Lead Business Analyst

Onsite 3 days a week in DC

The Lead Business Analyst will head the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Requirements Team for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This role requires in-depth knowledge of SEVP's mission, units, and regulatory framework, along with expertise in supporting SEVIS. The LBA will collaborate with development teams, stakeholders, and end users to ensure system functionalities align with operational needs and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Requirements Leadership & Analysis

• Lead the IT Requirements Team, ensuring alignment with SEVP mission objectives and SEVIS functionalities.
• Oversee the gathering, analysis, documentation, and validation of system requirements using industry best practices.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, development teams, and quality assurance to ensure clear and actionable requirements.
• Facilitate the elicitation, analysis, and documentation of business and system requirements.
• Define project scope and objectives in partnership with stakeholders.
• Develop process models, workflows, wireframes, and user stories as required.
• Translate business needs into functional and non-functional requirements.
• Maintain and manage a central repository of requirements artifacts.
  
  

Agile & Scrum Methodology

• Lead the team in an Agile environment with at least 3 years of experience working in Scrum teams.
• Collaborate with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and Developers to ensure Agile ceremonies and best practices are effectively implemented.
• Experience with Kanban and Scrum methodologies is highly desirable.
  
  

Project Management & Productivity Enhancement

• Develop and manage Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) to organize project scope and tasks effectively.
• Utilize JIRA, SharePoint, and Confluence to track project requirements, manage backlogs, and document knowledge-sharing resources.
• Prepare analytical reports and assessments to evaluate team productivity, identify bottlenecks, and propose solutions for process improvements.
  
  

Process Improvement & Best Practices

• Define and refine requirements management methodologies, standards, and tools.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and recommend solutions.
• Mentor and coach junior analysts on best practices in requirements management.
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Act as a liaison between business units, end users, and the development team to facilitate clear communication and expectations.
• Conduct stakeholder meetings, provide project updates, and mentor junior analysts in requirements gathering and Agile best practices.
• Ensure seamless collaboration between technical and non-technical teams to optimize SEVIS functionalities.
  
  

Testing & Quality Assurance

• Apply extensive understanding and application of Cucumber and Gherkin for behavior-driven development (BDD).
• Work closely with QA teams to define acceptance criteria and test cases based on business needs.
• Ensure requirements are testable, clear, and concise, enabling high-quality software delivery.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of related work experience, including:
• 8 years as a Business/Requirements Analyst working closely with development teams and end users.
• 3 years in an Agile environment, with hands-on experience in Scrum teams.
• Proven experience leading and mentoring analysts in an IT project setting.
• Proficiency in Agile tools and methodologies, including:
• JIRA for backlog management and tracking.
• Confluence for documentation and collaboration.
• Experience working in an Agile environment (highly preferred).
• Strong problem-solving and solutioning skills to enhance current work processes and drive efficiency.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills to guide cross-functional teams.
• Hands-on experience with Cucumber and Gherkin for BDD.
• Ability to prepare analytical reports, assess team productivity, and drive continuous improvement.