DataOps - Lead Data Analyst

Job Description The Lead Data Analyst is responsible for translating business opportunities, customer needs, and operational challenges into actionable data requirements, integrated data solutions, and analytical deliverables. This role partners directly with business customers, Digital Product, Analytics, AI, Data Operations, and Technology teams to understand business processes, document requirements, assess data, validate solutions, and ensure delivered capabilities solve the intended business problem. The Lead Data Analyst serves as a key bridge between business stakeholders and the DataOps Engineering organization, providing hands-on expertise across business analysis, data profiling, solution validation, customer enablement, and process improvement so data and engineering investments align to measurable business outcomes. Key Responsibilities Business Engagement & Functional Analysis · Partner with business stakeholders to understand business objectives, operational processes, decision-making needs, and desired outcomes and how data supports them. · Facilitate discovery sessions, requirements workshops, and stakeholder interviews to translate customer needs into clear functional requirements, business rules, acceptance criteria, and value measures. · Ensure business context, intended use, process requirements, and expected outcomes are understood and documented before solution development begins. Data Analysis, Profiling & Requirements · Perform data discovery, profiling, and analysis to evaluate quality, completeness, metadata, usability, and fitness for purpose, identifying gaps and remediation needs early in the lifecycle. · Define and document business semantics, data definitions, transformation logic, source-to-target mappings, data relationships, and readiness criteria. · Develop clear functional and data requirements that enable efficient solution development. Data Product Integration & Validation · Partner closely with Data Operations and Data Engineering throughout design and delivery to ensure solutions reflect business intent and support reuse. · Develop analytical datasets, reusable data assets, and Gold layer data solutions when business requirements can be effectively addressed through analyst-led solution development. · Develop and execute functional testing, test cases, and business acceptance validation for engineered datasets, data products, and integrated solutions. · Coordinate customer feedback, user acceptance testing, adoption, and transition activities to ensure solutions are integrated successfully into business workflows. Business Process Automation & Optimization · Assess business processes to identify opportunities for workflow improvement, process simplification, and operational efficiency gains. · Identify opportunities where data, workflow automation, AI, or integrated solutions can improve business processes, operational efficiency, and customer outcomes. · Partner with automation, AI, DataOps, and Technology teams to define requirements, validate solutions, and measure realized business value when automation is appropriate. Solution Delivery & Customer Enablement · Develop analytical solutions, prototypes, and business insights when customer needs can be met effectively without extensive engineering investment. · Support rapid proof-of-concept and learning-stage work while establishing a clear pathway for solutions that require enterprise-scale operationalization. · Prepare documentation, training, and knowledge-transfer materials that enable customers to adopt and use data products, integrated solutions, and automated workflows effectively. Automation of the Analyst Function · Use AI, metadata, workflow, and reusable analytical patterns to improve requirements discovery, data profiling, documentation, testing, and traceability. · Develop reusable templates, requirements assets, testing approaches, and documentation standards that increase consistency and delivery speed. · Contribute to repeatable operating practices that reduce manual effort and improve quality across the solution lifecycle. What This Role Is Not · Not a pure reporting or dashboard development role · Not a data engineering or software development role · Not limited to documenting requirements or providing passive advisory support · Not a governance policy ownership role · This role exists to ensure business problems are clearly understood, data solutions are properly defined, and delivered capabilities achieve measurable business value. Required Experience & Capabilities · 5+ years of experience in data analysis, business analysis, data products, analytics consulting, or enterprise solution delivery. · Demonstrated experience gathering and translating business needs and operational processes into functional requirements, business rules, acceptance criteria, and data specifications. · Strong experience with data discovery, profiling, data quality assessment, testing, business validation, and solution adoption. · Proficiency with SQL, data analysis techniques, and enterprise analytical tools. · Experience working with cross-functional business, product, technology, and data teams. · Experience supporting business process automation, workflow solutions, or AI-enabled capabilities and translating business requirements into actionable solution designs. · Understanding of enterprise data platforms, integration patterns, analytics, AI, metadata, and automation technologies. · Strong customer engagement, communication, facilitation, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills. · Experience in complex, regulated enterprises preferred. Preferred Qualifications · Experience with Databricks or comparable cloud data platforms and data product development initiatives. · Experience with workflow automation platforms, low-code solutions, process mining, or AI-enabled business solutions. · Knowledge of metadata management, data governance practices, and enterprise data architecture concepts. · Experience in healthcare, insurance, or another highly regulated industry. Measures of Success · Business needs are consistently translated into clear, actionable functional and data requirements. · Data quality issues, business rule gaps, and remediation needs are identified early, reducing rework and improving delivery speed. · Delivered data products and integrated solutions meet business requirements, pass validation, and achieve customer adoption. · Automation and process improvement opportunities are identified and incorporated into solution designs when appropriate to improve business outcomes. · Reusable analytical methods, documentation, and testing approaches improve team efficiency, consistency, and delivery quality. · Customers experience improved time-to-value and satisfaction from enterprise data and integrated solution capabilities. If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload. For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 82,200 - 137,000 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location. This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan. At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year, paid holidays, and leaves of absence. For more details on our employee benefits programs, click here . About The Cigna Group Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email seeyourself@thecignagroup.com for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes. The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State. Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.