Associate Business Analyst

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Lead negotiations with specialty pharmacies and other data partners to ensure inbound and outbound file specifications align with the Ascend data model.

• Review data specifications to ensure completeness, accuracy at the field level, and alignment with the model; document any gaps and facilitate their resolution.

• Negotiate field mappings, lists of values, file formats, and delivery schedules.

• Validate test files against finalized specifications and maintain records of version control and sign-offs.

• Translate partner constraints into decisions regarding configuration, exceptions, or Customer Engineering.

• Oversee platform configuration, which includes data mapping, configuration tools, business logic implementation, and front-end reporting setup.

• Load data into the pipeline using configuration tools once specifications are finalized and approved.

• Collaborate with Customer Engineering on the onboarding of the standard data model and the handoff of custom builds.

• Conduct internal Quality Assurance (QA) before partner or client-facing testing; ensure that nothing proceeds to User Acceptance Testing (UAT) without proper sign-off.

• Track and resolve configuration-related defects during internal QA and UAT processes.

• Execute quality control before go-live and maintain QA documentation, test frameworks, and checklists.

• Identify and route standard and non-standard requests to Product or Customer Engineering as needed.

• Document non-standard requests with both business and technical context.

• Conduct change impact analyses for updates and non-standard requests.

• Consult with Engagement Managers regarding specifications, testing timelines, and UAT scheduling.

• Coordinate with the Delivery Director on Configuration Blueprints.

• Proactively report blockers, capacity constraints, and escalations.

• Assist in UAT business validation for configuration-related inquiries.

• Facilitate schema normalization and maintain data dictionaries and file inventories.

• Document business requirements, operational procedures, issue resolution processes, and platform configurations.

• Develop and maintain an operational playbook for configuration sequencing, partner onboarding, and documentation.

• Create internal training procedures and facilitate training for other Business Analysts.

• Support standard UAT test script templates for core Ascend use cases.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from a 4-year university is required; a Master's degree is preferred.

• Relevant experience in an operations role at a biopharmaceutical manufacturer, reimbursement call center, specialty pharmacy, or data management company.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data comparison, conditional formulas, data summarization, and conversion.

• Functional knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).

• Background and experience with the Business Analysis toolkit, including systems development lifecycles, problem-solving, root cause analysis methods, and business process model documentation.

• Proven ability to manage deliverables across multiple concurrent implementations or client programs.

• Capability to lead data partner specification negotiations with multiple external partners.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to prioritize, organize, and execute multiple tasks simultaneously while maintaining meticulous attention to detail.

• Knowledge of data management in specialty biotech and/or operations within reimbursement call centers or specialty pharmacies.

• Familiarity with healthcare data sources, including transactional, clinical, behavioral, and specialty pharmacy data file types.

• Understanding of implementation lifecycle frameworks, including UAT facilitation, defect triage, QA gating, and go-live readiness.

• Ability to exercise judgment in configuration decisions.

• Preferred: experience with specialty pharmacy data file specifications, SFTP workflows, and data onboarding processes.

• Preferred: academic background in public health, business administration, and/or operations research.

• Preferred: case management experience within a reimbursement call center or specialty pharmacy.

• Preferred: familiarity with Smartsheet, JIRA, or Confluence.

• Preferred: knowledge of Google Docs, workflow diagram tools, web-based software systems, and relational databases.

• Preferred: experience within a structured RACI model or implementation team framework.

• Ability to travel occasionally.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible and collaborative work environment.

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Stock options.

• A growing set of tools and technology.

• Accelerated professional development through shared learning and collaboration.

• A respectful and enjoyable work atmosphere.

• Employee empowerment through effective utilization of technology and tools.

• Regional town hall gatherings approximately every other month for employees within reasonable driving distance.

• Competitive salary.

• Comprehensive benefits package.

• Company-provided equipment; no personal equipment purchases required.