Sr. Business Analyst in Columbia, Maryland at Cogent People Inc

Employment Type: Full-time, W2 position with Cogent People Inc. This is a direct hire position with full benefits.

Location: Hybrid Columbia MD 3 times per week OR Remote (as applicable to role)

Work Authorization Requirements

To comply with government contracting requirements, candidates must meet all of the following:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or valid EAD holder
• Must have lived in the United States for at least 3 of the past 5 years
• Must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

Sponsorship (H-1B) is not available for this position (now or in the future).

Candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

Clearance Requirement

Public Trust required or ability to obtain, depending on assignment.

About Cogent People Inc.

Cogent People Inc. is a government consulting and technology services firm supporting mission-critical federal and commercial programs. We deliver secure, scalable, and modern digital solutions across complex IT environments.

Our teams thrive at the intersection of engineering excellence and mission impact, building systems that matter.

Job Overview

Cogent People Inc. is seeking a Sr. Business Analyst to lead requirements analysis and ensure traceability from user research through implementation and validation. This role is responsible for translating CMS policy, workflow, and operational needs into actionable user stories and acceptance criteria while supporting alignment across stakeholders and technical teams. The ideal candidate will bring strong analytical, communication, and requirements management experience in enterprise or regulated environments.

This position may be contingent upon contract award.

What You'll Do

Requirements Analysis & Documentation

• Lead requirements analysis across business, workflow, and operational areas.
• Translate CMS policy and operational needs into clear user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Ensure end-to-end traceability from requirements through implementation and validation.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Delivery Support

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to define and refine requirements.
• Support alignment between business needs and technical solutions.
• Facilitate clarification and refinement of requirements throughout the delivery lifecycle.

Testing, Validation & Support

• Support testing and validation activities to ensure requirements are met.
• Assist in user acceptance testing (UAT) and issue resolution as needed.
• Provide Tier 2 functional support, including workflow and data issue analysis.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of experience as a Business Analyst or in a related requirements-focused role.
• Experience translating business and policy requirements into user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting enterprise or regulated environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Experience supporting testing, validation, and delivery processes.

What Will Set You Apart

• Relevant certifications
• Experience supporting federal programs
• Knowledge of Agile and DevSecOps
• Experience with CMS or healthcare environments

Why Cogent People Inc.?

At Cogent People, we combine technical excellence with a mission-driven culture. Our teams work on meaningful, high-impact projects that support government and enterprise transformation initiatives.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Career growth and professional development opportunities
• Exposure to complex, mission-critical systems
• A collaborative and supportive team environment
• Long-term client engagements with stability and continuity

We are a Certified Great Place to Work, committed to building an inclusive and high-performance culture.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (comprehensive coverage)
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks annually + 10 paid holidays
• Employee assistance and wellness resources (as applicable)

Compliance Notice

Cogent People Inc. conducts employment verification for all candidates. Misrepresentation of work authorization, residency history, or professional experience will result in disqualification.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) and evaluate all applicants based on qualifications, experience, and role requirements.

We do not engage third-party recruiters for this role unless explicitly stated.