Principal Business Analyst

Job Summary

Performs analysis and communication responsibilities with the highest level of industry expertise. Collaborates with business partners and the Information Technology (IT) Department to perform analysis in support of project requirement gathering and business process improvement. Uses appropriate tools and methodologies to document and analyze business and system processes, as well as capture business requirements for technology and process improvements. The most important impact of the Principal Business Analyst is to provide appropriately targeted analysis that the organization can use to identify and implement process improvement initiatives and technology improvements on every level up to and including enterprise-wide efforts.

Job Description

Development / Support

Elicits and builds appropriate business and technology requirements for technology development efforts based on interviews, research, and analysis. Leads and/or assists in defining opportunity, impact, and ROI in the ideation phase for complex business case scenarios. Leads and/or assists with identifying performance gaps. Translates business rules, process maps, and identified gaps to business requirements as it relates to the Requirements Life Cycle in conjunction with project teams, SME’s, and Business Information Specialists. Consults with business units to determine their respective metrics for key outputs. Works with and ensures technical requirements are incorporated in final product by technical team. Provides business analysis to business units and Business Relationship Managers (BRMs) to promote opportunities, strategies, and plans. Assists departments with the analysis of processes for delivering programs and services. Identifies opportunities for business process improvement and provides those recommendations to appropriate audiences.

Testing

Conducts testing, maintains testing metrics, and aids developers and/or vendors in defining and running black box test efforts for new solutions. Defines and/or assists business in defining, creating, and modifying regression test plans. Screens requirements to ensure they are verifiable via testing. Creates test scripts that give users sufficient instruction to carry out test conditions. Identifies any needed case set-up prior to testing and coordinates with appropriate resources to ensure set-up is complete. Tracks test case traceability back to requirements.

Project Management

Participates in project management services on specified initiatives. Creates process and project documentation. Ensures that assigned projects tasks are completed by agreed upon deadlines and that management is continually informed of project task status. Prepares time/resource estimates. Follows PMO process. Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates vendor contract work in coordination with PMO for designated projects. Maintains working vendor relationships.

Documentation

Works with project team, Help Desk, and/or others to define technical support documentation. Works with project team and possibly training vendor to define and create power user/end user training and documentation. Documents information regarding system data integration and prepares functional and technical design documents. Creates and maintains business process documentation related to IT processes. Assists business units in process documentation. Identifies and maintains analysis and elicitation tools and methods for the county. Creates test data and test plans.

Training / Mentoring and Communication

Facilitates discussions between project teams and help desk to define support process/documentation for new technology solutions. Conducts training for Information Technology staff on new and emerging applications, services, and/or technology. Mentors, coaches, and provides work direction for Senior Analysts or others assigned to carry out analyst activities. Provides information on county-wide application assets, services, and application performance measurements tied to Collaboration and Total Cost of Ownership agreements.

General

Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours or shifts) to communicate with other employees, supervisors, customers, vendors, and any other person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals.

Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Requires equivalency of a Bachelor's Degree (Master's Degree preferred) in Business Administration, Computer Sciences, Public Administration, Operations Engineering, Quantitative or Statistical Analysis or a related field and six years progressively responsible and complex IT analyst experience. Experience in a medium to large service industry organization is essential. Incumbent must have a reliable means of transportation for the performance of work responsibilities.  Experience with ServiceNow platform preferred. 

Supervisory Controls
The employee is under the supervision of an Deputy CIO. The Deputy CIO will make work assignments via verbal and/or written instructions and will provide assistance to others as required, such as work direction and training to other IT professionals. Work may occasionally be reviewed for adequacy and compliance with policies and/or instructions.

Core Competencies and Abilities
Customer Service - Delivers government services in a respectful, responsive, and solution-oriented manner.

Communication - Is always clear about what we're doing and why we're doing it.

Collaboration - Works with partners – communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies – to see that services are not duplicated but rather are complimentary, aligned, and provided by the partners who can deliver the service most effectively.

Stewardship - Works proactively to make investments, guided by resident input, which will transform lives, communities, and government.

Empowerment - Works with individuals and families to affirm strengths, develop skills, restore hope, and promote self-reliance.

Resiliency - Fosters public preparedness and responds when families and communities face health and safety emergencies.

Innovation - Takes informed risks to deliver services more effectively and learns from successes and failures.

Knowledge – Knowledge of county key technologies, including MS SQL Server, ServiceNow, Active Directory, O365 Technologies, Web-Related Technologies, Relational Database Technologies, and multiple Programming Languages.  

Knowledge of application development and/or database design/data modeling methodologies and tools.  

Knowledge of advanced principles, theories, and techniques of process management for business process improvement and reengineering.  

Knowledge in technology and industry solutions including office automation, data processing techniques and practices, software development methodology, forms and records management.  

Knowledge of statistical, analytical, and research concepts and methods.

Knowledge of relationships between internal and external agencies and governing entities.

Knowledge of e-business applications, and/or content management systems, and Office 365 Suite including Visio.  

Knowledge and experience in ITIL Service Management and its service and delivery components.

Knowledge and experience in using project management methods to effectively deliver assigned projects.  

Abilities – Ability to work in a team environment and effectively work with both technical and functional staff.  

Ability to remain flexible without losing focus on priorities, deadlines, and customer service perspective.  

Ability to work under the pressure of time constraints and frequent interruptions.  

Ability to evaluate and recommend new technologies to support the county business functions in the short and long term; including system architecture, application architecture and database architecture.  

Ability to apply systems thinking to public sector programs to try to streamline and improve processes.  

Ability to gather, analyze, document, and communicate information appropriately based on project goals and audience.   

Ability to develop and present information for routine business and project analysis; ability to express complex technical concepts effectively, both verbally and in writing.  

Ability to work well with people from different disciplines with varying degrees of technical experience.  

Ability to initiate and implement problem resolution, escalating issues appropriately.  

Ability to work independently without close supervision.  

Ability to speak, present, and interact in public arenas with composure, professionalism, and discretion.  

Ability to use Office 365 suite of software for the performance of essential duties. 

Ability to use appropriate discretion in dealing with matters of a confidential nature.

Work Environment and Physical Demands
Typical characteristics of the regular, ongoing work environment of this position requires inside work, typically in an office setting.
 
Physical activities include sedentary to light work: Reaching, sitting, standing, walking, pushing, lifting, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, stooping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Lifts and/or navigates up to 35 pounds on a routine basis in handling files and equipment necessary for performing the essential duties of the job.