Strategic Business Analyst

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Strategic Business Analyst to join the Enrollment Management Strategy & Solutions team. The role focuses on process improvement, documenting requirements, and bridging EM with technical teams across CRM platforms, case management, reporting, and system integrations.

The analyst will support functional alignment with Student Financial Services and other EM units, ensuring compliant, actionable solutions while contributing to project delivery and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years minimum experience in business analysis, requirements facilitation, business process analysis, or related roles.
• Experience documenting business processes and creating functional specifications.
• Ability to translate business requirements into actionable documentation and acceptance criteria.

Responsibilities

• Support discovery sessions to clarify and document business needs across EM.
• Develop and maintain process documentation and swim lane diagrams.
• Translate needs into requirements and acceptance criteria for technical teams.
• Collaborate across EM and SFS to align processes with system capabilities.
• Assist in testing activities including draft test scenarios and UAT.

Skills

Requirements elicitation

Business process analysis

Documentation

UAT support

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Asana

Smartsheet

Salesforce

CRM platforms

Job description

Job Summary

The Enrollment Management division at CU Boulder is seekinga Strategic Business Analyst to join the EnrollmentManagement Strategy & Solutions team! This position plays a keyrole in supporting process improvement work for the division, whileserving as a primary liaison to Student Financial Services.Reporting to the Enrollment Management Strategy & Solutionsteam, this role will work closely with collaborators throughoutEnrollment Management to maintain organized and timely projectdelivery. This role will serve in a critical role in synthesizingcomplex input, producing clear and actionable documentation, andmapping business processes that deliver effective solutions acrosskey systems such as case management platforms, CRM tools, reportingand analytic environments, and system integrations.

Enrollment Management Strategy & Solutions is part of theEnrollment Management division and is responsible for leadingcritical initiatives and increasing operational efficiencies acrossthe Enrollment Management division through centralized processimprovement, championing transformational change, and fostering aculture of innovation for new ideas and processes that advances thedivision forward. Under the guidance of the Vice Chancellor forEnrollment Management, this unit provides vision, support, andoperational oversight by leading cross functional projects andinitiatives to ensure alignment with division and institutionalgoals.

This full-time position reports to the Director of StrategicInitiatives and has a dotted line supervisory relationship to theDirector of Customer Experience. This role is responsible fordeveloping a strong technical understanding of workflows. Itincludes identifying areas for improvement and making suretechnical solutions remain compliant and aligned with key strategicpriorities.

The Strategic Business Analyst serves as a critical bridge betweenEnrollment Management (EM) functional areas and technical teams,ensuring that business needs are clearly understood, documented,and translated into actionable requirements. This role providesdivision-wide business analysis support for technology, processimprovement, and service delivery initiatives, with a criticalfocus on Student Financial Services (SFS). This role bringsessential context that strengthens requirements clarity and ensuressolutions align with the student experience.

This is a 3-year limited-term position.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

As one of only 35 U.S. public research institutions in the Association of American Universities (AAU), CU Boulder is aboutrealizing the positive impacts of new knowledge.

From offering dozens of exciting programs in a range of academicfields, to serving as one of the world’s most dynamic research andinnovation hubs, to working closely through hundreds of publicoutreach efforts with communities across Colorado and the world, wetake pride in helping our students, faculty, staff, and partnersturn new insights into productive outcomes that change lives.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Requirements Analysis & Business Process Support

• Support constituent discovery sessions with supervisor togather, clarify, and document business needs across EM.
• Develop and maintain business process documentation, includingprocess flows and basic swim lane diagrams.
• Assist in synthesizing constituent input into clear, organizedrequirements.
• Translate business needs into actionable requirements andacceptance criteria for technical teams.
• Provide consultation on other EMSS projects as needed, offeringguidance on process improvement elements.
• Document current and future state processes to assistleadership with identifying gaps and opportunities forimprovement.
• Serve as a liaison between functional teams and technicalpartners to support solution development.
• Support testing activities, including drafting test scenariosand assisting user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Apply a working understanding of SFS operations, includingfinancial aid, billing, and scholarships, to ensure requirementsreflect functional and compliance needs.
• Collaborate with teams working in systems such as CRMplatforms, case management tools, and reporting environments toalign business processes with system capabilities.

Project & Operational Support

• Contribute to multiple projects and initiatives within EM andSFS with direction from the Director of Customer Experience andDirector of Strategic Initiatives.
• Reports on project timeline and success through projectmanagement software including Asana and Smartsheet.
• Support alignment of projects with business objectives andcustomer experience goals.
• Participate in EM & campus partner meetings, planningdiscussions, and implementation efforts as needed.
• Build collaborative relationships across EM and SFS to supportprocess improvements and system enhancements.
• Partner with functional leads to understand evolving workflowsand translate them into system and reporting needs.

Professional Development

• Maintain working knowledge of business analysis practices,process mapping, and relevant enterprise systems.
• Participate in training, workshops, and knowledge-sharingopportunities to build skills and stay current with bestpractices.

What You Should Know

• This is a three-year limited term position with a hybrid workmodality.

What We Can Offer

• The annual salary for this position is $78,100.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be challenged. Be visionary. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalentprofessional experience (experience may substitute year foryear).
• 3 plus years minimum experience in business analysis,requirements facilitation, business process analysis, or relatedroles, including:
  • Documenting business processes
  • Gathering and synthesizing requirements
  • Creating business cases and functional specifications
  • Writing test plans and acceptance criteria
  • Analyzing and troubleshooting system issues
• Demonstrated CRM expertise, including experience supportingimplementation and integration initiatives and translating businessrequirements into solutions aligned with Salesforce capabilitiesand constraints.
• Experience supporting business processes in an enterprisesystem environment (e.g., CRM, data/BI, workflow tools).

Core Competencies

• Collaboration & Facilitation: Ability to lead inclusive, outcome-focused constituent sessions and work effectively across teams.
• Customer-Centered Mindset: Strong understanding of the customer experience, with the ability to align processes and solutions to improve service delivery.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to synthesize complex or ambiguous information into clear, organized requirements.
• Clear Communication: Ability to produce concise, actionable documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Business Process Analysis: Ability to document current and future state workflows and identify gaps within Student Financial Services operations.
• Constituent Engagement: Ability to build trust, navigate competing priorities, and support alignment across functional areas.
• CRM & Systems Knowledge: Required experience with Salesforce; familiarity with other CRM or case management platforms is a plus.
• Inclusive Design: Cultivate an inclusive environment that enhances the success and inclusion of all students, staff, and faculty.

Secondary Competencies

• Project & Agile Practices: Working knowledge of project management principles and Agile concepts (e.g., user stories, iterative development).
• Testing & Quality Support: Experience supporting application testing, including developing basic test scenarios and acceptance criteria.
• Data Awareness: Ability to interpret data to identify trends, issues, and inform decisions.
• Adaptability in Complex Environments: Ability to manage work across multiple priorities within a dynamic, cross-functional organization.
• SFS Operational Knowledge: Working understanding of financial aid, billing, scholarships, or related student financial services processes.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experienced in Salesforce CRM.
• 5 plus years of proven experience in business analysis work,requirements facilitation, business process analysis, or related roles.
• Experience working in Higher Education - including roles within financial aid, bursar, or scholarship operations.
• Experience using student information systems such as PeopleSoft Campus Solutions or similar platforms.
• Experience in project management software such as Asana and Smartsheet.
• Knowledge of State of Colorado financial aid regulations and compliance considerations.
• Experience implementing or supporting enterprise systems, including CRM or case management tools.
• Familiarity with process modeling tools and methodologies.
• Professional certification (CBAP, CCBA, PMP, etc.).