Functional Systems Analyst

Position Overview

More than perhaps any other factor, the degree to which a university attracts and retains qualified students determines the success or failure of that institution. The Enrollment Management division is a key player in this activity and has a profound effect on the institution's success. Enrollment Management (EM) includes the following functional units: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Enrollment Management, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Office of the University Registrar, Student Lifecycle Technology, Enrollment Marketing Communications, and Enrollment Management Services. The division is committed to developing a data-informed, forward-looking, comprehensive enrollment strategy that enables the institution to pursue strategic goals in an integrated and intentional manner.

The Student Lifecycle Technology (SLT) unit reports to the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and is responsible for the administration of the systems of record that support a variety of mission critical activities, consisting of recruitment, admissions, enrollment, advising, billing and payments, financial aid, curriculum management, academic records, and degree completion. The SLT team engages with internal partners, external stakeholders, end users, and IT staff to analyze business processes and provide technical expertise to inform business decisions from a systems perspective. The portfolio of technologies includes the Student Information System (Peoplesoft Campus Solutions), Customer Relationship Management system (Slate), and degree management system (Stellic).

The Functional Systems Analyst will be responsible for the configuration, maintenance, and testing of Campus Solutions Security and will work closely with team members to improve business processes. The ideal candidate will have experience supporting a higher education Student Information System and exhibit the following traits: an inquisitive spirit, a deep desire to learn, an aptitude for resourcefulness, a problem-solving nature, adept listening, communication, and documentation skills.

In addition to a competitive salary, KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, 9 paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a great retirement program, medical and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options and state of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers educational opportunities for employees.

Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California, Delaware, Idaho & Minnesota. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.

Job Description

60% System Maintenance and Analysis

• Provide ongoing maintenance and support for the Student Information Systems (SIS) modules, ensuring accuracy, security, and compliance with applicable policies and regulations.
• Understand the capabilities of the SIS to map customer requests and requirements to secure, compliant, and sustainable solutions.
• Analyze business processes and system implementations to identify areas for improvement across functional areas, maintaining data integrity and minimizing risk.
• Translate business requirements into functional specifications that reflect both operational needs and security/compliance considerations.
• Investigate new system features and functionality to troubleshoot and resolve system issues and implement automation efficiencies and assess impacts on user access and system security.
• Collaborate with the development team to design and implement system modifications; conduct system testing to ensure business continuity, accurate security configurations, and adherence to institutional policies.
• Work closely with senior analysts to test system upgrades and patches.
• Develop and execute functional system test plans and coordinate user acceptance testing.
• Develop strong partnerships with business users in various functional areas as well as technical IT staff to coordinate tasks across groups and ensure appropriate configuration and security within the SIS.

30% User Support and Documentation

• Respond to SIS-related support tickets from users and collaborate with stakeholders to troubleshoot issues.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand and document business processes and requirements.
• Provide necessary training to functional users for new and existing system functionality.
• Create and maintain technical documentation including system configuration guides, access control procedures, functional specifications, test plans, user training materials, and implementation runbooks. Documentation must be accurate, complete, and written for both technical and non-technical audiences.

10% Other Duties as Assigned

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree and 1 year of relevant experience OR a high school diploma and 3 years of relevant experience.
2. Experience in troubleshooting and solving technical issues, as evidenced by application materials.
3. Excellent written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
4. One year of experience translating functional requirements into technical capabilities.
5. Experience handling sensitive data and following privacy guidelines (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA) when making system-related decisions, as evidenced in application materials.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations

Preferred Qualifications

1. One to two years of experience configuring Peoplesoft Campus Solutions, or a similar higher education Student Information Systems (SIS).
2. Experience working with SIS security, student records, advising, financial aid, or student financials in a higher education setting, as evidenced in application materials.
3. Experience in a role requiring strong organizational skills, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and independent problem-solving within team environments, as evidenced in application materials.
4. Experience writing technical documentation such as system configuration guides, standard operating procedures, or training materials, as evidenced in application materials.