Senior Business Analyst

About Us 

Academia.edu is a venture-backed, for-profit, and profitable company based in San Francisco. We are recognized as the world’s leading platform for researchers and scholars to share work, discover research, and connect with academics globally. Our bold vision is to democratize and accelerate the world's research, enhancing the speed of scientific discovery and technological progress for the benefit of everyone. We imagine a world where accessing academic papers is effortless, keeping track of cutting-edge research is seamless and collaborating with researchers is easier than ever before. Our platform empowers millions of scholars worldwide to push the boundaries of human understanding. We believe that academic research is a lever that improves the progress of humanity, and our commitment to this mission drives everything we do.

Join us as we continue to redefine what's possible in the world of research. Discover careers that challenge, inspire and propel you toward a future where your ideas can truly change the world. At Academia.edu, we're not just shaping the future of research—we're shaping the future of possibilities.

Please note that this role is in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Our office comes alive on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays! Three times a week, our Bay Area team gathers in our office located in San Francisco's Financial District (580 California St) for All Hands meetings, collaborative sessions, innovation-driven brainstorming, and events that bring us closer together. Our space has everything we need—from cozy rooms for 1:1 mentoring and focused work to larger rooms designed for team activities.

About the role

As a Senior Business Analyst at Academia.edu, you will play a pivotal role in identifying growth opportunities through data analysis, helping product teams deliver value to users and drive business success. You’ll be embedded in a cross-functional product team, which includes a product manager, product designer, engineers, and user researchers, all collectively focused on owning and advancing a specific product or initiative. Teams rotate every 6 to 12 months to maintain dynamic work environments and encourage fresh ideas. 

In this role, you’ll tackle complex challenges, such as improving the academic publishing market or enhancing global connection and collaboration among academics. Academia.edu is a data-driven organization, and your analytic expertise will have a significant impact. If you’re excited about using data to uncover growth opportunities, analyze test results, and provide actionable insights to product teams and leadership, we’d love to hear from you.

How you’ll contribute:

• Identify and proactively pursue opportunities for business growth and scalability within your team and across the organization.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret data to inform product strategy and support the product roadmap.
• Define and track key performance metrics, design and maintain dashboards, and lead business reporting for your product team. 
• Design, run, and analyze experiments to drive insights and inform decision-making.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 2 years of consulting experience with one of the following firms: Bain, McKinsey, BCG, Oliver Wyman, or LEK, followed by at least 1 year of experience in a B2C software company (candidates not meeting these criteria will not be considered).
• Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking to business challenges and identify strategic opportunities.
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for data analysis and reporting. 
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a track record of influencing decision-making in cross-functional teams.
• Self-starter with a results-oriented mindset, capable of driving outcomes independently.

The tools you’ll use to succeed:

• Familiarity with the following tools is beneficial but not required. If you bring strong business problem-solving skills, we’re prepared to support your technical development: 
• SQL and databases (Redshift preferred) for writing structured, efficient queries on large datasets.
• Python or R (a plus, but not required).
• Mode for dashboarding and DBT for data transformations (or similar tools).

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Benefits

Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents

Generous Time Off: 21 paid vacation days, 12 paid company holidays, and unlimited sick days; paid parental leave and other leaves for life’s needs; 6-week paid sabbatical every 4 years

Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible daily schedules within a hybrid work environment, annual remote-office budget, and monthly WFH internet stipend

Competitive Compensation: Competitive salary, 401k plan, and stock options

Mission-Driven Company: Join a mission-driven company to accelerate and democratize the world’s research

Learn more on our Careers Page!

Academia is a proud equal-opportunity employer and we are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.