Business Analyst

One of our Chicago clients is seeking a IT Business Analyst to join their team. Below are the details Location: Chicago IL (can sit remote) Contract: 6 months Pay rate: 45-55/hr W2 Senior Business Analyst (Consultant) Overview The Senior Business Analyst (Consultant) will support districtwide IT, school operations, and compliance initiatives by improving data quality, reducing operational risk, and modernizing key workflows. This role evaluates current systems, gathers cross‑functional requirements, and develops business cases that drive decisions on communication tools, incident reporting, and a new Third‑Party Risk Management (TPRM) solution. The ideal candidate excels at translating complex processes into clear recommendations that enhance usability, strengthen data governance, and protect student information. Key Responsibilities • Assess current communication tools and define requirements for a centralized School Leader information platform. • Lead business analysis for implementing a districtwide TPRM solution, including workflow mapping and integration requirements (ERP, ServiceNow, DocuSign, CLM). • Analyze operational and financial impacts of data quality issues and fragmented workflows. • Conduct root‑cause analysis and process mapping to identify data governance and risk gaps. • Build business cases and value stories for data quality, communication centralization, and vendor risk management initiatives. • Develop executive‑ready presentations using cost modeling, impact projections, and risk assessments. • Facilitate requirements‑gathering sessions with school leaders, IT, compliance, procurement, cybersecurity, and vendor management. • Document user journeys, process flows, and current‑to‑future‑state models. • Support change management through clear messaging, training materials, and stakeholder activation. Key Deliverables • Data Impact Analysis Report quantifying operational and financial impacts. • Portfolio of Data‑Backed Anecdotes to support funding and leadership communications. • Value Management Presentation summarizing findings and business cases for continued investment. Performance Expectations • Complete onboarding and required training; pursue BA certification if not already held. • Participate in weekly check‑ins and provide weekly project status reports. Qualifications Education • Bachelor’s degree in Business, IT, or related field required; Master’s preferred. Experience • 5+ years of business analysis experience in large or public‑sector environments. • 5+ years of IT experience supporting complex, multi‑stakeholder projects. • Experience developing business cases, feasibility studies, and project documentation. Skills • Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills. • Ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling narratives for non‑technical audiences. • Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation abilities. • Advanced proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, and BA tools (requirements documentation, process modeling, data flow mapping). • Strong project management and organizational skills; able to manage competing priorities. • Familiarity with Agile/Waterfall methodologies and project management software. Preferred Certifications & Knowledge • CBAP, PMI‑PBA, PMP (preferred). • Understanding of data governance, vendor risk management, and regulatory frameworks (SOPPA, COPPA, FERPA, NIST). • Experience documenting requirements for security, privacy, or compliance solutions. • Knowledge of integrations, APIs, and enterprise system interoperability. • Experience with incident reporting, operational risk, or safety/health incident tracking systems.