Description

Business Analyst (Open Source Software Process) for The CfA Team at the U.S. Department of State  

Overview 

The Center for Analytics (CfA) is the U.S. Department of State’s official enterprise data management and analytics capability. CfA transforms data into bold insights that help over 75,000 employees – from working-level to the Secretary – make better management and foreign policy decisions.  

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Business Analyst to join our team, specifically focusing on the implementation of an enterprise capability for ensuring secure access to open source software for Department data scientists. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a deep understanding of agile methodologies. They will play a crucial role in facilitating the successful adoption of a repository tool and business process, ensuring alignment with project objectives and security requirements, and optimizing team productivity. This role will work with a team of engineers, architects, developers, testers, and analysts and have an impact felt Department-wide. 

Location: Springfield/Lorton, VA 
Minimum Clearance: Interim Secret 

Work Schedule: 3 days onsite, 2 days remote with the ability to shift based on customer needs 

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the implementation of an open source repository and security review business process, collaborating with cross-functional teams to define requirements, configure the tool, and ensure seamless integration with existing processes.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation, including user guides, process workflows, and training materials, to support enterprise utilization.
• Facilitate creation and maintenance of work items in Azure DevOps which accurately reflects the current status of features, user stories, tasks, etc.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of business requirements, user stories, and stakeholder feedback to identify key features and functionalities required in the tool and business process, ensuring alignment with project objectives and priorities
• Serve as a primary point of contact for stakeholders, facilitating communication and gathering feedback
• Collaborate closely with product owners, scrum masters, and development teams to prioritize requirements and drive alignment
• Work closely with the engineering team to define test cases, conduct acceptance testing, and validate functionality
• Proactively identify, communicate, and address any issues or gaps in the implementation, ensuring a high level of quality and reliability
• Provide training and ongoing support to users at all levels of the organization
• Act as a subject matter expert, offering guidance and troubleshooting assistance as needed
• Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies related to open source package review techniques
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement and tool enhancement, driving continuous innovation and optimization within the organization

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Analytics, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience as a Business Analyst in an agile environment, with a strong understanding of agile principles and practices.
• Hands-on experience with the use of agile project management tools, preferably Azure DevOps.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to quickly grasp complex technical business requirements and translate them into actionable solutions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders at all levels.
• Detail-oriented mindset, with a focus on delivering high-quality solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Valuable but not required:
  • Basic familiarity with R, Python, or other open source computer languages.
  • Experience with cybersecurity policy or open source software risk management.
  • Certification in agile methodologies (e.g., Certified Scrum Master, Professional Scrum Product Owner).
  • Working knowledge with open source package tools, preferably Nexus; hands-on experience preferrable.