Position Type: Business - Information Systems and Technology
Process Improvement Analyst (Business Analyst)
JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Penn State IT's Operational Excellence, part of User Success, is seeking a Process Improvement Analyst (Business Analyst). The Process Improvement Analyst will ensure that projects and initiatives are properly supported through requirements gathering, data analysis, stakeholder analysis, communication plans, risk assessments, process improvement and systems analysis, gap analysis, root cause analysis, quality assurance/testing, organizational change management, and project planning. The initial focus of this position will be related to IT Service Management processes and operations, including Major Incidents, Service Foundations, Knowledge Management, Service and/or Process Owner/Management, etc.
The location of this position is flexible and can operate fully remote within the United States, fully in-person at our University Park Campus, or in a hybrid model of both in-person and remote. Standard working hours are in the eastern time zone.
Duties of this position include:
Identifying deliverables and developing project/initiative schedules
Conducting stakeholder analysis
Defining and scoping project/initiative objectives
Developing and executing communication plans
Defining and managing project/initiative roles and responsibilities
Identifying risks and impacts and developing mitigation plans
Performing analyses to identify key inputs and outputs to create documentation, including business models/ diagrams (business, process flow, data flow, systems flow, architecture, etc.) for current and future state
Identifying metrics/Key Performance Indicators (KPI), developing data collection plans, conducting measurement system analysis, and executing data analyses to establish baseline metrics/KPIs
Defining requirements (high-level and detailed)
Generating functional and technical specifications and documenting user experience specifications
Performing root cause, gap, and statistical analyses
Using Lean techniques to improve processes, services, and business designs
Conducting solution comparisons/analyses to evaluate, select, and optimize best solutions
Writing business cases/justifications, including financial modeling, budgeting and forecasting, total cost of ownership, return on investment, and variance analysis
Collaborating with external and internal stakeholders
Leading and managing major incidents
Bridging information from technical staff to the user community
Establishing process and audit controls, SOPs, and reporting metrics/KPIs for continuous improvement
Identifying, tracking, and managing improvement opportunities to ensure completion and reporting on outcomes
Generating and distributing reports and presentations to all levels within the organization
Developing Organizational Change Management (OCM) plans to ensure adoption of organization, process, and/or system changes within projects/initiatives
Leading stakeholders through phases of change
Analyzing existing processes in comparison with improved or proposed processes to identify gaps and/or necessary changes
The desired skills for this position include:
Extensiveprocess andanalytical skills
Ability to interpret and communicate process improvement activities
Strong executive presence and ability to interact effectively at all levels of the organization
Creative problem-solving and ability to effectively handle multiple projects or initiatives
Ability to develop effective business relationships, build consensus, and effectively manage and positively influence change
Excellent communication and customer service skills including persuading, influencing, negotiating, and resolving disputes with a wide variety of stakeholders internal and external to the University
Attention to detail
This position will be filled at a level 3 or level 4, depending upon the successful candidate's competencies, education, and experience. Typically requires a Bachelor's degree or higher plus 4 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience for a level 3. Additional experience and/or education and competencies are required for higher level jobs.
This position will require successful completion of standard background checks.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.