Sr. Business Systems Analyst (BSA) / Product Owner

This role will be hybrid ONSITE / REMOTE with onsite presence in Long Beach, CA at least 2 days each week. Thus, our client would prefer a person who lives in Southern CA.

Detailed Position Summary :

The client is seeking a proactive, business-oriented Senior Business Systems Analyst to support one or more client Divisions. This individual will serve as the primary liaison between the IT 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 IT leadership.

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

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

1. Division-Facing Product & Delivery Leadership

Act as the primary liaison between the IT 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 IT 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 :

1. 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.

2. Demonstrated ability to operate independently in dynamic, fast-paced settings, managing multiple priorities and shifting demands with minimal supervision.

3. Proven strength in facilitation and cross-functional communication, with the ability to engage both technical teams and business stakeholders effectively.

4. Experienced in proactively driving stakeholder alignment, resolving competing priorities, and navigating organizational complexity with professionalism.

5. 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.

6. Exceptional written communication skills, capable of producing clear, concise, and tailored documentation, from technical specs to executive summaries.

7. Consistent track record of delivering meaningful outcomes, not just documentation-focused on value realization and impact.

8. Adept at introducing structure in ambiguous or evolving environments, with a strong orientation toward clarity and execution.

9. 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

10. Solid understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC), Agile methodologies, and structured PMO or governance frameworks.

Core Competencies and Working Style :

1. Builds credibility and trust quickly through strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

2. Naturally proactive, resourceful, and inquisitive-drives work forward without waiting for direction.

3. Demonstrates a high level of ownership and accountability, consistently following through and closing the loop with all stakeholders.

4. Possesses strong situational awareness, with the ability to tailor messaging and tone to diverse audiences and political contexts.

5. Comfortable working through ambiguity-asks the right questions, surfaces assumptions, and identifies actionable paths forward.

6. Maintains professionalism, discretion, and maturity, especially in high-visibility or politically sensitive environments.

Desired Skills, Education and Certifications :

1. Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.

2. MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred but not required.

3. Project Management Professional, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), SAFe Product Owner / Product Manager , or equivalent certifications.

4. Demonstrated success operating as both an executor and a thought partner - balancing hands-on delivery with strategic planning.

5. Familiarity with ITSM, enterprise system implementations, or organizational change management frameworks.

6. Prior experience serving as a trusted liaison between business and technical teams, ideally in a consulting, client-facing, or cross-functional delivery role.

7. Consulting experience with public sector or large matrixed organizations strongly preferred