Business Analyst

Job Description
Position Summary:
The person in this position will work closely with City of Philadelphia operating departments by understanding departmental needs, identifying opportunities for improvement, and recommending solutions to enhance processes and systems. They will conduct the activities related to successfully gathering project requirements and participating in the discovery, requirements, design, development, deployment and operations phases of projects. They analyze data and facilitate communication between different departments to ensure that projects align with departmental goals and objectives. Business analysts play a crucial role in bridging the gap between business objectives and technical solutions, leveraging their analytical skills, industry knowledge, and communication abilities to drive strategic initiatives and optimize organizational performance. In addition, this position is responsible for working closely with the Chief Counsel/Director and their First Deputy to support implementation of processes and systems to maximize employee and City-wide performance on quality-of-life issues in an environment that promotes positive morale, equity, diversity and inclusion. Duties include a broad range of activities including acting as primary liaison between employees to implement Office initiatives, policies, practices, and procedures as well as trouble shooting issues as they arise. This position will directly focus on City departmental delivery of services relating to quality-of-life concerns.
Essential Functions:
Conduct business observations and facilitate focus group sessions, vision exercises, and design review sessions.
Identify, document, and clearly diagram all requirements.
Detailed requirements development.
Develop business process and workflow diagrams.
Manage stakeholder relationships and foster continuous communication.
Assistance with project scoping and planning.
Development of Use Cases.
Develop Test Cases for user testing.
Conduct competitive research on an as needed basis.
Work closely with the project team on system development and design on an on-going basis.
Conduct and prepare Knowledge Transfer sessions and periodic reviews as needed.
Build an organized library of all business analysis documentation.
Accountable for gathering stakeholder sign off on all required documentation.
Other duties as assigned.
Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge:
Business Processes: Understanding of business operations, workflows, and processes across various functional areas such as finance, operations, marketing, and sales.
Data Analysis: Proficiency in data analysis techniques, including gap analysis, statistical analysis, and data visualization, to extract insights and identify trends from datasets.
Requirements Gathering: Knowledge of requirements elicitation techniques, such as interviews, workshops, and surveys, to gather and document business requirements from stakeholders.
Business Analysis Tools: Familiarity with business analysis tools and software, such as Software development life cycle models (SDLC), Microsoft Excel, Tableau, or Power BI, to manipulate data and create reports and dashboards.
Industry Knowledge: Understanding of the industry or sector in which the organization operates, including market trends, competitive landscape, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
Project Management: Basic knowledge of project management principles and methodologies, to support project planning, execution, and monitoring.
Business Strategy: Awareness of business strategy concepts, including SWOT analysis, value proposition, and competitive advantage, to align business analysis activities with strategic objectives.
Skill:
Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze complex problems, break them down into smaller components, and identify root causes and potential solutions.
Communication: Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders and vice versa.
Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to approach problems creatively, think critically, and develop innovative solutions to address business challenges.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to accurately document requirements, analyze data, and identify discrepancies or inconsistencies.
Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to gather requirements, validate assumptions, and drive consensus.
Time Management: Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, requirements, and project scopes, with the ability to quickly learn new concepts and technologies as needed.
Ability:
Critical Thinking: Ability to think critically and objectively evaluate information, arguments, and evidence to make informed decisions and recommendations.
Problem Identification: Skill in identifying problems, gaps, or inefficiencies in business processes or systems and proposing practical solutions to address them.
Stakeholder Management: Ability to identify, build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, including executives, managers, and end-users.
Conflict Resolution: Skill in resolving conflicts, managing disagreements, and facilitating constructive discussions to reach consensus and drive alignment on project objectives and requirements.
Continuous Learning: Commitment to continuous learning and professional development, staying abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in business analysis.
Influence and Persuasion: Ability to influence and persuade stakeholders to adopt recommended solutions or changes, using data, analysis, and effective communication techniques.
Ethical Conduct: Commitment to upholding ethical standards and integrity in all business analysis activities, maintaining confidentiality and impartiality in handling sensitive information and decision-making processes.