IT Business Analyst

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard Business School (HBS) IT is a nimble, innovative, strategic partner who crafts, delivers and supports pioneering technology solutions that connect, enable and inspire the HBS community to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. Visit our website for more information: http://www.hbs.edu/information-technology/about-us. 

Job Summary:

Are you excited by the idea of joining a world-class organization at the intersection of higher education and technology? Are you drawn to using technology to meet business goals and solve problems? Can you see yourself working on a cross-functional team to brainstorm technology solutions and implement them? If so, consider joining our team! The Business Analysis (BA) team supplies key insights on business opportunities on our technology projects in support of HBS’s mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world.   

The IT Business Analyst applies strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills to help make sound business and technology decisions. They work proactively with technical architects to identify innovative and practical solutions and technologies that enhance business processes and address business challenges. This role is pivotal in ensuring IT’s understanding of business requirements.  

The successful candidate is an energetic, empathetic, thoughtful professional who is an exceptional communicator and with a strong record of getting things done. The IT Business Analyst’s primary role is to elicit, analyze, specify, confirm, and articulate the business needs of stakeholders, be they customers or end users. This includes interviewing stakeholders and compiling user requirements to understand how technology solutions support and satisfy their needs. They are a quick learner and a versatile and adaptable member of a project team who can readily take on additional responsibilities and other duties as needed to ensure the team’s success.  

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Scope, Design, & Plan  

• Collaborate with project sponsors to determine project scope and vision, and develop project and program proposals 
• Gather and prioritize user requirements via workshops, questionnaires, surveys, site visits, workflow storyboards, use cases, scenarios, and other methods  
• Help translate user requirements into workable options and communicate these back to the business stakeholders  

Implementation  

• Support research and evaluation of technology and assist with purchasing efforts, or collaborate with existing HBS technology to meet agreed-upon requirements  
• Communicate changes, enhancements, and modifications of business requirements - both verbally and through written documentation - to project managers, sponsors, and other stakeholders to ensure shared understanding of issues and solutions  
• Participate in the quality assurance and user acceptance testing of deployed solutions to ensure features and functions have been enabled and optimized  

Operational Management   

• Analyze and verify requirements for completeness, consistency, comprehensibility, feasibility, and conformity to standards  
• Develop and apply standardized templates to ensure requirements are communicated clearly and accurately; where applicable, develop prototypes of interfaces and attributes based on user requirements  
• Produce context models, process models, specifications, diagrams, and charts to communicate with customers and guide developers and/or the project team; develop and conduct peer reviews of business requirements to confirm accurate interpretation of requirements 
• Continuously evaluate and improve business analysis practices  
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and/or instruction to other staff members  
• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents 
• Complete other responsibilities as assigned  

Working Conditions:

• Additional support outside of regularly scheduled hours, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holiday breaks, may occasionally be required 

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

The following are preferred:

• Experience with a variety of business analysis techniques in a software development environment   
• Successful participation in at least one implementation of a major project, process or system  
• Skilled at managing multiple initiatives simultaneously and meeting deadlines  
• Proficiency with foundational project management tools, for example: Microsoft Office, ServiceNow, Jira, or other Agile “board” planning tools and techniques  
• Experience in facilitating or supporting creation of effective program status reporting, performance reporting, and project dashboards  
• Demonstrated adaptability, composure under pressure, strong problem-solving skills, and professionalism 
• Experience working with both Agile and Waterfall project methodologies  
• Familiarity with Managed Service Provider environments 
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction or supervision  

Certificates and Licenses:

The following are preferred:   

• Business Analysis certifications such as IIBA, ITIL, or CBAP  

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): $90,000 - $95,000, salary commensurate with experience
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:
  • This role is a hybrid position which we consider to be a combination of remote and onsite work at our Boston, MA-based campus. HBS expects all staff to be onsite at least three days per week and for departments to provide onsite coverage Monday - Friday. Specific hours and days onsite will be determined by business needs and are subject to change with appropriate advanced notice. 
  • We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role

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 057. 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.