Senior IT Business Analyst

Quick Facts

• Senior IT Business Analyst responsible for effective delivery of IT capabilities and services supporting Research within Drug Discovery Research
• Focused scope: Sample Management and Reagent Management

Description

The Sr. IT Business Analyst (Sr. IT BA) is accountable for effective delivery of IT capabilities and services supporting Research, with a focused scope on Sample Management and Reagent Management. The role partners with IT colleagues and scientific researchers to identify, define, and drive digital capabilities to meet strategic and operational needs, including cross-functional initiatives across Research and IT. This role bridges business analysis and hands-on development—capable of defining requirements and also building, prototyping, and validating digital solutions, with applied AI and Generative AI fluency to accelerate discovery and automate workflows.

The Sr. IT BA works within a cross-functional technology team, analyzing digital capabilities aligned to business functions, collaborating with IT Business Partners, Product Managers, Digital Capability Managers, domain scientific researchers, and other enabling partners. The role also expects oversight of Jr. IT Business Analysts and Consultants.

Key Responsibilities

Research Domain & Scientific Engagement

• Develop deep domain knowledge of Sample Management and Reagent Management processes, workflows, and data within Drug Discovery Research
• Collaborate with bench scientists, lab operations teams, and research informatics to translate scientific workflows into actionable digital requirements
• Serve as a trusted domain liaison for tracking, storing, consuming, and reporting samples and reagents across the drug discovery lifecycle

Core Business Analysis

• Partner with IT peers to provide insightful and actionable analysis supporting digital capability investment portfolios across Research IT
• Elicit business needs, map complex processes, discover root causes, curate requirements and user stories, and maintain focus on business value for investment justification, planning, and execution
• Generate stakeholder and sponsor assessments to manage expectations and advise on anticipated delivery challenges
• Represent the “voice of the customer,” connecting stakeholders with IT services and ensuring delivery teams make trade-offs between speed, quality, and cost
• Aid development of business cases for new digital capability investments; identify, define, and measure business outcomes
• Ensure success of IT service delivery across Drug Discovery Research functions through cross-organizational relationships
• Maintain an external view of industry drivers, emerging lab informatics trends, and relevant technology advancements
• Communicate complex ideas clearly to technical and non-technical audiences; influence change management strategies
• Communicate successes and issues accurately and take accountability for managing expectations
• Remove roadblocks to value delivery with urgency
• Demonstrate a growth mindset to develop skills in business analysis and the pharmaceutical scientific domain
• Bring mature, impactful, and sustainable business analysis behaviors that drive change and deliver value

Development & Prototyping Capability

• Prototype, configure, and develop thin-slice solutions (scripts, workflows, UI mock-ups) to validate requirements and accelerate delivery
• Bridge the last mile with engineering teams using low-code/no-code platforms, scripting (Python, SQL, or equivalent), or configuration-based tooling
• Reduce handoff loss by translating intent into working artifacts, not just written specifications
• Lead rapid proof of concept efforts to demonstrate feasibility, surface technical risk early, and validate business hypotheses in sprint cycles
• Own end-to-end quality with testable acceptance criteria, UAT support, and validation against business outcomes

AI & Generative AI Capabilities

• Use BMS-approved GenAI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, enterprise GenAI platforms) to accelerate requirements gathering, process documentation, user story generation, and stakeholder communication
• Evaluate Sample Management and Reagent Management workflows for AI augmentation potential (automation, intelligent document processing, AI-assisted scientific data interpretation)
• Apply responsible AI principles (data privacy, bias awareness, model transparency, governance guardrails)
• Shape the AI capability roadmap for Research IT by translating scientific needs into GenAI-enabled solution concepts
• Mentor teammates on effective and responsible AI tool usage; advocate for AI adoption

Qualifications

Required

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in a relevant Life Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics) or Technical discipline (Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent)
• 5+ years of progressive IT experience in scientific application analysis, design, or support in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences environment
• Direct hands-on experience with Sample Management and/or Reagent Management processes, systems, or workflows within a Drug Discovery Research environment
• Ability to elicit, document, and manage requirements (user stories, process maps, use cases)
• Working knowledge of Agile/Scrum applied to SDLC and IT services
• Proficiency in SQL and/or Python for data querying, analysis, or lightweight scripting
• Strong collaboration, communication, and presentation skills
• Track record delivering high-value digital capability projects within timelines and budget

Preferred

• Experience with scientific inventory and Reagent platforms
• Exposure to Drug Discovery Research organizational functions and workflows
• Experience with low-code/no-code platforms (e.g., Microsoft Power Platform, ServiceNow)
• Familiarity with GenAI tools in a professional or enterprise workflow
• IIBA Certification or equivalent Business Analysis Certification
• Experience overseeing Jr. Business Analysts or Consultants

Benefits

• Competitive benefits, services, and programs to support goals at work and in personal life
• Health coverage: medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care
• Wellbeing support programs, including Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Financial wellbeing and protection: 401(k), disability and life insurance, supplemental health insurance, and additional protections
• Work-life benefits including Paid Time Off, national holidays, and leaves of absence; global shutdown eligibility for global employees