Careers at UMass Amherst

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

Job Summary

The Technical & Functional Analyst for Faculty Systems provides essential support for Watermark Faculty Success and related faculty data systems. Working closely with the Senior Business Analyst for Faculty Activities, this role combines technical and functional responsibilities to ensure effective system operation, data integrity, and integration with university infrastructure. The Analyst contributes to system configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and user support while coordinating with IT and academic stakeholders to meet institutional goals related to faculty activity reporting, academic personnel processes, and assessment. 

Essential Functions

• Assists in the configuration, implementation, and testing of Watermark Faculty Success and other academic systems to support institutional processes such as Annual Faculty Review (AFR), Annual Librarian Review (ALR), and promotion and tenure reviews. 
• Supports and maintains system integrations and data flows between Watermark and other university systems (e.g., human resources information systems (HRIS), student systems, VIVO) in coordination with campus IT. 
• Works in partnership with IT to develop and execute testing protocols for software upgrades, interface changes, and new features; coordinates with users and technical staff to validate functionality and ensure system reliability. 
• Provides Tier-1 and Tier-2 technical support, diagnosing and resolving issues related to system functionality, data discrepancies, and configuration errors. Escalates complex issues to appropriate technical resources. 
• In collaboration with the Senior Business Analyst and the Office of Faculty Development, develops and delivers training materials and user documentation. 
• Creates and maintains reports and dashboards to support both faculty and administrative needs, including self-service reporting for Annual Faculty Reviews (AFRs) and operational reports used for data validation, system processing, and issue troubleshooting. Ensures report accuracy, clarity, and alignment with institutional data standards. 
• Monitors data integrity across systems and helps implement data quality checks, error handling routines, and documentation of data sources and logic. 
• Participates in functional requirements gathering and collaborates with IT on system testing for new modules under consideration, such as teaching evaluations, workflow, and curriculum management. 
• Collaborates with project teams, faculty, and administrators to ensure systems meet business needs and are used effectively across Academic Affairs. 
• Supports change management efforts through documentation, training, and communication updates as systems evolve. 
• Keeps current with system updates, technologies, and best practices in academic system administration. 
• Participates in campus-wide planning and process improvement initiatives related to academic technology and data systems. 

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in computer science, information systems, or a related field) and four (4) years of relevant professional experience; or a Master’s degree or higher in computer science, information systems, a related field and two (2) years of relevant professional experience. 
• Experience supporting software platforms in a higher education or complex organizational environment. 
• Familiarity with enterprise systems, web technologies, and data integrations using RESTful APIs or web services. 
• Understanding of data structures, relational databases, and proficiency with SQL. 
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot system or data issues and identify root causes. 
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to explain technical jargon to a non-technical audience, use tact, and maintain protection of private and secure information. 
• Ability to work both independently and to be part of an effective team with a highly cooperative and collaborative work style. Willingness to take on a variety of tasks related to the successful operation of the unit and the ability to adapt and work effectively as the unit grows. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively and create and maintain harmonious relationships with a diverse population of staff, faculty, students, and off-campus constituents. 
• Independent initiative. Must have the ability to stay on task and work productively with a minimal amount of supervision or guidance. 
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and integrity and maintain confidentiality. 
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience with Watermark Faculty Success or similar academic systems. 
• Familiarity with reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, Cognos) and ETL platforms (e.g., Boomi, Informatica, MuleSoft). 
• Knowledge of academic personnel or faculty affairs processes. 
• Experience developing user-facing documentation or training materials. 
• Experience working in Agile or iterative project environments. 

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours per week.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Salary Level 28

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide the contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.