DSHS FTAA IT Business Analyst Senior/Specialist

State of Washington$94K — $127K *
Lacey, WA 98503In-Person
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, business administration, or management of information systems
  • 7+ years of experience in business analysis/testing in software development
  • Experience in large IT projects with tight deadlines
  • Expert-level knowledge in generating requirements documentation for complex systems
  • Knowledge of SQL, SharePoint, JIRA, and requirements management tools
  • Experience in agile development processes
  • Experience in mentoring or leading other analysts

Responsibilities

  • Engage with stakeholders to understand business needs and expectations
  • Lead business requirements gathering and design sessions
  • Conduct in-depth analysis of complex applications and systems
  • Develop and maintain business/system requirement documentation
  • Translate business requirements into user stories and use cases
  • Liaise between stakeholders and technical teams to clarify needs
  • Mentor junior team members in system analysis best practices

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and life insurance for employees and families
  • Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses
  • Membership in the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)
  • Opportunity for participation in a supplemental retirement savings program
  • Coverage under the federal Social Security and Medicare systems
  • Paid holidays and personal holidays per calendar year
  • Accrual of sick and vacation leave for full-time employees
  • 21 days paid military leave for armed forces members
Full Job Description
Salary: $7,885.00 - $10,603.00 Monthly
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: FTAA
Opening Date: 07/27/2026
Closing Date: 8/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) (FTAA) is seeking a senior level IT Business Analyst to join their team. In this role, you will support IT using enterprise frameworks, applications, and methodology for agency-wide implementation of enterprise Information Technology projects.
As a Senior IT Business Analyst, you'll direct and administers the business analysis program for IT and related business intelligence and business components, functions, and business processes. You'll be responsible for leading requirement analysis of enterprise-level data projects that support the agency and its key partner agencies. Working as a bridge between developers and customers you will be representing, championing, and documenting business system requirements and developing specifications to impact services. You'll be responsible for leading requirement analysis of enterprise-level application development projects that support the agency and its key partner agencies.
Some of what you'll do:
  • Engage with stakeholders to obtain a full understanding of the scope, business needs, processes, and expectations meet objectives
  • Lead, plan, and facilitate the business requirements gathering/analysis & design sessions with the subject matter experts, application development leads and business team members in coordination with project manager
  • Research and perform in-depth analysis for small to large and highly complex applications and systems in the area of public Service Case Management, functional assessment, facility management and complaint/Incident tracking
  • Develop and maintain business/system requirement documentation
  • Translate business requirements into user stories, use cases, and acceptance criteria
  • Serve as a liaison between stakeholders and technical personnel to ensure that business needs are clearly defined, understood, and translated into technical solutions
  • Develop and maintain requirements traceability matrices for requirement management and re-use
  • Perform application impact analysis and aid in the estimation process for changes to applications
  • Review test results to confirm that test acceptance criteria have been met
  • Provide consultation to project stakeholders
  • Mentor, guide and lead junior team members on system analysis best practices in requirements elicitation, design and documentation process and procedures
  • Provide guidance to program staff during all project phases to ensure project success

What we're looking for:
  • Ability to identify, analyze and elicit business system requirements for complex assessments and business processes for diverse business groups
  • Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
  • High comfort level working with remote communication tools (e.g., Teams, Zoom, and WebEx)
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, and the ability to negotiate
  • Ability to prioritize effectively, demonstrate excellent time management skills, and coordinate with team members
  • Ability to multi-task and meet urgent deadlines while maintaining regular responsibilities and workload
  • Expert skills in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Visio or other prototyping tools
  • Experience in government, social services environment
  • Knowledge of SQL, SharePoint, Issue tracking tools like JIRA, and Requirements management tools
  • Experience working in agile application development process
  • Experience in leading/mentoring other analysts

Who should apply?

Professionals with a bachelor's degree in either computer science, business administration, or management of information systems and:
  • A minimum of seven years of experience in business analysis/testing in software development
  • Experience participating as an Analyst in large IT projects with aggressive timeframes and delivering quality products within these timeframes; with expert-level knowledge of and ability to generate requirements documentation for highly complex systems, and design and implement a quality assurance regime to verify and validate requirements in test

A master's degree will substitute for two years of the required experience.
Equivalent relevant professional experience/education.
Along with your application please include:

Three professional references, a resume, and your cover letter.

Questions? Please contact and reference #05810.

Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

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