includes developing reporting solutions using the Oracle Analytics Suite of products.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Participate in the planning and facilitation of business requirements sessions such as workshops, meetings, and other user research methods
- Develop, document, and deliver user research/feedback sessions in order to gain insight into user needs and pain points
- Meet with business partners to understand and document systems needs, identify workflows, and propose solutions
- Vendor engagement and participation in the user community to understand and inform the vendor roadmap, analyze upcoming releases, compose documentation and test plans, communicate the roadmap and impacts of changes.
- Coordinate with business partners on timing, testing, business process re-design, documentation, and training; coordinate internally with the project team including technical lead, developers, and QA team
- Draft systems and reporting specifications and designs detailing the logic, configuration, and security requirements to be implemented, and perform corresponding configuration steps.
- Identify change management requirements, assist in the development of training materials, end user communications, and marketing materials
- Design, develop, and test bug fixes, enhancements, and reports. Includes documentation and the development of manual and automated test plans.
- Assist in planning and conducting user group meetings, and develop and deliver presentations to user group and stakeholder meetings
- Serve as resource to senior management, product managers, and business systems analysts on areas of product and/or business expertise
- Collaborate with business systems analysts, product managers, and vendor partners on production, integration, and reporting support for enterprise applications, including in-depth analysis, troubleshooting, researching and recommending resolution options to ensure systems remain operational and data integrity is upheld within applications
- Attend relevant conferences and trainings
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned
- Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into systems requirements and scoping
- Define systems requirements, conduct gap analysis, and identify feasible alternative solutions that meet defined business objectives
- Responsible for business transition management to ensure that systems are understood by users
- Support daily, monthly, and quarterly monitoring and analysis required for associated processes, including monitoring interfaces, ecrt data validation, ad hoc reporting, and configuration updates.
- Abide by and follow the Harvard University IT technical standards, policies and Code of Conduct
- Perform user needs analysis, product evaluation, selection, customization, testing, implementation, and support
Basic Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications are the minimum threshold a candidate must meet in order to be considered for this role.
- Minimum of five years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
Required
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a technical environment or functional experience with grants management or sponsored programs applications or other systems experience
- Experience with custom software projects and applications
- Experience with Oracle Analytics Suite and Oracle APEX
- Experience developing and executing tests including regression tests
- Strong project management, organizational, analytical skills
- Strong background/expertise in sponsored research and financial data
- Strong interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills
- Experience in report and solutions development required including design, testing, implementation, and documentation
- Experience in data analysis including experience with SQL and/or data querying / data modeling tools and technologies
- Experience with low/no code workflow tools
- Knowledge of information technology applications, processes, and software
- Demonstrated team performance skills, service mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor
- Strong problem solving, organizational, analytical, data analysis, interpersonal, and facilitation skills
The following qualifications are strongly preferred. If you meet some, but not all, you are still encouraged to apply; we value employees with a willingness to learn.
- Knowledge of research administration, research compliance, and/or financial management business areas is a plus (for example: effort reporting, grants management, conflict of interest, IRB/human subjects)
- Ability and willingness to learn new technologies; motivated, self-starter
- Ability to synthesize business requirements and challenges into technical solutions
- Excellent relationship building skills, especially customer service skills and service mindset approach
- Must understand basic fundamentals of iterative development, software development processes and procedures; understand incremental delivery and the value of metrics
- Advanced desktop application skills including Excel, Word, MS Project, Access, PowerPoint, and Visio
- Hands-on experience with ERP, research administration systems, financial, or student information systems
- Proven ability to quickly assimilate to new technology and/or applications required
- Familiarity with Atlassian tools (JIRA, Confluence) a plus
- Familiarity with Huron research suite products
- Familiarity with Agile and scrum techniques
- Demonstrate adaptability, flexibility and the ability to get up to speed quickly in the Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) environment and with the enterprise applications we support
- Must have proven ability to initiate and manage multiple tasks under competing deadlines and shifting priorities
- Able to work independently and within small and large teams
Certificates and Licenses:
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred
- Working Conditions: Onsite work is performed in an office setting.
- Hybrid: Onsite as needed with advance notice
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
- Other Information:
Please provide a cover letter and resume as one document with your application.
This position has an 180-day orientation and review period.
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Work Format Details
This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generous paid time off including parental leave
- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
- Retirement plans with university contributions
- Wellbeing and mental health resources
- Support for families and caregivers
- Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
- Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.