Senior IT Business Analyst

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University’s Division of Information Technology Services seeks a Senior IT Business Analyst to plan, analyze, and implement technology solutions aligned with institutional goals. You will gather requirements, document processes, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure user needs and priorities are met in a cross-functional environment.

The role is hybrid with in-office work three days per week to foster collaboration, teamwork, and engagement with staff and students on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of relevant business analysis experience in enterprise systems or digital initiatives.
• Strong verbal and written communication and documentation skills.
• Experience with Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid SDLC methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Elicit, analyze, and validate business and technical requirements from stakeholders and end users.
• Collaborate with project sponsors and technical teams to define project scope, goals, and success criteria.
• Conduct interviews, workshops, surveys, and documentation reviews to gather and clarify requirements.
• Translate business needs into clear functional and technical requirements for development teams.
• Assist in preparing business cases and feasibility analyses to support planning and prioritization.
• Participate in quality assurance to ensure delivered solutions meet requirements.
• Track requirements throughout the project lifecycle with traceability.
• Communicate updates and decisions through formal documentation and stakeholder meetings.
• Assist in managing the ITS Project Pipeline.
• Be flexible to support evolving business needs.

Skills

Communication

Documentation

BA techniques

SDLC knowledge

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT / Business or related field

Master's degree preferred

BA/PM certification (CBAP/PMI-PBA/IIBA) asset

Tools

JIRA

ServiceNow

Miro

Lucidchart

Job description

About the Opportunity This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

JOB SUMMARY

The Division of Information Technology Services is seeking a motivated and collaborative Senior IT Business Analyst to support the planning, development, and implementation of technology solutions that align with institutional goals. This position is responsible for gathering and analyzing business requirements, documenting processes, and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure solutions meet user needs and organizational priorities. The Sr IT Business Analyst will work closely with functional teams, project managers, and technical staff to understand business challenges, define and document system requirements, and support testing and implementation efforts. Strong communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are essential, along with the ability to work effectively in a cross‑functional team environment. This role is hybrid and in the office minimum of three days a week to facilitate collaboration and teamwork. In‑office presence is an essential part of our on‑campus culture and allows for engaging directly with staff and students, sharing ideas, and contributing to a dynamic work environment. Being on‑site allows for stronger connections, more effective problem‑solving, and enhanced team synergy, all of which are key to achieving our collective goals and driving success. This role requires occasional availability outside of traditional working hours to address urgent business needs as they arise, including, but not limited to, responding to security incidents, supporting software deployments, resolving software issues or system breaks, and addressing other critical operational requirements. The ideal candidate must be proactive and adaptable, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations by promptly addressing any issues, regardless of time or day. Flexibility and a strong sense of urgency are essential for success in this position. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to produce clear documentation, including business requirements, user stories, process diagrams, presentations, and user guides.
• Demonstrated experience with business analysis techniques such as stakeholder interviews, workflow modeling, use case creation, and requirements traceability.
• Working knowledge of software development lifecycles and project methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid).
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with a focus on detail, organization, and time management.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• "Bachelor's" degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 3-5 years of relevant experience in a business analysis role, preferably supporting enterprise systems or digital initiatives in complex organizational environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large-scale IT or digital transformation projects with complex business and technical requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate cross-functional requirements gathering sessions with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across varying technical disciplines.
• Familiarity with design thinking and user-centered design principles, including experience with prototyping, journey mapping, and customer research methods.
• Practical knowledge of cloud-based platforms, integrations, enterprise applications, and data-driven systems.
• Experience working with external vendors or third-party service providers, including managing deliverables, service levels, and integration requirements.
• Proficiency in tools such as JIRA, ServiceNow, Miro, Lucidchart, or similar platforms for project planning and business analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.
• Master’s degree in a related field preferred but not required.
• Certificates and Licenses Business Analysis certification (e.g., CBAP, PMI-PBA, or IIBA) is a strong asset.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Functional Customer Service, Business Case/Requirements Development

Elicit, analyze, and validate business and technical requirements from stakeholders and end users.

Collaborate with project sponsors and technical teams to define project scope, goals, and success criteria.

Conduct interviews, workshops, surveys, and documentation reviews to gather and clarify requirements.

Translate business needs into clear functional and technical requirements suitable for development teams.

Assist in the preparation of business cases and feasibility analyses to support project planning and prioritization.

Participate in quality assurance activities to ensure that delivered solutions meet documented requirements.

Track and manage requirements throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring traceability and stakeholder alignment.

Communicate requirement updates, changes, and decisions through formal documentation and stakeholder meetings.

Standards and Process Development

Evaluate and enhance existing business analysis practices to improve efficiency and standardization.

Develop and maintain documentation templates, process flows, and requirement models.

Create process maps, data flow diagrams, and functional specifications to guide development and support teams.

Support continuous improvement efforts by analyzing performance metrics and identifying opportunities for optimization.

Improve existing processes related to the overall functions of business analysis and project management.

Provide support to the PSMO as needed on projects.

Assist in managing the ITS Project Pipeline

Other duties as required

This role requires flexibility in performing duties outside of the primary responsibilities to support evolving business needs. The ideal candidate must be adaptable and willing to take on additional tasks or projects as required, ensuring smooth operations across the organization. This may include stepping in to assist with cross‑functional teams, handling unexpected challenges, or contributing to initiatives that support business growth and success. A proactive mindset and the ability to pivot quickly are essential for thriving in this dynamic environment.

Position Type

Information Technology

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 112S Expected Hiring Range: $99,010.00 - $143,567.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto, and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.