Business Analyst 4

Job Title: Business Analyst 4 Location: Detroit, MI – (Hybrid, 2-5 days per week on-site) Status: Contract to hire – 1year, possible extension Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 NO VISA'S - MUST BE CURRENTLY LIVING BY DETROIT MI This is a contract-to-hire opportunity with a great organization. As a contractor for Smith Johnson, you are eligible for medical, dental, life, disability. Smith Johnson pays for 70% of your medical and dental and 100% of life and disability. The contract is also eligible for PTO/holiday accrued monthly. You are also eligible for a 3% retirement matching plan. Smith Johnson believes in taking care of our contractors. SUMMARY The position will function as the Lead Program Business Analyst in support of the Labor & Economic Opportunity (LEO), Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Solution Program. This is a large scale, complex IT modernization project with high visibility in the State of Michigan’s IT Investment Portfolio. The Senior Program Business Analyst Lead will work with the Program Leadership Group to coordinate and facilitate specific activities within their realm of responsibility that includes workstreams in all program areas. The Senior Program Business Analyst Lead will help facilitate program change briefings and requests; facilitate program decisions, actions and approvals and facilitate program scope change and enhancement request of the project. This role is a specialized business analyst/project manager in support of program level activities. Responsibilities: • Manage the scope, risk, issues, deliverables, and schedule of projects directly related to all program tasks. • Work with the Project Managers, Business Managers, Program Leadership Group and key program stakeholders to regularly communicate across all organizations. • Review project tasks and coordinate resources; this includes reviewing individual issues and concerns and resolving or escalating them as needed. • Work with a matrixed team of key program stakeholders across all project workstreams fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. • Identify and assess risks related to the project and work proactively to mitigate them. • Work in an agile environment and understand agile methodologies. • Participate in project meetings including Agile/Scrum grooming, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and daily stand-ups. • Collaborate within an agile software development process with software developers, subject matter experts and stakeholders. • Facilitate program change request briefings and change requests. • Track and follow up on business and vendor program action items. • Facilitate and mediate program decision and change requests approvals and prioritization. • Facilitate and manage program scope change and enhancement scheduling. REQUIRED • Bachelor’s Degree • Senior Business Analyst - 4 with five (5) years or more experience, including matrix management experience leading business, technology, and testing teams. • Five (5) years or more experience in scope & requirements management, quality management, and test management approaches and processes. • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple project activities within the program simultaneously. • Strong project management skills to help facilitate tasks execution status of each project area; escalate risk areas as needed; coordinate all project activities and provide expertise throughout the design, development, and implementation phases. • Extensive collaboration within agile program and software development processes with software developers, subject matter experts, business stakeholders and program leadership. • Extensive experience with agile and waterfall project management and delivery. • Five (5) years or more hands-on experience with various project management tools, test tracking tools, and change management tools (preferred Azure DevOps). • Strong project management and coordination skills to facilitate program change request briefings and change requests; program decision and change requests approvals and prioritization and manage program scope change and enhancement scheduling.