Business Operations Analyst, Research Tech Services - University of Oregon

Reporting to the Director of Research Technology Services (RTS), the essential function of the Business Operations Analyst is to identify and define business needs to find solutions, make performance improvements, guide business process change, implement and upgrade technical solutions, and support implemented solutions in production.

Department: Research Technology Services
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: $70,000 - $80,000 per year
Compensation Band: OS-OA07-Fiscal Year 2023-2024
FTE: 1.0

Application Review Begins

April 15, 2024, position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

With your online application, please upload a resume and a cover letter describing how you meet the minimum requirements, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications. You will also be asked to enter the names and contact information of three professional references; candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.

The position is full-time and based out of Eugene, Oregon, however remote or hybrid work requests will be considered.

Department Summary

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) advances world-class research, scholarship and innovation at the University of Oregon, a top-tier public research institution. The OVPRI oversees sponsored research, research compliance, technology transfer, research communications, and research development at the University of Oregon (UO), as well as numerous high-profile research centers and institutes and core research facilities. OVPRI provides opportunities for faculty across the university to collaborate on research efforts that are inherently interdisciplinary and of significant societal importance. As a university that holds the distinction of a “very high research activity” ranking in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the UO is also one of only two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities (AAU).
Visit research.uoregon.edu to learn more.

The Research Technology Services unit supports the OVPRI’s research administration units and other research units with electronic research tools, technology infrastructure and other technology needs.

The OVPRI continues to evolve and become a more inclusive institution in our pursuit of our core values and inspire new discoveries. In partnership with UO’s Division of Equity and Inclusion, we utilize the IDEAL Framework to guide our practices.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Research Technology Services (RTS), the essential function of the Business Operations Analyst is to identify and define business needs to find solutions, make performance improvements, guide business process change, implement and upgrade technical solutions, and support implemented solutions in production. The Business Operations Analyst will be able to understand and identify the business problem and opportunity, assess the capabilities to carry out change, determine feasible solutions/approaches, define the scope of the solution or upgrade, and prepare appropriate documentation to present findings and a path forward. These activities will be primarily driven by an initiative from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) to continue implementing the Research Administration Portal (RAP), a software as a service (SaaS) solution that provides research administration support to multiple OVPRI units. Three modules are fully implemented, one is in the implementation process, and another implementation will begin soon. Primary stakeholders in this process include process teams within OVPRI and the faculty, staff, and students supported by those units. These implementations have had a substantial impact on enabling research at UO and this position is integral to our success in this area.

The Business Operations Analyst will document detailed business requirements and processes, particularly for new software implementations and version upgrades. The analyst will conduct interviews and facilitate meetings with process owners, as well as attend user group meetings and learn about current system features and future roadmaps to produce this documentation. Documents produced will include feature set requirements, capability assessments, business rules, process and workflow diagrams and other materials to support changes to the system or to business processes. This position will work closely with the Director of RTS and individual process owners to monitor systems analysis and project deliverables.

Based on data gathered from stakeholders, the Business Operations Analyst will build validation plans for phases of the project, gain acceptance from management and stakeholders on validation plans as well as implement these plans. This position will be responsible for creating and facilitating system testing based on the business requirements specification, as well as User Acceptance Testing (UAT) based on test scenarios developed collaboratively with process owners.

The Business Operations Analyst will work with research administration staff to analyze the current state of processes and recommend solutions that may be technical, business/operational, or service oriented. They will meet and collaborate with stakeholders, outside vendors, and teams across the university as needed. The Business Analyst will create and design reports and metrics for tracking the success of these solutions.
The analyst will also provide ongoing support for the software solution in production. This will include answering complex technical questions from business units and escalating issues to the vendor as needed. They will also help process owners as those units develop help materials and training during system deployment and upgrades.

The Business Operations Analyst will work independently as well as in a team. The individual will streamline issues and problems that arise from validation or data gathering. The Business Operations Analyst will be able to make high level decisions regarding the design, implementation, scope, and process of validating OVPRI projects.

We strive to be champions for building and supporting a community that reflects a rich variety of racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, gender and sexual orientation, accessibility, cultural and intersectional identities. The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership and a commitment to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the center of daily work.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or four years of equivalent experience.
• Three years of experience performing progressively complex business analysis activities such as scope definition, requirements gathering/discovery, business process re-engineering, requirements management, and project execution.
• Experience in creating and test planning including one of the following: Integration testing, functional testing, system testing, usability testing, acceptance testing.
• Experience working with complex IT projects.

Professional Competencies

• High-level organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and multi-task effectively in a fast-paced, detail-oriented and time-sensitive environment.
• Strong problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skills. Ability to recognize situations that warrant initiative and move them forward; resolving issues, problems, or situations.
• Ability to adapt within a rapidly changing technical environment.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to explain technical and other specialized concepts to broad audiences.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to operate and communicate effectively while meeting deadlines and completing projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with research administration and Huron’s Research Suite.
• Business Analyst Certification either through IIBA or PMI.
• Understanding of software as a service implementation, maintenance, and support.
• Experience working in higher education.

FLSA Exempt: Yes

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All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background inquiry.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.