Role Description The DEEP Senior IT Business Analyst is responsible for providing high level of business analysis within the Cornell Enterprise Modernization Initiative (CEMI), with primary responsibility for the CEMI Donor Engagement and Experience Project (DEEP)—a major, multi‑year effort to modernize and unify advancement and development technology across Cornell’s Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses, Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM), and the Lab of Ornithology. This role operates with a high degree of independence and is expected to provide expert‑level business analysis, guidance, and leadership throughout the project lifecycle. - The CEMI-DEEP system will support advancement operations across Cornell University, focusing on Alumni Affairs, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Lab of Ornithology. - Ensures the new solution meets the nuanced needs of these varied organizations while driving consistency, operational excellence, and an improved user experience across Cornell’s advancement ecosystem. - Works closely with the DEEP Project Leadership team and CEMI Program Management team, ensuring a smooth integration of project and program objectives, business analysis practices, and communication protocols. - Collaborates 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. - Drives the establishment of common, best‑practice business processes across diverse advancement organizations and contributes to governance structures overseeing the new enterprise technology environment. - Leads requirements development activities, facilitates process mapping and cross‑functional workshops, performs advanced data analysis, and contributes to system design and integration planning. - Produces high‑quality documentation, leads testing strategy and execution efforts, and plays a significant role in change management and stakeholder communication. - Ensures that technology solutions meet complex operational, technical, and strategic needs across multiple platforms, units, and initiatives. - Serves as a significant contributor in requirements analysis, process optimization, system configuration support, testing oversight, data validation, and readiness planning. - Provides critical expertise to support the transition and ensure long‑term system sustainability and functional continuity. This is a three (3) year term appointment which may be ended or extended based on organizational needs, funding availability, and performance. Every member of our community is expected to 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. - Supporting work/life integration of oneself and others. Qualifications - 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. Preferred Qualifications - 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. Application Information - A resume is required for further consideration for this position. - A cover letter expressing alignment with Cornell’s mission and this role is strongly encouraged. - When applying through our system, please remember to attach your application materials (Cover Letter and Resume) in PDF format. - No Visa Sponsorship of any kind is available for this position. - No Relocation assistance will be provided for this position. Benefits - This position is based in Ithaca, New York; however, the successful applicant may perform this role remotely anywhere within the United States. - Employees who work remotely may receive multiple W-2 Forms depending on their work location. - The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. - Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability. - Benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. - Leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation, and 13 holidays. - Cornell's educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.