Full-Time Continuous Improvement Analyst - On-Site (WGU Campus - Salt Lake City, UT) at WGU in United States

Job description

• If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
• Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
• The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.
• At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
• Grade: Professional 308
• Pay Range: $75,200.00 - $112,700.00
• The Continuous Improvement Analyst is responsible for planning, organizing, and monitoring process improvement, as well as building and supporting technology to aid in process improvement. This individual ensures projects meet or exceed key performance indicators and stakeholder requirements, policies, and deadlines. The business analyst leads teams assigned to their projects, and ensures stakeholders are well informed of area activities and barriers to success.
• The Continuous Improvement Analyst will extract, compile, and analyze data to support research and data needs. They will respond to and prioritize multiple data requests, interpret complex data sets, and provide data-driven recommendations that inform strategic planning and execution. The Business Analyst will be actively involved in developing, refining, and supporting goals and initiatives.
• **Please note this is an IN-OFFICE position at the WGU Campus in Salt Lake City, UT.**
• The analyst is responsible for planning, organizing, facilitating, training participants and monitoring process improvement, as well as building and supporting technology to aid in process improvement. This individual ensures projects meet or exceed key performance indicators and stakeholder requirements, policies, and deadlines. The business analyst leads teams assigned to their projects, and ensures stakeholders are well informed of area activities and barriers to success.
• The analyst will extract, compile, and analyze data to support research and data needs. They will respond to and prioritize multiple data requests, interpret complex data sets, and provide data-driven recommendations that inform strategic planning and execution. The analyst will be actively involved in developing, refining, and supporting goals and initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Uses strong analytical and product management skills to gain a thorough understanding of departmental needs and translates those needs into specific initiatives and short- and long-range plans.
• Gathers and critically evaluates information from multiple sources, reconciles conflicts, decomposes high-level information into details, summarizes low-level information into a general understanding, and distinguishes user requests from the underlying true needs.
• Proactively communicates and collaborates with key stakeholders to analyze needs for process improvements.
• Manages multiple projects at a time and sequences project work for the assigned tasks, modifying plans and schedules, as necessary.
• Maintains accurate and complete records during a project’s development process, ensuring communications regarding project requirements, changes, problems, solutions, etc. are securely maintained and readily available for review.
• Drives and challenges business units on their assumptions of how they will successfully execute their plans.
• Develops business case studies that identify alternatives, costs, and project plans.
• Makes presentations, submits requests, and gains necessary approvals for projects involved in departmental efforts for process improvement.
• Ensures process improvements are fully functional and meet established project requirements, deadlines, and outcomes, and obtains necessary final approvals and signatures according to established procedures.
• Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding, and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.
• Collaborate with developers and subject matter experts to establish the technical vision and analyze trade-offs between usability and performance needs.
• Identify and assess both commercially available and custom-developed solutions that meet university needs.
• Proactively communicate and collaborate with external and internal customers to analyze information needs and functional requirements and deliver the following artifacts as needed: Functional requirements (business Requirements Document), Use Cases, User Stories, GUI, Screen and Interface designs.
• For large projects, identifies scope of project and develops documents outlining key project objectives, goals, plans, requirements, proposals, estimates, schedules, and budgets. Makes presentations, submits requests, and gains necessary approvals. Ensures estimates of time, cost, performance level, and materials are accurate and meet project requirements. Makes modifications to plans and schedules as necessary.
• Maintains accurate and complete records during the development process. Ensures related oral and electronic communications regarding project requirements, design changes, problems, solutions, etc. are securely maintained and readily available for review.
• Sets up and coordinates effective testing to evaluate system performance, fulfilment of project requirements, and elimination of bugs. Ensures test plans are well-documented, relevant to application, and in compliance with policies and procedures. Analyses test results, identifies problems, and conflicts, and provides solutions. Ensures problems are resolved quickly and effectively. Repeats testing as needed.
• Coordinates and manages creation of related documentation. Ensures accurate technical information is gathered and disseminated to technical writers. Ensures final documents are thoroughly reviewed, accurate, complete, and user friendly.
• Works to achieve established goals and objectives.
• Design, conduct, and report results of ad hoc research and analytical studies supporting initiatives and projects.
• Assist with establishing the measuring and tracking process for initiatives and projects providing timely updates to stakeholders.
• Build and run reports to analyze data and determine the best course of action to improve program outcomes.
• Participates in and contributes to regular staff and department meetings.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

• Strong process orientation with the ability to support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Advanced critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, and synthesize data and recommend solutions.
• Strong planning, organization, time management, and self-management skills with the ability to meet established deadlines.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex information and present findings.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment, build consensus, and motivate others.
• Proficiency with relevant computer systems, applications, and technology.
• Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience analyzing, implementing, or supporting systems.
• Prior project management experience.
• Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of the position may substitute for the degree requirement. Generally, one year of relevant experience may substitute for one year of required education, subject to hiring manager discretion.
• Master’s degree.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Skills

Required

• Strong process orientation

Preferred

• Six Sigma Green Belt certification