McMaster University Continuing Education is an ancillary focused on the learning needs of adults who are typically working professionals
wanting to study part-time. Presently, McMaster Continuing Education offers over 30 programs including certificates and diplomas in different
professional areas; professional development offerings; programs targeting the learning and development needs of McMaster employees.
McMaster University Continuing Education also organizes diverse community engagement activities; engages in internal and external partnerships;
provides corporate learning opportunities for local businesses as well as provincial and national organizations; and maintains professional
relationships with accrediting bodies and provincial and national learning associations. McMaster Continuing Education employs a staff of
approximately 47 and more than 150 part-time instructors and consultants.
The Business Systems Analyst (I) plays a key role in supporting Continuing Education’s data, reporting, and analytics needs. This position focuses
on gathering reporting requirements, developing queries, and delivering data-driven insights that support business decision-making. Responsibilities
include working with complex datasets, ensuring data quality through monitoring and cleansing processes, and supporting system integrations to
enable accurate and timely reporting.
The role also involves developing dashboards and reporting solutions, as well as documenting business processes and creating training materials to
support end users. A strong understanding of relational databases, data structures, and query development is essential.
Job Summary:
The Business Systems Analyst (I) acts as a technical and consulting resource for routine and moderately complex issues related to various University departments and units with respect to the implementation and maintenance of information technology systems. Supports the University's academic and administration departments by acting in a functional capacity in all phases of the Project Life Cycle for components of medium to large projects, including post-production support and ongoing maintenance. Continuously gains an understanding of the University's operations and processes and how systems are used in support of those operations. Works under routine supervision without frequent reference to others and uses minor discretion to resolve various problems and inquiries. Specific instruction is given and work is frequently reviewed.
Purpose and Key Functions:
Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, requirement workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios, business analysis, and task and workflow analysis.
Analyze information needs and functional requirements and deliver artifacts such as functional requirements, business process models, use cases, screen and interface designs, test plans and test cases.
Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources to distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.
Take ownership of functional issues by identifying underlying problems, analyzing potential solutions and implementing system resolutions, including workarounds.
Provide Level III post implementation support to users regarding functional issues.
Participate in all phases of testing including, but not limited to, system, integration, acceptance, regression, and performance.
Work with the development team to determine technical approaches and technical risks for project testing.
Develop requirement specifications according to standard templates, using natural language.
Work closely with testing team members to ensure that requirements are testable.
Prepare and assist other testers with the creation of test cases.
Identify and manage defects identified during all phases of a project.
Review test cases created by testing team members to ensure that the test cases adequately define the business processes.
Resolve problems in the test, production implementation, and post-implementation phases in coordination with other technical and business groups.
Develop simple queries using basic Business Intelligence tools.
Review systems, processes, and information and provide recommendations to supervisor.
Serve as the conduit between the Project Management Office and development teams through which requirements flow.
Liaise between the technology and support teams.
Communicate project, issue, and system status to the Lead and Project Manager.
Communicate testing results to other stakeholders.
Facilitate effective dialogue between technical staff.
Interact with and exchange information with colleagues.
Follow a test script and document defects.
Prepare and review recommendations and other project initiation documents.
Prepare and review end user and operations documentation, training materials, and timelines.
Maintain information technology process flow, methodology, and control documentation.
Work with the Lead and Project Manager to prioritize and schedule issues resolution.
Plan, schedule, and monitor own work within short time horizons.
Organize individual time, work and resources to accomplish objectives in the most effective and efficient way.
Understand and use appropriate methods, tools, and applications to complete work tasks.
Demonstrate a rational and organized approach to work and identify development opportunities.
Absorb technical information when it is presented systematically and apply it effectively.
Use measurement methods to monitor progress toward goal attainment, tenaciously working to meet or exceed those goals, while deriving satisfaction from the process of goal achievement and continuous improvement.
Ensure that the internal and external customer perspective is a driving force behind decisions and activities.
Follow service practices that meet customers’ and University needs.
Interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the University.
Work collaboratively with others to achieve departmental and institutional goals. Actively participate as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of goals.
Perform a range of varied work activities in a variety of structured environments.
Successfully engage in multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Apply and enforce department change control policies and procedures.
Acquire and maintain a basic understanding of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing principles.
Read and understand complex Business Process Diagrams and develop basic (Level II) models.
Read and understand a complex project plan and develop simple project plans.
Remain current with relevant development and project methodologies.
Remain current with security policies and procedures and work with System Administrators to implement security changes.
Remain current with the different levels of testing and develop simple use cases and test scripts.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field of study.
Requires 2 years of relevant experience.
Assets:
Strong experience in data analysis and translating business requirements into data-driven solutions.
Advanced proficiency in Power BI, including building intuitive and interactive dashboards.
Experience working with large and complex datasets, including data modeling and data transformation.
Ability to communicate insights clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Experience working with Microsoft Dynamics for business operations and reporting
Familiarity with Mosaic Campus Solutions is an asset.
Additional Information:
Overtime may be required during high volume periods throughout the year.
