Business Systems Analyst – Topeka, KS (Hybrid)

An opportunity has come through our network for a Business Systems Analyst at a prominent government agency. This is a pivotal, hands-on role that goes far beyond simple data entry or report generation. It’s an immersive position that requires a strategic, analytical mind to bridge the gap between complex technical systems and the practical business needs of various departments. The person in this role will act as a key liaison, translating intricate operational challenges into clear, actionable technical requirements and then designing and documenting the functional system solutions to address them. This is a chance to make a tangible impact, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of critical public services.

This is not a position for someone who is simply looking to follow instructions. The ideal candidate will be a proactive problem-solver, someone who can anticipate needs, ask the right questions, and delve deep into business processes to uncover inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. You will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of solution design, from the initial evaluation of a business unit’s needs to the final documentation of a robust and user-friendly system design. This requires a high degree of collaboration, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

A Deep Dive into the Role’s Responsibilities

The core of this position revolves around evaluating, designing, and meticulously documenting functional system designs for various business units within the agency. This is a multi-faceted task that involves several key responsibilities:

• Requirements Elicitation and Analysis: You will be the primary point of contact for business units, listening to their challenges, understanding their workflows, and documenting their system change requirements. This involves conducting interviews, workshops, and observation sessions to gather comprehensive information. You won’t just be handed a list of needs; you will be expected to uncover them through thoughtful inquiry and analysis.
• Solution Design and Development: Once the requirements are clear, you will be tasked with designing solutions that not only satisfy the unique business needs of the users but also align with the overall functional requirements and architecture of the agency’s applications. This means thinking critically about how new features or systems will integrate with existing infrastructure, ensuring scalability, security, and long-term viability.
• Process Modeling and Documentation: A significant portion of your work will involve creating detailed and organized documentation. This includes business process analyses, logical data models, and business design specifications. These documents are the blueprints for developers and serve as a single source of truth for the project team. Clarity, precision, and thoroughness in your documentation are paramount to the success of every project.
• Cross-functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Management: You will work in a highly collaborative environment, closely with staff from all divisions of the agency, as well as with external contracted vendors. This requires a collaborative and diplomatic approach. You will need to facilitate meetings, manage expectations, and ensure effective and efficient teamwork throughout every project’s lifecycle. Your ability to build rapport and trust with diverse teams will be a critical factor in your success.
• User Interface (UI) Design and Prototyping: While this isn’t a purely UI/UX role, a solid understanding and experience in designing user interfaces and creating screen prototypes is essential. You’ll need to create mockups and wireframes that effectively communicate the proposed solutions to end-users and stakeholders, making complex ideas easy to visualize and understand. This ensures that the final product is not only functional but also intuitive and user-friendly.

The position offers a stimulating environment where no two days are the same. You will be a vital contributor to projects that have a direct impact on the efficiency of public service delivery. The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and adapt to changing requirements will be essential. This role is a perfect fit for a seasoned professional who enjoys a mix of deep analytical work and hands-on collaboration. The work is challenging, meaningful, and provides a platform for continuous professional growth. You will be immersed in a culture that values strategic thinking, meticulous documentation, and impactful solutions, providing an excellent opportunity to expand your skill set within a stable and important sector.

Required Skills and Professional Experience

To be successful in this role, you must bring a robust set of skills and a proven track record of professional experience. The ideal candidate will have:

• Relevant Professional Experience: A minimum of three years of professional experience in a Business Analyst role or a similar position. This experience should include hands-on work with the design, analysis, and comprehensive documentation of business solutions. This isn’t a junior-level position; we are looking for someone who can step in and hit the ground running.
• Project Management Acumen: A solid understanding of fundamental project management principles and the various phases of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). This knowledge will be crucial for your collaboration with development teams and for ensuring that your work aligns with project timelines and goals.
• SDLC Methodologies: Demonstrated expertise in working with SDLC methodologies, with a particular focus on specific activities such as requirements elicitation and analysis, business process analysis and modeling, user interface design, preparing business design specifications, and logical data modeling. Your experience in these areas is the cornerstone of the position.
• Software Engineering Tools and Business Intelligence: Proven experience using computer-based products designed to support software engineering activities. This includes familiarity with business intelligence tools and screen prototyping software. Your ability to leverage these tools to streamline processes and communicate ideas effectively will be a key differentiator.
• Documentation and Reporting Skills: Exceptional skills in writing detailed plans and reports, documenting business processes, and creating essential project deliverables. The ability to produce clear, concise, and comprehensive documentation is non-negotiable for this role.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in a suite of common software applications is a must. This includes Microsoft Office Software (Outlook, Word, and Excel), as well as project management and collaboration tools like Confluence, Microsoft Project, and Visio. The ability to quickly adapt to and master new software is also highly valued.

This opportunity offers a chance to join a team dedicated to excellence and to contribute to projects that have a genuine and lasting impact. The pay rate for this position is $40 per hour on a W2 basis. The work arrangement is hybrid, allowing for a combination of onsite and remote work to provide flexibility while still fostering strong team collaboration. If you have the required experience and are eager to take on a challenging and rewarding role, we encourage you to explore this opportunity further.