Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Business Systems

The Business Systems Analyst is responsible for the implementation, configuration, enhancement, support, and decommissioning of critical software systems; partners closely with business stakeholders and technical teams to translate business needs into effective system solutions that improve operational efficiency, data integrity, and user experience.

• Serve as a primary liaison between business stakeholders, system owners, vendors, and technical teams to gather, analyze, document, and validate requirements
• Ensure the stability, integrity, security, and optimal performance of business systems through proactive monitoring, analysis, and issue resolution
• Configure, customize, and enhance systems to meet evolving organizational needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational goals
• Analyze, design, and maintain system processes, workflows, integrations, and data flows to support efficient operations
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, system optimization, and automation; evaluate and recommend new technologies or enhancements to existing platforms
• Lead or support system implementations, upgrades, patches, and decommissioning activities following established software development lifecycle and change management practices
• Develop, execute, and document comprehensive test plans and scripts, including unit, integration, user acceptance (UAT), performance, security, and usability testing
• Coordinate and lead testing efforts with business users and technical teams; track defects, validate fixes, and ensure readiness for production deployment
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize data from multiple sources to support reporting, decision-making, and system performance evaluation
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve complex system issues; collaborate with internal teams and vendors to identify root causes and implement long-term solutions
• Gather and prioritize user feedback and enhancement requests; manage configuration backlogs and support roadmap planning
• Develop and maintain system documentation, including requirements, process flows, configurations, user guides, and support procedures
• Design and deliver end-user training, system demonstrations, and ongoing communications to promote adoption and effective system usage
• Provide ongoing operational support and guidance to end users and system/service owners
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Principal Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 12
• Minimum – $76,700.00
• MidPoint – $95,900.00
• Maximum – $115,100.00

• Data Analysis
• Information governance
• Requirements elicitation
• Stakeholder engagement
• System design
• Technical development
• Technical support
• User experience