Senior IT Business Analyst (DEEP-CEMI) [Remote] [3 Year Term]

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

3d•$99,475 - $121,581•Remote

About The Position

The Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative (CEMI) is a multi-year program aimed at enhancing administrative systems and processes across Cornell University to improve the experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, patients, and partners. The DEEP Senior IT Business Analyst will play a key role in the CEMI Donor Engagement and Experience Project (DEEP), a significant effort to modernize and unify advancement and development technology across various Cornell campuses and Weill Cornell Medicine. This role requires a high degree of independence, providing expert-level business analysis, guidance, and leadership throughout the project lifecycle. The position is a three-year term appointment, subject to extension or termination based on organizational needs, funding, and performance. The role also emphasizes fostering a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment through inclusive communication and collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business, Computer Science, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
5–7+ years of progressively responsible experience in business analysis, systems analysis, or IT project delivery, preferably in a complex, multi-unit environment.
Demonstrated expertise in leading requirements gathering, facilitating workshops, and translating complex business needs into clear, actionable system requirements.
Proven experience in business process analysis and redesign, including mapping current-state and future-state processes for large, cross-functional initiatives.
Strong skills in data analysis, data validation, and supporting data-centric decision-making for system implementations.
Demonstrated success contributing to or leading components of enterprise system implementations (ERP, CRM, advancement systems, or similarly complex platforms).
Ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels—executive leadership, end users, functional subject-matter experts, and technical teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to non-technical audiences.
Experience supporting or leading testing activities, including test planning, test case development, execution, and defect triage.
Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving project environment.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and operate as a trusted partner and advisor on high-visibility initiatives.
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, healthcare, or other decentralized environments with complex governance structures.
Hands-on experience supporting or implementing advancement/development systems (e.g., CRM platforms, donor engagement solutions, fundraising technology).
Familiarity with Workday, Salesforce (Education Cloud or NPSP), Blackbaud CRM, Ellucian advancement tools, or similar enterprise platforms.
Advanced knowledge of business analysis methodologies, such as BABOK standards, process modeling, and requirements management best practices.
Experience working in Agile, hybrid Agile, or iterative project environments.
Professional certification(s), such as: CBAP, CCBA, PMI-PBA Scrum Master PMP
Experience contributing to enterprise-level governance frameworks, standards, or decision-making bodies.
Demonstrated ability to lead or mentor junior analysts and promote best practices in analysis, documentation, testing, and stakeholder engagement.
Experience designing or supporting change management, training, or user-adoption activities for major system transitions.

Responsibilities

Provide high-level business analysis within the Cornell Enterprise Modernization Initiative (CEMI), with primary responsibility for the CEMI Donor Engagement and Experience Project (DEEP).
Operate with a high degree of independence, providing expert-level business analysis, guidance, and leadership throughout the project lifecycle.
Ensure the new solution meets the nuanced needs of varied organizations (Alumni Affairs, Weill Cornell Medicine, Lab of Ornithology) while driving consistency, operational excellence, and an improved user experience across Cornell’s advancement ecosystem.
Work closely with the DEEP Project Leadership team and CEMI Program Management team, ensuring smooth integration of project and program objectives, business analysis practices, and communication protocols.
Collaborate with other project managers and business analysts leading other projects/initiatives within and outside the program.
Collaborate with stakeholders to evaluate complex business processes, lead the development of refined future-state workflows, define and validate system requirements, and shape solution design in alignment with university-wide strategic goals.
Drive the establishment of common, best-practice business processes across diverse advancement organizations and contribute to governance structures.
Lead requirements development activities, facilitate process mapping and cross-functional workshops, perform advanced data analysis, and contribute to system design and integration planning.
Produce high-quality documentation, lead testing strategy and execution efforts, and play a significant role in change management and stakeholder communication.
Ensure that technology solutions meet complex operational, technical, and strategic needs across multiple platforms, units, and initiatives.
Serve as a significant contributor in requirements analysis, process optimization, system configuration support, testing oversight, data validation, and readiness planning.
Provide critical expertise to support the transition and to ensure long-term system sustainability and functional continuity.
Foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences, being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming, showing respect, compassion, and empathy, engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective, speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately, and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Access to wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Health and personal leave
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program