Business Systems Analyst

Company Description

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.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) is a community of Information Technology professionals committed to understanding our users and devoted to making it easier for faculty, students, and staff to teach, research, learn, and work through the effective use of information technology.

Job Description

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Business Systems Analyst will be responsible for configuration, set-up, testing, and documentation of various modules of PeopleSoft Campus Solutions according to Harvard’s needs. This position will be responsible for translating business requirements into functional solution designs, engaging with stakeholders, and leading independent deliverables and projects. The ideal candidate must demonstrate keen problem-solving ability along with proven leadership and facilitation skills. We are seeking a technically minded analyst who can leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to solve business problems and automate solutions for our customers.

Typical Core Duties:

• Collaborate with the product managers on various activities, including requirements gathering, application configuration, development of presentation materials, story development, customer outreach, issue management, research, peer outreach, user provisioning, testing and end user training.
• Interview key stakeholders and end users to analyze business processes and system's needs; translate business requirements into user stories with supporting test scripts.
• Meet with schools to field direct requests, discuss requirements and collaborate on solution design including business process and policy related matters where applicable.
• Take a lead role in understanding the operating requirements for delivered products and work with the team to analyze and clarify internal and school operational requirements.
• Work with the technical team to review stories and assure that acceptance criteria are well understood as part of the Agile development process.
• Share expertise in multiple modules of PeopleSoft Campus Solutions.
• Build expertise in Oracle Business Intelligence for operational, analytic, and ad hoc reporting.
• Develop test scripts and execute testing to ensure new products, enhancements, bug fixes, upgrades and patches function as expected and without introducing regression issues.
• Provide functional support during project/release go-lives, which may include occasional evening or weekend work.
• Assist with general administration, special projects, and perform other related job duties as needed.
• Coordinate with Business Analysts to build robust and comprehensive knowledge database in Confluence application.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI tools and emerging technologies to solve business problems and automate manual processes and solutions for our customers.
• Develop and refine prompts, workflows, and integrations using AI tools to improve analysis, documentation, testing, and reporting efficiency.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

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

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• 2+ years’ experience working with administrative systems, preferably in business analyst capacity and experience working with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions or other student administration applications.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills and technical writing ability.
• Fluency with Microsoft Office.
• Proven experience with relational databases and SQL.
• Technically minded with hands-on experience using AI tools (e.g., generative AI assistants, automation platforms) to solve business problems, automate workflows, and deliver solutions for customers.
• Demonstrated curiosity about emerging technologies and a track record of applying new tools to improve how work gets done.
• Direct experience with business analysis tools and techniques strongly desired.
• Solid understanding and demonstrated use of iterative development (preferably Agile).
• Demonstrated organizational skills, especially with the ability to manage and track many details and facts, understand how each detail fits into the "big picture", and to learn quickly.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment; willingness to do what it takes to meet critical deadlines; Able to adapt to changing and competing priorities.
• Adept at evaluating problems accurately and displaying sound judgment, including measuring risks and timely escalation.

Certificates and Licenses:

• Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred.