Senior Business Systems Analyst

CAI•Long Beach, CA

8d•$80 - $85•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Senior Business Systems Analyst, you will work closely with business stakeholders to understand needs, define and refine business and technical requirements, manage a prioritized product backlog, and lead the successful delivery of high-impact solutions. CAI is seeking a proactive, business-oriented Senior Business Systems Analyst for a 6 month+ contract opportunity that is hybrid in Long Beach, CA. This individual will serve as the primary liaison between the IM Division and the assigned Division, acting as both a strategic partner and an accountable delivery lead. This role blends product ownership, business systems analysis, and project coordination, with a strong emphasis on technical execution and stakeholder engagement.

Requirements

10–15 years of progressive experience in hybrid roles spanning product ownership, business systems analysis, and project delivery; ideally within enterprise IT or public sector environments
Demonstrated ability to operate independently in dynamic, fast-paced settings, managing multiple priorities and shifting demands with minimal supervision
Proven strength in facilitation and cross-functional communication, with the ability to engage both technical teams and business stakeholders effectively
Experienced in proactively driving stakeholder alignment, resolving competing priorities, and navigating organizational complexity with professionalism
Background in client-facing roles, such as management consulting or stakeholder liaison functions—serving as the bridge between business needs and technical execution, and ensuring visibility at the executive level
Exceptional written communication skills, capable of producing clear, concise, and tailored documentation, from technical specs to executive summaries
Consistent track record of delivering meaningful outcomes, not just documentation—focused on value realization and impact
Adept at introducing structure in ambiguous or evolving environments, with a strong orientation toward clarity and execution
Proficiency with backlog tools such as Azure DevOps or Jira
Proficiency with project management platforms such as MS Project or Smartsheet
Proficiency with collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Miro
Solid understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC), Agile methodologies, and structured PMO or governance frameworks
Builds credibility and trust quickly through strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
Naturally proactive, resourceful, and inquisitive—drives work forward without waiting for direction
Demonstrates a high level of ownership and accountability, consistently following through and closing the loop with all stakeholders
Possesses strong situational awareness, with the ability to tailor messaging and tone to diverse audiences and political contexts
Comfortable working through ambiguity—asks the right questions, surfaces assumptions, and identifies actionable paths forward
Maintains professionalism, discretion, and maturity, especially in high-visibility or politically sensitive environments

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field
MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred but not required
Project Management Professional, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager, or equivalent certifications
Demonstrated success operating as both an executor and a thought partner - balancing hands-on delivery with strategic planning
Familiarity with ITSM, enterprise system implementations, or organizational change management frameworks
Prior experience serving as a trusted liaison between business and technical teams, ideally in a consulting, client-facing, or cross-functional delivery role
Consulting experience with public sector or large matrixed organizations strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Act as the primary liaison between the IM Division and assigned Division(s), serving as the single point of contact for all information technology related needs
Champion a strategic and collaborative relationship with business stakeholders—proactively identifying needs, fostering trust, and ensuring responsive and professional engagement
Conduct regular check-ins with stakeholders to review in-flight work, identify emerging priorities, and align on expectations
Maintain and continuously refine a dynamic, prioritized backlog of requests; sequencing work based on urgency, business impact, and available capacity
Lead delivery of key initiatives, serving as both Business Systems Analyst and Technical Product Owner from scoping through implementation
Triage and coordinate resolution of incoming issues and ad hoc requests (e.g., data discrepancies, reporting fixes) in collaboration with SMEs and technical teams
Deliver clear and timely updates to IM leadership, including dashboards, progress reports, and executive-ready briefings
Translate evolving business needs into actionable plans, balancing strategic product vision with short-term service delivery needs
Plan and execute initiatives using structured PMO frameworks and/or Agile methodologies, depending on the project context
Manage timelines, deliverables, dependencies, and resources across the full project lifecycle
Monitor scope, budget, and quality, escalating risks and issues to governance teams as appropriate
Provide consistent progress reporting and ensure transparent communication with stakeholders and leadership
Translate business challenges into well-structured, traceable functional and technical requirements
Facilitate discovery sessions, process mapping, and stakeholder interviews to capture current-state workflows and define solution needs
Partner with business units to define measurable success criteria and support adoption planning
Ensure technical deliverables meet business expectations through proactive alignment and validation
Serve as a conduit between business users, developers and executive leadership; ensuring clear communication and shared understanding
Lead requirements walkthroughs, demos, and working sessions to drive alignment and gather feedback
Communicate priorities, constraints, and trade-offs in a clear, audience-appropriate manner
Manage vendor engagement across the delivery lifecycle, from design and development to implementation and support
Monitor vendor deliverables, timelines, and risks; escalate concerns proactively
Assist with software procurement, license renewals, and contract negotiations as needed
Maintain a RAID (Risks, Actions, Issues, Decisions) log to support transparency and accountability
Participate in change control and governance processes to ensure proper oversight
Proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate delivery risks and blockers