Lead IT Business Systems Analyst

Responsibilities

• Act as the liaison between IT capabilities and business objectives to facilitate, manage, and prioritize improvements through process or system solutions to increase overall quality and meet business partner demands.
• Conduct in-depth analysis to interpret and recommend best solutions to align IT and business initiatives, including documentation and/or review for completeness and accuracy.
• Mentor and transfer knowledge to less experienced team members (e.g. processes, applications and/or methodologies).
• Quantify business opportunities and develop formal recommendations to management.
• Adhere to SDLC and project methodologies; may lead or train a team accordingly.
• Act as a change agent and subject matter expert in applications/specific area of knowledge; understand the request for change vs. what the most efficient resolution to make decisions and communicate information to the team, management, and stakeholders
• May act as Implementation Manager/Product Owner to help align the overall strategic direction; collaborate and direct one or more teams to prioritize the work and assess impacts and risks.
• May facilitate or participate in agile ceremonies, or support/act as Scrum Master in close collaboration with Product Owner on the vision of team and workload.
• Conduct peer reviews which may include requirements, user stories, test plans, etc. May serve as the subject matter expert during tasks to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Oversee and assist with requirements documentation completed by the team.
• Participate or coordinate technology evaluations by assisting business areas with changes or selection of systems. Participate or coordinate Request for Proposal processes, impact analysis and feasibility studies. Maintain relationships with IT application vendors during selection processes and implementation projects. Provide consultancy and research possibilities with respect to solutions and cost (support business case preparation).
• Collaborate closely with external vendors to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of products and services. Maintain oversight of vendor performance, adherence to contractual obligations, and compliance with organizational standards.
• Act as the primary point of contact for vendor-related issues, proactively addressing risks and resolving challenges to keep projects on track. Drive accountability through regular status reviews, performance metrics, and clear communication, ensuring alignment with business objectives and stakeholder expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an IT or business discipline, or equivalent education/experience
• Eight years of experience in business systems analysis
• Excellent written/oral communication and business partnering skills
• Analytical and problem solving skills to resolve and explain complex issues to business partners, team members, and management
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast paced environment
• Results oriented with strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities within deadlines
• Ability to quickly grasp technology concepts

Preferred Qualifications

• Well-developed knowledge of standard SDLC methodologies
• Well-developed ability to work and adapt effectively to all levels within and outside the organization
• Financial services and insurance industry experience
• Knowledge or experience in SDLC (Agile or Waterfall)
• Team lead experience
• Experience with ITSM practices
• Experience with Life insurance and annuity administrative systems such as Vantage and DSS
• Proven track record in vendor management and delivery oversight, with strong organizational and project coordination skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, monitor performance metrics, and resolve issues proactively in a fast-paced environment. Familiarity with compliance standards and contractual obligations is a plus
• Proven track record in vendor management and delivery oversight, with strong organizational and project coordination skills

Working Conditions

• Office Environment is a hybrid position requiring three days in office per week in one of our hub locations (Cedar Rapids, IA; Philadelphia, PA; Denver, CO).  Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.
• Work outside of normal business hours may be required based on priorities and deliverables
• Occasional Travel <10%

Compensation

• The Salary for this position generally ranges between $97,000 - $130,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.
• Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion.

Applicants must possess legal authorization to work for our company in the U.S. without the need for immigration, sponsorship or otherwise serving as an employer of record for immigration employment purposes. At this time, this role is not eligible for immigration-related employment authorization sponsorship.

This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request.