Business Applications Analyst III/S

MSU Internal Job Postings Details•East Lansing, MI

9h•$104,000 - $110,000•Remote

About The Position

The HR Business Intelligence Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for MSU’s HR reporting and analytics portfolio. Reporting to the Assistant Director, this leader oversees the design, development, testing, and delivery of reporting solutions in SAP and Cognos, ensuring that HR stakeholders have timely, accurate, and actionable data. The Manager directs the Business Intelligence & Data Analytics team, leads the intake and prioritization of reporting requests, and partners with HR, Payroll, Benefits, and IT colleagues to clarify requirements, resolve reporting issues, and validate results. This role is also central to MSU’s transition from Cognos reporting to modernized SAP‑based and self‑service reporting models, supporting greater consistency, efficiency, and accessibility across the HR data landscape.

Requirements

Strong experience in business intelligence, reporting, analytics, or HRIS within complex organizations.
Demonstrated ability to manage reporting operations, lead technical and functional work, and oversee the full reporting lifecycle.
Proven success partnering with stakeholders to translate business needs into effective data solutions.
A commitment to data quality, continuous improvement, and service‑oriented collaboration.
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience with human resources information systems and/or applications development
strong logical reasoning and structured problem-solving
analytical thinking
ability to present complex insights to non-technical audiences
planning and managing projects
managing and leading teams
coaching others
or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education and working within a unionized environment
experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and external vendors
excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
ability to translate business needs into technical solutions
familiarity with integrations, data governance, and compliance requirements
knowledge of SAP HCM modules (Personnel Administration, Organizational Management, Payroll, Benefits)
experience supporting or developing reporting and analytics solutions within SAP or comparable enterprise systems
experience working with business intelligence and reporting tools (e.g., SAP reporting tools, EPI-Use Query Manager, Cognos, SQL-based reporting, MS Excel).

Responsibilities

Guide the evolution of HR reporting and analytics, supporting standardized and self‑service reporting that improves data access and enhances user experience.
Identify opportunities for advanced analytics and expanded insight generation.
Contribute to planning and prioritizing reporting initiatives that advance HR’s operational and strategic goals.
Lead the end‑to‑end lifecycle of HR reports and dashboards, including requirements gathering, development, testing, documentation, and deployment.
Oversee daily operations of reporting systems and ensure data accuracy, consistency, reliability, and compliance with policies and standards.
Manage work intake and prioritization through tools such as TDX and Jira.
Partner with IT and HR stakeholders to support system updates, integrations, and transitions across reporting tools.
Serve as the central coordination point for HR reporting and analytics requests.
Consult with HR, Payroll, and Benefits partners to clarify requirements, troubleshoot issues, and validate outputs.
Ensure reporting solutions align with regulatory requirements, data governance expectations, and institutional standards.
Lead, mentor, and develop the Business Intelligence & Data Analytics team, supporting technical, analytical, and functional growth.
Assign work, set priorities, and monitor progress to ensure timely and effective delivery of reporting solutions.
Support staff through changes in tools, processes, and reporting expectations.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, performance management, and fostering knowledge continuity across the team.