Senior Business Systems Analyst

About the role

CAI is a global services firm with over 9,000 associates worldwide and a yearly revenue of $1.3 billion+. We have over 40 years of excellence in uniting talent and technology to power the possible for our clients, colleagues, and communities.

Job Description

We are seeking a proactive, business-oriented Senior Business Systems Analyst for a 6 month+ contract opportunity that is hybrid in Long Beach, CA. This individual will serve as the primary liaison between the IM Division and the assigned Division, acting as both a strategic partner and an accountable delivery lead.

• Act as the primary liaison between the IM Division and assigned Division(s), serving as the single point of contact for all information technology related needs
• Champion a strategic and collaborative relationship with business stakeholders—proactively identifying needs, fostering trust, and ensuring responsive and professional engagement
• Maintain and continuously refine a dynamic, prioritized backlog of requests; sequencing work based on urgency, business impact, and available capacity
• Lead delivery of key initiatives, serving as both Business Systems Analyst and Technical Product Owner from scoping through implementation
• Triage and coordinate resolution of incoming issues and ad hoc requests (e.g., data discrepancies, reporting fixes) in collaboration with SMEs and technical teams
• Deliver clear and timely updates to IM leadership, including dashboards, progress reports, and executive-ready briefings
• Translate evolving business needs into actionable plans, balancing strategic product vision with short-term service delivery needs
• Plan and execute initiatives using structured PMO frameworks and/or Agile methodologies, depending on the project context
• Manage timelines, deliverables, dependencies, and resources across the full project lifecycle
• Monitor scope, budget, and quality, escalating risks and issues to governance teams as appropriate
• Provide consistent progress reporting and ensure transparent communication with stakeholders and leadership
• Translate business challenges into well-structured, traceable functional and technical requirements
• Facilitate discovery sessions, process mapping, and stakeholder interviews to capture current-state workflows and define solution needs
• Partner with business units to define measurable success criteria and support adoption planning
• Ensure technical deliverables meet business expectations through proactive alignment and validation
• Lead requirements walkthroughs, demos, and working sessions to drive alignment and gather feedback
• Communicate priorities, constraints, and trade-offs in a clear, audience-appropriate manner
• Manage vendor engagement across the delivery lifecycle, from design and development to implementation and support
• Monitor vendor deliverables, timelines, and risks; escalate concerns proactively
• Aid with software procurement, license renewals, and contract negotiations as needed
• Maintain a RAID (Risks, Actions, Issues, Decisions) log to support transparency and accountability
• Participate in change control and governance processes to ensure proper oversight
• Proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate delivery risks and blockers

Required

• 10–15 years of progressive experience in hybrid roles spanning product ownership, business systems analysis, and project delivery; ideally within enterprise IT or public sector environments
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently in dynamic, fast-paced settings, managing multiple priorities and shifting demands with minimal supervision
• Proven strength in facilitation and cross-functional communication, with the ability to engage both technical teams and business stakeholders effectively
• Experienced in proactively driving stakeholder alignment, resolving competing priorities, and navigating organizational complexity with professionalism
• Background in client-facing roles, such as management consulting or stakeholder liaison functions—serving as the bridge between business needs and technical execution, and ensuring visibility at the executive level
• Exceptional written communication skills, capable of producing clear, concise, and tailored documentation, from technical specs to executive summaries
• Consistent track record of delivering meaningful outcomes, not just documentation—focused on value realization and impact
• Adept at introducing structure in ambiguous or evolving environments, with a strong orientation toward clarity and execution
• Proficiency with backlog tools such as Azure DevOps or Jira
• Proficiency with project management platforms such as MS Project or Smartsheet
• Proficiency with collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Miro
• Solid understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC), Agile methodologies, and structured PMO or governance frameworks
• Builds credibility and trust quickly through strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Naturally proactive, resourceful, and inquisitive—drives work forward without waiting for direction
• Possesses strong situational awareness, with the ability to tailor messaging and tone to diverse audiences and political contexts
• Comfortable working through ambiguity—asks the right questions, surfaces assumptions, and identifies actionable paths forward
• Maintains professionalism, discretion, and maturity, especially in high-visibility or politically sensitive environments

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field
• MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred but not required
• Project Management Professional, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager, or equivalent certifications
• Demonstrated success operating as both an executor and a thought partner - balancing hands-on delivery with strategic planning
• Familiarity with ITSM, enterprise system implementations, or organizational change management frameworks
• Prior experience serving as a trusted liaison between business and technical teams, ideally in a consulting, client-facing, or cross-functional delivery role
• Consulting experience with public sector or large matrixed organizations strongly preferred