Lead Analyst

Location: Remote (Continental United States)

Client: California Employment Development Department (EDD)

Employment Type: Contract

About the role

Apex Systems is seeking an experienced Lead Analyst to support an Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) engagement for a large-scale California government technology modernization initiative. The selected consultant will independently assess project management, software development, quality assurance, risk management, testing activities, implementation readiness, and overall project health throughout the system development lifecycle. This role will provide objective oversight, identify risks and issues, evaluate project deliverables, and deliver recommendations to project leadership and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Perform independent verification and validation activities across all project phases.
• Review project plans, schedules, requirements, design documentation, testing activities, and implementation readiness.
• Conduct risk, issue, and quality assessments.
• Evaluate requirements traceability and change management processes.
• Review system testing strategies, test results, and defect management activities.
• Develop IV&V reports, findings, recommendations, and executive-level briefings.
• Assess project governance, organizational readiness, and deployment preparedness.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, project teams, vendors, and executive leadership.
• Monitor project compliance with established standards, methodologies, and best practices.
• Produce monthly activity reports and technical assessment reports.
• Support final system acceptance and project closure activities.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of analytical experience supporting complex information technology projects.
• Minimum 3 years of systems analysis and design experience.
• Minimum 5 years of Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) experience.
• Experience developing IV&V reports, findings, recommendations, and executive summaries.
• Experience reviewing project risks, issues, requirements, traceability matrices, and testing activities.
• Minimum 2 years serving in a technical IV&V role on projects exceeding $10 million in value.
• Minimum 3 years of experience supporting Agile software development environments.
• Experience with project management and quality assurance methodologies.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing IV&V services for California State Government, local government, or Federal Government programs.
• Experience supporting large-scale modernization or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience assessing data conversion efforts involving large data volumes.
• Experience evaluating complex system integrations and interfaces.
• Experience supporting Project Approval Lifecycle (PAL) projects.
• Experience with enterprise application modernization initiatives.

Skills

• Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V)
• Project Governance
• Agile Methodologies
• Risk Management
• Quality Assurance
• Requirements Validation
• Systems Analysis
• Software Testing
• SDLC
• Executive Reporting
• Stakeholder Management
• Business Analysis
• Government Technology Projects
• Enterprise Modernization

Certifications

One of the following certifications is highly desired:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

The RFO requires at least one proposed resource to hold one of these certifications.

Benefits

• Supplemental medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
• 401K program with company match after 12 months of tenure.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) on the HDHP plan.
• SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions.
• Corporate discount savings program and other discounts.
• On-demand training program.
• Access to certification prep, technical and leadership courses/books/seminars after 6+ months of tenure.
• Certification discounts and perks for associations including CompTIA and IIBA.
• Dedicated customer service team for consultants.
• Access to a certified Career Coach.