Business Applications Specialist

Harvarduniversity; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking a Business Applications Specialist to join the Systems and Business Applications team. You will administer and support property management systems, oversee upgrades, and serve as a level-2 contact for complex issues, ensuring reliable operations across campuses.

You will optimize business processes, manage integrations, develop reports and dashboards, and assist in projects from requirements through testing and change control, while training staff and documenting

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years supporting business applications, preferably in property management or real estate.
• Hands-on experience with property management software: Yardi, MRI, RealPage OneSite, Entrata, AppFolio.
• Experience managing project tasks within established frameworks.
• Experience with system integrations (APIs, middleware).
• Knowledge of data governance and compliance practices.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles related to property management.
• Experience with reporting tools (SQL, Power BI, Excel advanced functions).

Responsibilities

• Administer and support systems for daily property management operations, including overseeing related projects, upgrades and software/hardware maintenance and installations.
• Oversee application support and serve as a level-2 point of contact for application-related issues, troubleshooting, and escalation.
• Manage system configurations, user access, roles, and security settings.
• Analyze current workflows across leasing, maintenance, accounting, and tenant services and identify opportunities to improve efficiencies through system enhancements and automation.
• Partner with stakeholders to define business requirements, design processes and implement best practices.
• Oversee integrations between property management systems and third-party tools.
• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and integrity across systems.
• Develop and maintain reports, dashboards, and data extracts for business insights.
• Assume a supporting role in system implementation / upgrade / migration projects, and a leading role in small projects.
• Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to deliver projects on time and within scope.
• Document requirements, test solutions, and manage change control processes.
• Develop and maintain user guides, SOPs, and training materials.
• Conduct training sessions for staff on new features, systems, and best practices.
• Act as a subject matter expert for business applications.
• Liaise with software vendors to resolve issues and evaluate new features.
• Work closely with property managers, finance teams, leasing, community programming team, and other Harvard teams to align systems with business needs.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Analytical thinking

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Yardi

MRI

RealPage OneSite

Entrata

AppFolio

APIs

Job description

The Business Applications Specialist, reporting to the Associate Director of Systems and Business Applications, will share responsibility with the Systems team in supporting these solutions, fostering a tenant experience befitting the Ivy League.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

Application Management & Support

Administer and support systems and applications used for daily property management operations, including overseeing related projects, upgrades and software/hardware maintenance and installations.

Oversee application support and serve as a level-2 point of contact for application-related issues, troubleshooting, and escalation.

Manage system configurations, user access, roles, and security settings.

Business Process Optimization

Analyze current workflows across leasing, maintenance, accounting, and tenant services and identify opportunities to improve efficiencies through system enhancements and automation.

Partner with stakeholders to define business requirements, design processes and implement best practices.

System Integration & Data Management

Oversee integrations between property management systems and third-party tools.

Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and integrity across systems.

Develop and maintain reports, dashboards, and data extracts for business insights.

Project Leadership

Assume a supporting role in system implementation / upgrade / migration projects, and a leading role in small projects.

Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to deliver projects on time and within scope.

Document requirements, test solutions, and manage change control processes.

Training & Documentation

Develop and maintain user guides, SOPs, and training materials.

Conduct training sessions for staff on new features, systems, and best practices.

Act as a subject matter expert for business applications.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

Liaise with software vendors to resolve issues and evaluate new features.

Work closely with property managers, finance teams, leasing, community programming team, and other Harvard teams to align systems with business needs.

Working Conditions

Candidate will need to travel periodic to HUHRE properties and management offices, and possibly navigate stairs in order to monitor and test technical building components.

Candidate may occasionally need to lift/carry/transport a hardware component weighing as much as 20 pounds.

Candidate may occasionally need to perform work in confined spaces which may be not be climate-controlled.

Basic Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess a systems mindset and at least several of the following:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field
• 5+ years of experience supporting business applications, preferably in property management or real estate
• Hands-on experience with property management software (e.g., Yardi, MRI, RealPage OneSite, Entrata, AppFolio)
• Experience managing project tasks and deliverables within established project management frameworks
• Experience with system integrations (APIs, middleware platforms)
• Knowledge of data governance and compliance practices
• Solid understanding of accounting principles related to property management
• Experience with reporting tools (e.g., SQL, Power BI, Excel advanced functions)

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Experience providing tech support and performing user acceptance testing.
• Experience managing a technical support team.
• Strong communications skills, verbal and written, across all media: phone, email, in-person, and documentation.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external customers, vendors and other stakeholders.
• Ability to liaise between technical and non-technical personalities.
• Ability to meet deadlines and maintain a positive attitude while balancing competing priorities
• Ability to effectively multi-task and triage support requests arising from multiple fronts.
• Teamwork mentality, service mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor.
• Experience with Yardi property management software highly desirable.
• Experience utilizing project management methodologies and tools.

Key Skills

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions

Standard Hours/Schedule

40 hours per week

Visa Sponsorship Information

Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening

Identity, Education, and References

Other Information

#LI-TH1

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 h