Lead Business Analyst

The Lead Business Analyst will be responsible for spearheading the collection, analysis, and documentation of business requirements across multiple high-impact projects and programs. This position requires close collaboration with various business units to ensure that IT solutions are aligned with broader business strategies and goals. The role involves working with stakeholders to assess needs, prioritize projects, and recommend cost-effective solutions, often leading feasibility studies and developing detailed business cases. The Lead Business Analyst will also oversee the quality of deliverables, ensuring that business results are validated through thorough testing, all while managing potential risks. This role requires excellent analytical skills, an ability to translate complex business processes into actionable IT solutions, and strong communication to effectively present these ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. In addition, the Lead Business Analyst will be responsible for managing project priorities, delivering structured documentation, and ensuring compliance with organizational standards.

Key Responsibilities:


Lead Requirements Gathering and Analysis:
Collaborate with business partners to gather, analyze, and document business requirements using structured methodologies (e.g., requirements gathering, analysis, documentation, and managing change).

Strategic Alignment:
Work with multiple business units to ensure that technology solutions support overall business strategies and objectives.

Feasibility Studies & Business Cases:
Conduct feasibility studies, develop business cases, and present these to decision-makers to evaluate potential solutions, ensuring clear articulation of options, risks, and benefits.

Documentation:
Develop, write, and maintain critical documentation including High-Level Business Objectives, Business Requirements Documents (BRD), Functional and Technical Requirement Documents, and Business Analysis Diagrams (Process Flows, Workflow Diagrams, etc.).

Vendor Selection & Procurement:
Assist in the selection and procurement of external vendors and solutions, ensuring compliance with IT standards and alignment with project goals.

Project Prioritization:
Manage client priorities, helping them assess immediate business needs and recommend suitable courses of action based on risk, cost, and benefits.

Quality Assurance:
Review test plans and monitor testing processes to ensure that business results are adequately tested with minimal risk; verify that deliverables meet business requirements.

Service Level Agreements:
Develop and manage SLAs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and client expectations.

Problem Solving & Escalation:
Investigate, resolve, and escalate issues as necessary, ensuring that projects progress smoothly and stakeholders remain informed.

Performance Monitoring:
Monitor and analyze metrics to ensure projects meet customer satisfaction benchmarks and service level agreements.

Preferred Skills and Experience:


Certifications:
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) or similar certification.

Industry Expertise:
Experience with ARROW reservation systems or other travel-related platforms, as well as distributed systems like SAP, Ariba, POS, and e-commerce platforms.

Technology Proficiency:
Familiarity with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Visio, PowerPoint) and SharePoint 2010 for collaboration and documentation.

Complex Project Management:
Minimum of five years working on complex projects, including planning business analysis activities, identifying risks, and ensuring timely project delivery.

Stakeholder Collaboration:
Demonstrated experience partnering with business owners to develop accurate and measurable business cases, functional and technical requirements, and acceptance criteria.

Workshop Facilitation:
Proven ability to lead workshops, design solutions, and provide actionable recommendations to clients and stakeholders.

The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership, negotiation, and conflict management skills, with an emphasis on managing multiple projects concurrently while maintaining a high level of client satisfaction. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, combined with a deep understanding of business processes and technology solutions, are essential for success in this role.