Business Analyst (ERP)

Job Posting Organization:
CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. Established with the mission of improving the quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops, CIMMYT focuses on applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South. The organization builds strong partnerships to enhance the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. As a core CGIAR Research Center, CIMMYT is part of a global research partnership aimed at achieving a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food and nutrition security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and improving natural resources. The organization operates in multiple countries, employing a diverse workforce committed to agricultural innovation and sustainability.

Job Overview:
The Business Analyst (BA) plays a crucial role in representing the interests of a specific functional area, such as Finance, HR, Procurement, Legal, or the Programmatic Chapter, throughout the corporate IT applications life cycle. The BA is responsible for gathering and analyzing business needs, translating them into IT requirements, and ensuring alignment with functional strategies and goals. Acting as a liaison between business stakeholders and KMIT teams, the BA ensures clear communication and mutual understanding of objectives, timelines, and constraints. The role requires prioritizing requirements, balancing business value with IT feasibility and costs, and managing interdependencies between cross-functional business processes and IT systems. The BA defines the scope of projects, manages scope creep, and adapts to changing needs, while also leading testing of new applications and change requests to ensure that solutions meet business expectations and resolve arising issues. Throughout the process, the BA maintains documentation, manages stakeholder relationships, and ensures the successful delivery of IT solutions aligned with business goals. This position demands an experienced professional who is knowledgeable of corporate and departmental strategies and goals, fully trusted by their principal, highly respected by colleagues and consultant partners, and possesses the necessary seniority and expertise.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Business Analyst include:

• Requirement Analysis and Documentation: Align user IT strategy and actions with the overall department strategy, ensuring a clear understanding of the principal's objectives and priorities. Secure the appropriate level of delegation to represent the department when articulating IT requirements and priorities. Translate business needs into clear, actionable technical requirements for KMIT, documenting and presenting them according to KMIT procedures. Prepare benefit statements for business cases related to functionality and/or change requests for applications when necessary.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a bridge between business and IT teams, clarifying questions and concerns. Facilitate workshops, interviews, and meetings to gather input from stakeholders within the department, ensuring their needs are well-represented and harmonized. Collaborate with other BAs for cross-departmental applications to harmonize requirements, resolve interdependencies, and negotiate KMIT priorities.
• Process Evaluation: Evaluate current business processes and recommend improvements or opportunities for automation.
• Documentation and Training: Develop user manuals, process guides, and training materials for end users, and coordinate training programs for department users.
• Testing Coordination: Lead testing teams to assess new functionality or changes to applications introduced by KMIT. Assist in the creation of test cases or acceptance criteria for user testing. Coordinate and support user acceptance testing (UAT) to validate that solutions meet business needs and recommend the sign-off of the department principal.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in business administration, Information Systems, or related fields. A minimum of 5 years of experience in understanding IT systems, databases, and the software development life cycle is required. Proficiency with tools such as Microsoft Excel, Visio, Jira, or similar for process mapping and requirement tracking is essential. Professional certifications such as CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) or PMI-PBA (Project Management Institute - Professional in Business Analysis) are highly desirable. Experience working in cross-functional teams, particularly bridging business and IT functions, is also necessary. Familiarity with enterprise systems such as ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle), HRIS, or financial software is advantageous.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in business administration, Information Systems, or a related field. This foundational education is critical for understanding the complexities of business processes and IT systems, which are essential for the role of a Business Analyst.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in understanding IT systems, databases, and the software development life cycle. This level of experience is crucial for effectively gathering and analyzing business needs, translating them into actionable IT requirements, and ensuring successful project delivery.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of CIMMYT and its operations. Additional languages may be beneficial, particularly Spanish, given the organization's location in Mexico and its focus on the Global South.

Additional Notes:
CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package and support for continuous professional development. In addition to the provisions of the Mexican Labor Law, the benefits package includes a year-end bonus (40 days), vacation premium (56%), life and medical insurance, supermarket coupons, a savings fund, and social Mexican benefits (IMSS, SAR / Infonavit). Candidates must apply to M25333 Business Analyst (ERP). Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Foreign national candidates must have legal documents to work in Mexico. This position will remain open until filled. CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer, fostering a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.