Job Description

PLEASE NOTE: IT IS 100% ON-SITE POSITION IN WASHINGTON EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Program Analyst I (Business/Data Analyst I) provides essential analytical, data-driven, and consultative support across all phases of the program and software project lifecycle. This role bridges business needs and technical solutions by facilitating requirement-gathering workshops, translating business needs into user stories, coordinating User Acceptance Testing (UAT), evaluating program resources, and developing actionable solutions for leadership. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in federal program support, excellent cross-functional collaboration skills, and the analytical rigor needed to drive continuous process improvement KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Lifecycle Program & Requirements Analysis Provide analytical and consultative services to administer complex programs across all phases of the project lifecycle, including requirements analysis, software design, system/performance testing, and implementation. Lead and participate in Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions and requirement elaboration workshops to elicit, analyze, and refine business and system requirements. Translate business needs into clear, actionable user stories, acceptance criteria, functional specs, and process workflow diagrams. Ensure all software design and integration requirements directly align with program goals and stakeholder needs. Testing Oversight, UAT Scenarios & Quality Assurance Develop, review, and execute User Acceptance Testing (UAT) scenarios , test scripts, and test cases to validate that delivered solutions meet business requirements. Conduct targeted research, review technical test results, monitor system/performance testing, and log defects. Translate complex test findings into actionable recommendations and risk reports for leadership . Team Collaboration & Meeting Facilitation Collaborate cross-functionally with software developers, system architects, UI/UX designers, project managers, and client stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. Prepare for, facilitate, and participate in active team meetings , sprint ceremonies (e.g., backlog grooming, stand-ups, retrospectives), and stakeholder status syncs. Drive continuous improvement initiatives by evaluating operational alternatives, gathering team feedback, and recommending process efficiencies Resource, Budget & Risk Management Analyze and review program budgets, schedules, and resource allocations to ensure cost-effective delivery and project success. Proactively identify resource shortfalls, operational risks, and system issues. Formulate data-backed recommendations and strategic risk-mitigation strategies to reduce potential project impacts . Research, Documentation & Executive Reporting Author, prepare, and present comprehensive reports, briefing decks, and executive summaries detailing operational findings, project risks, and proposed solutions. Maintain clear project documentation, including Requirements Traceability Matrices (RTM), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and user guides Requirements QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS: Required Qualifications (Must-Have) Education: Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Analytics, or a related field) Experience: Minimum of four (4) years of related, progressive experience in program analysis, business/data analysis, and project support KEY COMPETENCIES & TECHNICAL SKILLS Requirements & Agile Artifact s: Hands-on experience facilitating JAD sessions, writing user stories with acceptance criteria, and managing backlogs. UAT & Testing Expertise : Proven ability to create UAT scenarios, execute test scripts, review test results, and translate bugs/defects into clear business impact reports. Financial & Resource Trackin g: Working knowledge of project budgeting, schedule tracking, and resource capacity planning. Technical & Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in tools like Jira, Confluence, MS Visio, Slack, or Microsoft Teams. Methodologies: Strong working knowledge of Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall project management frameworks. Soft Skills: Advanced communication, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills to influence decisions across diverse teams. Outstanding interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills, document writing, strong experience collaborating across cross-functional technical teams and leading stakeholder meetings PREFERRED / HIGH-VALUE QUALIFICATIONS Experience using modern backlog, collaboration, and modeling tools (e.g., Atlassian Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, or Azure DevOps). Working knowledge of data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or Advanced MS Excel) for trend analysis and reporting. Familiarity with Federal Lifecycle Frameworks, SDLC, or Agile/Scrum methodologies