Description

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Senior Business Analyst for Faculty Activities provides functional and strategic support for Watermark Faculty Success and associated systems and processes. This position plays a critical role in supporting faculty data management, reporting, and system administration for Academic Affairs. Reporting to the Associate Provost of Analytics and Assessment, the Analyst works collaboratively with University Information Technology, Academic Human Resources, the Office of Faculty Development, and other campus partners to ensure that faculty activity systems are optimized to meet institutional needs.

Essential Functions

• Performs business analysis and functional oversight of Watermark Faculty Success and associated faculty activity systems to support institutional needs, data integrity, and reporting capabilities.
• Gathers, analyzes, and documents business requirements, current and future workflows, and system specifications. Partners with stakeholders to recommend and implement process improvements.
• Coordinates and executes testing of new features, data elements, and system upgrades to ensure alignment with UMass Amherst's operational and strategic objectives. Engages faculty, librarians, and staff to validate functionality and reporting accuracy.
• Works with clients throughout the development lifecycle to ensure business requirements are met, including usability testing, user feedback collection, reporting needs, data quality assurance, and documentation of outcomes.
• Collaborates with technical leads and developers to design and maintain scalable, supportable technical solutions aligned with university IT standards.
• Develops and maintains comprehensive system documentation, including setup specifications, interface definitions, business logic, and training materials to ensure continuity and effective onboarding.
• Serves as the primary support contact for users of Watermark Faculty Success, addressing Tier 1 issues directly and escalating more complex issues to IT or the vendor as needed.
• Supports the exploration, planning, and potential implementation of additional modules within Watermark Faculty Success, such as teaching evaluations, workflow, and curriculum management. May serve as a functional lead or collaborator for these areas, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and integration with existing academic data systems.
• Collaborates with training and communications teams to ensure users are informed and supported. Develops training content, leads workshops, updates user guidance, and coordinates stakeholder communications.
• Develops standard reports and defines business requirements for advanced reporting in collaboration with University Analytics and Institutional Research (UAIR).
• Participates in broader assessment and planning processes related to faculty data, including reviews of appointment, promotion, tenure, and teaching evaluations.
• Provides leadership on change management, ensuring users are informed and engaged through effective communication and support strategies.
• Mentors, trains, and supports junior analysts and staff, contributing to capacity building and institutional knowledge.

Other Functions

• Understands long-term campus and departmental strategic objectives and recommends processes and technologies to meet those objectives, introducing innovation to business processes through technology when appropriate.
• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet departmental and university goals.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in computer science, business administration, information systems, or a related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressive experience in business analysis, IT operations, or system implementation, including demonstrated success managing technology-enabled business solutions.
• Experience supporting Watermark Faculty Success or comparable enterprise systems in a higher education setting.
• Proficiency in business analysis techniques, data gathering, documentation, business process modeling, and requirements specification.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to plan, lead, and execute testing, training, and rollout activities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively within a diverse and inclusive community.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills with a focus on customer service and relationship building.
• High degree of discretion and professionalism in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet critical deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's degree in computer science, business administration, or a related field.
• Experience working with relational databases and data visualization tools such as Tableau.
• Change management certification (e.g., Prosci).
• Knowledge of faculty processes and university governance.
• Familiarity with university enterprise systems and integrations (e.g., Web Services, VIVO).

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Standard office hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm).
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

PSU Salary Level 30

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

Advertised: Jul 2 2025 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Dec 7 2025 Eastern Standard Time