Sr Business Systems Analyst

Business Systems Analyst

Red River is seeking a proactive, business-oriented Senior Business Systems Analyst to support multiple business divisions with The Port of Long Beach, a long-standing customer. This individual will serve as the primary liaison between the Information Management (IM) Division and the assigned Division, acting as both a strategic partner and an accountable delivery lead.

This role blends product ownership, business systems analysis, and project coordination, with a strong emphasis on technical execution and stakeholder engagement. The Senior Business Systems Analyst will work closely with business stakeholders to understand needs, define and refine business and technical requirements, manage a prioritized product backlog, and lead the successful delivery of high-impact solutions. Responsibilities will also include triaging ad hoc requests, performing data/process mapping, producing detailed documentation, and providing structured updates to IM leadership.

The ideal candidate brings strong professional presence, technical fluency, and the ability to operate autonomously. As a key representative of the IM team, the Senior Business Systems Analyst is expected to deliver responsive support to stakeholders while ensuring IM leadership is kept informed and aligned

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned

1. Division-Facing Product & Delivery Leadership

• 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.
• Conduct regular check-ins with stakeholders to review in-flight work, identify emerging priorities, and align on expectations.
• 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.

2. Project Management & Delivery Oversight

• 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.

3. Business Analysis & Requirements Definition

• 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.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a conduit between business users, developers and executive leadership; ensuring clear communication and shared understanding.
• 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.

5. Vendor & Contract Coordination

• Manage vendor engagement across the delivery lifecycle, from design and development to implementation and support.
• Monitor vendor deliverables, timelines, and risks; escalate concerns proactively.
• Assist with software procurement, license renewals, and contract negotiations as needed.

6. Governance & Risk Management

• 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 Knowledge and Experience

• 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.
• Proficient with key tools such as: a. Backlog and Agile tools: Azure DevOps, Jira b. Project management platforms: Microsoft Project, Smartsheet c. Collaboration tools: Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Miro Solid understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC), Agile methodologies, and structured PMO or governance frameworks.

Core Competencies & Working Style

• Builds credibility and trust quickly through strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Naturally proactive, resourceful, and inquisitive—drives work forward without waiting for direction.
• Demonstrates a high level of ownership and accountability, consistently following through and closing the loop with all stakeholders.
• 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.

Desired Skills, Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field. 2. 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.

Physical Requirements and Working Condition

This position is structured as a hybrid role, with the consultant working both on site in Long Beach two to three days and remotely during Pacific Time business hours. The position requires extended periods of sitting, standing, and computer-based work, and may involve occasional travel for on-site meetings, trainings, and workshops

Basic Qualifications:

• U.S. Citizenship Required

Red River offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits and an exceptional work environment. You can review our benefit offerings here. If you are ready to join a growing company, please submit your resume and cover letter (optional).

EOE M/F/DISABLED/Vet

Red River is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.  Discrimination or harassment based upon any protected characteristics as defined by state or federal law is wholly inconsistent with our company values and will not be tolerated.

In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the American’s with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE: This contact channel is reserved for use by individuals with disabilities who require special accommodations in order to submit an expression of interest in a position within Red River.

Red River does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings or otherwise. Placement fees will not be paid to any recruiter unless Red River has an active agreement in place with the recruiter and such a request has been made by the Red River Talent Acquisition team and such candidate was submitted to the Red River Talent Acquisition Team via our Applicant Tracking System. Any unsolicited resumes or other data submitted to Red River in violation of this policy may be used by Red River without obligation to pay any fees of any kind to the recruiter.