Job Description

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Job Title

LEAD BUSINESS SYSTEMS (ENG)

Job ID

71593

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

08/26/2025

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

09/09/2025

Employee Group

Unifor Unit 1, Staff

Favorite Job

Department

Engineering Central Administra

Salary Grade/Band

Grade 12

Salary Range

$41.82 - $62.71 (hourly)

Contract Duration

13 Months

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm (Hybrid)

Education Level

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field of study

Career Level

Requires 6 years of relevant experience, including one year of supervisory experience

Anticipated Start Date

October 1, 2025

Lead Business Systems

Faculty of Engineering

(JD00631)

Engineering a Brighter Future

https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/

About the Faculty

Ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and worldwide, the Faculty of Engineering. has a reputation for innovative programs, cutting-edge research, leading faculty, and aspiring students. Engineering faculty, staff and students at McMaster pursue research and learning in more than 22 research centres, institutes and networks whose interdisciplinary pursuits cross-departmental and faculty boundaries. Outside the University, we regularly collaborate on research projects with partners in universities, the government and more than 100 companies in Canada and abroad.

About the Position

The IT Services Unit within the Faculty of Engineering is responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining technology solutions to enable the teaching, learning, and research goals of the Faculty.


Reporting to the Associate Director, Information & Technology Services, the Limited-Term role of

Lead Business Systems

will be responsible for technology support related to various hardware and software used within the Faculty. Technical support of the Faculty's key infrastructure is central to this position.

Job Summary

The Lead Business Systems acts as a primary technical and consulting resource to various University departments and units with respect to the planning, implementation, and maintenance of information technology systems. Supports the University's academic and administration departments by acting in a functional capacity in all phases of the Project Life Cycle for medium to large projects, including post-production support and ongoing maintenance. Continuously gains an understanding of the University's operations and processes and how systems are used in support of those operations. Provides supervision to a team of Business Systems Analysts.

Purpose & Key Functions

Manage work assignments of internal staff and schedule and monitor adherence to procedures, protocols, and standards. Act as an on-site project manager responsible for managing projects from inception to completion. Plan and establish project framework and identify project milestones to ensure the project is completed according to project specifications and within specified timelines. Design, develop, establish, and evaluate functional specifications for a variety of highly complex University application systems. Complete feasibility studies and cost benefit analyses and translate technical flow into business terms. Provide ongoing technical direction to Business Systems Analysts within the team and periodically to other technical staff assigned to relevant projects. Coach and mentor junior staff in order to ensure a highly motivated and technically competent team. Evaluate work product to ensure adherence to established functional and operational specifications. Conduct in-depth client interviews to determine business process flows and rules. Manage work assignments of internal staff and schedule and monitor adherence to procedures, protocols, and standards. Accountable for the clarification, rationalization and documentation of project requests. Approve production migrations according to project involvement. Develop and lead end user training. Partner with the technical team to maintain the information technology issues database, create new issues, and track the status of open issues. Participate in the development of capital project charters and cost justifications. Serve as the primary contact point with the user community. Responsible for integration and release management. Facilitate large group business development planning sessions. Ensure appropriate business participation in information technology projects. Utilize the appropriate control tools to coordinate projects according to Project Management Office methodologies. Develop success criteria and risk assessments for projects and changes. Develop, implement, and document best practices to align with departmental and University strategies and processes. Work independently with users to define concepts. Drive and challenge business units on their assumptions of how they will successfully execute their plans. Collaborate with developers and subject matter experts to establish the technical vision and analyze tradeoffs between usability and performance needs. Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding, and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs. Conduct gap analyses. Ensure that projects meet specified functionality requirements. Perform advanced levels of analysis, problem solving and research skills to formulate solutions to complex business needs. Perform the functional analysis for production support activities and advise business users in the analysis of less complex issues. Work with project stakeholders to understand project scope and create test documents. Manage all phases of testing including, but not limited to, system, integration, acceptance, regression, and performance. Document system functionality, particularly related to new enhancements. Develop and maintain information technology process flow, methodology, and control documentation. Assist with the development of project proposals and estimates. Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, requirement workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios, business analysis, and task and workflow analysis. Analyze information needs and functional requirements and deliver artifacts such as functional requirements, business process models, use cases, screen and interface designs, test plans and test cases. Take ownership of functional issues by identifying underlying problems, analyzing potential solutions and implementing system resolutions, including workarounds. Provide Level III post implementation support to users regarding functional issues. Work with the development team to determine technical approaches and technical risks for project testing. Develop requirement specifications according to standard templates, using natural language. Work closely with testing team members to ensure that requirements are testable. Prepare and assist other testers with the creation of test cases. Identify and manage defects identified during all phases of a project. Review test cases created by testing team members to ensure that the test cases adequately define the business processes. Resolve problems in the test, production implementation, and post-implementation phases in coordination with other technical and business groups. Develop simple queries using basic Business Intelligence tools. Review systems, processes, and information and provide recommendations to supervisor. Serve as the conduit between the Project Management Office and development teams through which requirements flow. Liaise between the technology and support teams. Communicate project, issue, and system status to others. Communicate testing results to other stakeholders. Facilitate effective dialog between technical staff. Interact with and exchange information with colleagues. Follow a test script and document defects. Prepare and review recommendations and other project initiation documents. Prepare and review end user and operations documentation, training materials, and timelines. Maintain information technology process flow, methodology, and control documentation. Work with others to prioritize and schedule issues resolution. Plan, schedule, and monitor own work within short time horizons. Organize individual time, work and resources to accomplish objectives in the most effective and efficient way. Understand and use appropriate methods, tools, and applications to complete work tasks. Demonstrate a rational and organized approach to work and identify development opportunities. Absorb technical information when it is presented systematically and apply it effectively. Use measurement methods to monitor progress toward goal attainment, tenaciously working to meet or exceed those goals, while deriving satisfaction from the process of goal achievement and continuous improvement. Ensure that the internal and external customer perspective is a driving force behind decisions and activities. Follow service practices that meet customers' and University needs. Interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one's intentions and those of the University. Work collaboratively with others to achieve departmental and institutional goals. Actively participate as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of goals. Perform a range of varied work activities in a variety of structured environments. Successfully engage in multiple initiatives simultaneously. Apply and enforce department change control policies and procedures. Acquire and maintain a basic understanding of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing principles. Read and understand complex Business Process Diagrams and develop basic (Level II) models. Read and understand a complex project plan and develop simple project plans. Remain current with relevant development and project methodologies. Remain current with security policies and procedures and work with System Administrators to implement security changes. Remain current with the different levels of testing and develop simple use cases and test scripts.

Supervision

Supervise and direct the activities of 1 to 4 continuing employees.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field of study. Requires 6 years of relevant experience, including one year of supervisory experience.

Assets

Previous experience working in a university environment is considered a strong asset.

Additional Information

The successful candidate must have experience in the following areas:

Demonstrated ability to provide server and desktop support for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux based operating systems. Expertise in VMware virtualization technologies (server and desktop - certifications in vSphere or Horizon are preferred). Proficiency in Python, PHP, MySQL, Apache, Drupal, and MS SQL. Proficiency in Cisco networking technologies. Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat.

The successful candidate will also have and/or demonstrate the following:

Superior organizational and time management skills to meet competing deadlines. Strong attention to detail while producing thorough and accurate work. Excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills. Proven success at prioritizing and managing multiple tasks simultaneously. Flexibility and willingness to adapt quickly to changing priorities and tasks. Ability to respond creatively to resolve issues and maintain workflow. Ability to take initiative and follow through; willingness to ask for help when needed. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships at work. Ability to work independently and collaborate within a team environment. Strong verbal and written communication skills. A high degree of professionalism, integrity, and ability to handle confidential information.

NOTE

: Some evening or weekend work may be required occasionally to perform updates to production servers and equipment.


Should the successful applicant be a Unifor Unit 1 bargaining unit member, who meets the eligibility conditions of Article 19.02 of the Unifor Unit 1 Collective Agreement, then the Limited Term Assignment will be defined as a Career Growth Opportunity in accordance with Article 19 of the Unifor Local 5555 Unit 1 Collective Agreement.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the "Dish With One Spoon" wampum agreement.


The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.


The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Metis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.


As part of McMaster's commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.


Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.