Business Analyst Lead

Openings & Internships•Columbia, MD

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cogent People Inc. is seeking an experienced Business Analyst Lead to provide functional leadership across multiple operational workstreams supporting a complex federal program. The role combines business analysis, operational oversight, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement, with responsibility for leading teams of business and data analysts. The successful candidate will independently manage priorities, strengthen team capabilities, improve existing processes, and ensure consistent delivery of high-quality work. The position is based in Columbia, Maryland, with a hybrid/remote arrangement requiring in-office work three days per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years and already be authorized to work in the United States; sponsorship is not offered. A Public Trust clearance, or the ability to obtain one, is required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
At least 8 years of business analysis experience, including demonstrated experience leading teams and overseeing operational delivery.
Strong requirements elicitation, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to lead operational activities, manage competing priorities, and consistently meet critical, time-sensitive delivery schedules.
Experience managing stakeholder expectations, resolving conflicting requirements, and navigating challenging relationships.
Experience improving operational processes, developing standard operating procedures, and strengthening knowledge sharing and cross-training.
Ability to quickly learn unfamiliar business domains, systems, and technologies.
Strong analytical and functional problem-solving skills, including understanding complex business processes, investigating discrepancies, validating results, and independently executing functional work when needed.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Must have lived in the United States for at least 3 of the past 5 years and be authorized to work in the United States; sponsorship is not offered.
Must hold a Public Trust clearance or be able to obtain one.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting federal government programs or regulated environments.
Hands-on SQL experience for data querying, analysis, and validation.
Experience using Jira, Confluence, or similar tools for work management and documentation.
Relevant business analysis, Agile, or project management certifications.

Responsibilities

Lead requirements elicitation, analysis, documentation, and validation across complex business processes and data-driven initiatives.
Translate ambiguous stakeholder needs into clear requirements, actionable tasks, and acceptance criteria.
Provide day-to-day functional leadership to business and data analysts across multiple operational workstreams.
Oversee recurring deliverables, coordinate assignments, manage competing priorities, and proactively address delivery risks.
Guide analysts and review analytical deliverables for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with business requirements.
Serve as a key stakeholder contact, managing expectations, resolving issues, and escalating risks when appropriate.
Coach and develop team members, establish accountability, and strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing, and backup coverage.
Lead process improvements, establish standard operating procedures and standardized workflows, and support adoption of new practices.
Collaborate with technical teams on data validation, testing, and issue resolution.