Senior Business Analyst

North-West University / Noordwes-Universiteit; Potchefstroom; On-site; ZAR 763 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Potchefstroom seeks a Senior Business Analyst to manage IT solutions across the organization. The role requires strong stakeholder engagement to identify and implement cost-effective solutions while ensuring comprehensive documentation throughout implementations. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and at least 7 years of relevant experience, alongside a solid understanding of business optimization and quality assurance practices. The position is a permanent contract with market-related remuneration.

Qualifications

• 3 years’ degree in IT and 7 years’ experience in business solution development.
• Understanding of solution architecture and design best practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage IT solutions that integrate across the business.
• Engage with stakeholders to identify and implement cost-effective solutions.
• Establish comprehensive documentation throughout the solution implementation.

Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Business Optimisation

Quality Assurance

Resource Management

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Position Summary

Industry: Education & Training

Job category: University and Academy

Location: Potchefstroom

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market Related

About Our Company

NWU

Introduction

NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY (POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POSITION NUMBER: SENIOR BUSINESS ANALYST POSITION: N001450 PEROMNES GRADE: P7 WITH OFFERING PACKAGE: R 762,255 per annum EMPLOYMENT TYPE: PERMANENT APPOINTMENT

Job Description

Purpose of the Position: Manage a large scale of IT solutions that integrate across the business. Manage the planning of the requirement development process, determining priority for implementations across business areas. Responsible for the systematic and methodical investigation, analysis and documentation of all or part of an integrated business area in terms of business functions and processes, and the information they use across solutions. Identify and examine business needs, determining timely and effective solutions for business functions and processes. Solutions often include system development, consisting of process improvement and alignment, organisational change or strategic planning and policy development and ensure best practice. Ensure that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of the solution and how it will be implemented and manages the change of implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Engagement: Acts as a bridge between and across the business and IT teams, building long‑term relationships with stakeholders across multiple business areas, including senior management when needed. Influence and explain technical details to non‑technical stakeholders in a persuasive and convincing manner.
• Implement Cost‑Effective Solutions: Determine if internal or external solutions exist and whether new solutions are feasible. Formulate, evaluate, design and document the underlying business solution architecture, conduct feasibility and risk assessments, write proposals, and create functional requirements for new solutions and processes according to approved standards and methodologies.
• Business Optimisation: Review impacted business processes and work with business stakeholders to identify and make process improvements that result in cost savings, higher quality, increased efficiencies, lower risk, and shorter cycle times.

Documentation & Change Management

• Establish comprehensive and applicable documentation throughout the solution implementation, addressing proposals, requirements, business processes and flows, test and implementation plan.
• Conduct post‑implementation reviews.
• Change Management: Work with stakeholders and associated business units to reduce resistance and the effect of change. Prepare change management plans, define change management duties and create an understanding across business areas when implementing new solutions.
• Quality Assurance: Establish acceptance criteria, effective testing plans and methods to satisfy the quality, success, and auditability of any solution implemented. Conduct reviews.
• Resource Management: Optimize the management of internal and external resources within cross‑pollination teams in the development and implementation of business solutions, ensuring accountability for project deliverables and cost‑effective use of the budget allocated to the project.

Minimum Requirements

• A three‑year bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Certificate (NQF Level 7).
• Relevant 7 years’ experience in large‑scale business solution development, implementation and support.

Desirable Professional Status

• BA and BPM certification.
• Registration with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA).

Certificates in Leadership, Project Management and Business Process Modelling

Certificates in Leadership, project management and business process modelling.

Experience

• 5‑8 years of understanding and speaking to all aspects of solution development (requirements, analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, deployment, support, documentation) and implementation.
• 5‑8 years knowledge of industry standards and best practices in solution architecture and design.

Key Functional & Technical Competencies

• Experience in delivering large‑scale and complex solutions.
• Experience in business process modelling.
• Manage solution implementations using approved methodologies, SDLC and best practice concepts.
• Working experience with data migration and integration tools.
• Conceptual knowledge of information technologies (e.g., relational databases, query tools, Java, JavaScript, UML, and SOA) and methodologies (Agile/Scrum, Waterfall, iterative development, TOGAF, quality assurance principles).
• Ability to work on simultaneous projects, across different environments and meet multiple deadlines.
• Understanding of business concepts and evaluating the impact of business changes on systems.
• Knowledge of project management.
• Ability to learn new applications.
• Knowledge of higher education processes.
• Knowledge of wiki mark‑ups (preferably Confluence) and JIRA.

Behavioural Competencies

• Stable, adaptable with high stress tolerance in a mature way.
• Sound analytical, problem‑solving, interpretive and presentation skills.
• Challenge ideas, brainstorm with the team, develop proof‑of‑concepts and take projects from start to finish and support them afterwards.
• Rigorous and organised attitude to work, flexible in rapidly changing environments, able to multitask continuously and think on your feet.
• Strong mentoring/coaching skills.
• Strong communication skills – both written and verbal – able to engage with internal and external stakeholders.
• Team player with strong technical leadership and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently with little guidance to research and formulate solutions to problems.

Remuneration

The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.

Enquiries

Job content enquiries: Dassie Janse Van Vuuren – Tel: [phone]

Recruitment process enquiries: Ms Dolly Lebepe – Tel: [phone]

Closing Date

30 January 2026

Planned Commencement of Duties

As soon as possible

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted online through the official NWU vacancy website. Incomplete applications and those submitted through any other platform will not be considered.

Employment Equity Statement

The University subscribes to and applies the principles of the Employment Equity Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.