Associate Business Analyst

About the role

The Associate Business Analyst is a technical executor of the Ascend platform configuration. The top expectation of this role is the ability to lead and manage spec negotiations with data partners — ensuring that inbound and outbound data file specifications are aligned with the Ascend data model before configuration work begins.

Responsibilities

• Data Partner Spec Negotiation
• Primary Accountability Lead spec negotiations with specialty pharmacy and other data partners to ensure inbound and outbound file specifications are fully aligned with the Ascend data model before configuration begins — this is the single most critical function of the role
• Review partner-submitted data specifications for completeness, field-level accuracy, and model alignment; document gaps and drive resolution directly with the data partner
• Negotiate field mappings, list-of-values (LOVs), file formats, and delivery cadences with data partners, escalating to the Engagement Manager only when partner alignment cannot be achieved at the working level
• Validate test files against finalized specifications and flag discrepancies before data enters the pipeline; maintain a clear record of spec versions and sign-off status across all active partners
• Translate data partner constraints into actionable decisions for the implementation team — identifying what can be resolved through configuration, what requires a spec exception, and what must route to Customer Engineering
• Platform Configuration & Data Mapping
• Own all platform configuration work: data mapping, configuration tooling, business logic implementation, and front-end reporting setup — all driven by the Configuration Blueprint received from the Delivery Director
• Review data specifications produced in collaboration with the Engagement Manager; proactively flag data model mismatches or gaps prior to configuration work beginning
• Load data into the pipeline using configuration tooling once specifications are finalized and signed off by relevant stakeholders
• Collaborate with Customer Engineering on the handoff of data mapping for standard data model onboarding; provide CE with the context needed for custom build workstreams
• Internal QA & Quality Standards
• Conduct internal QA testing of all configuration work prior to partner or client-facing testing — nothing advances to UAT without BA sign-off
• Track and resolve defects identified during internal QA and UAT for all configuration-related issues
• Perform quality control procedures to assure configurations and data quality meet acceptance criteria prior to go-live
• Develop and maintain QA documentation, test case frameworks, and checklists that support repeatable, auditable testing across implementations
• Escalation & Non-Standard Request Routing
• Identify whether client requests fall within the standard Ascend data model, require configuration adjustment, or require escalation — to Product for roadmap consideration or to Customer Engineering for custom build
• Document and route non-standard requests with clear business need descriptions and technical context so that Product and CE can act without re-scoping
• Conduct change impact analysis to assess how updates or non-standard requests may affect system performance and configuration decisions
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Consult with Engagement Managers on data partner specs, testing timelines, and UAT scheduling to ensure internal readiness gates are met
• Coordinate with Delivery Director on receipt and interpretation of the Configuration Blueprint — the primary work input for each implementation
• Report blockers, capacity constraints, and escalations to the Engagement Manager proactively; given a typical 1-BA-to-many implementations ratio, early communication of bandwidth risks is a core accountability
• Support the Delivery Director and Customer Success with UAT business validation for configuration-related questions

Qualifications

• Required:
• Bachelor's degree from a 4-year university
• Relevant experience in an operations role at a biopharmaceutical manufacturer, reimbursement call center, specialty pharmacy, or data management company
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and other analytic tools — specifically data comparison, conditional formulas, data summary, and conversion
• Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Knowledge of data management in specialty biotech and/or operations in reimbursement call centers or specialty pharmacies
• Familiarity with healthcare data sources — transactional, clinical, and behavioral — including specialty pharmacy data file types (patient demographics, dispense, status, inventory)
• Understanding of standard implementation lifecycle frameworks: UAT facilitation, defect triage, QA gating, and go-live readiness
• Experience with specialty pharmacy data file specifications, SFTP workflows, and data onboarding processes
• Preferred:
• Experience with case management experience in a reimbursement call center or specialty pharmacy
• Academic training in public health, business administration, and/or operations research
• Experience working within a structured RACI model or implementation team framework
• Background and experience with the Business Analysis toolkit including systems development lifecycles, problem solving and root cause analysis methods, and the ability to document business process models
• Demonstrated ability to manage deliverables across multiple concurrent implementations or client programs

Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to lead data partner spec negotiations — driving alignment on file specifications, field mappings, and LOVs across multiple external partners simultaneously
• Excellent written and oral communication — able to document complex data relationships clearly for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Excellent prioritization, organization, and execution skills with rigorous attention to detail across a high-volume implementation portfolio
• A creative approach to operational problem solving and a relentless passion for quality
• Knowledge of data management in specialty biotech and/or operations in reimbursement call centers or specialty pharmacies
• Familiarity with healthcare data sources — transactional, clinical, and behavioral — including specialty pharmacy data file types (patient demographics, dispense, status, inventory)
• Understanding of standard implementation lifecycle frameworks: UAT facilitation, defect triage, QA gating, and go-live readiness

Pay

$60,000 to $70,000

Schedule

Remote with occasional travel requirements