Business Optimization Analyst

The Business Optimization Analyst plays a key development role in managing business needs including business solutions, test support, operational readiness and business efficiencies to assist in reduced operational costs and efficiency gains. Works as a liaison with the business, IT and other PMO team members to ensure the design, management, execution and reporting of all project requirements and solutions meets the business and project expectations. The Business Optimization Analyst understands business functionality, problems and opportunities in the context of the requirements and recommends solution opportunities that enable the organization to achieve its goals.   The Business Optimization Analyst works on critical business processes and needs and ensures the solutions delivered are accepted by the business and that the business is operationally ready to manage the steady state of the new functionality post implementation.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Working with various business groups and management analyzes detailed business requirements and business processes and assists in validating proposed solutions/process changes to ensure they meet the expectations of our business initiatives.
• Understands release scope and provides manager high level milestones for projects assigned.
• Ensures representation of the business at all requirements and system development/solution meetings to support the end users and ensures all areas of functionality are considered and scope of system changes/process requirements documented meets the needs of the business liaisons for test development and execution.
• Organizes, facilitates and ensures milestone deliverables for all business meetings related to readiness and to ensure critical participation and documentation of all decisions related to project and process scope.
• Manages to project timelines and provides status updates including updated materials for weekly business and team reviews.
• Ensures complete business scenarios are developed for each release and project and ensures business success criteria is documented and business acceptance is elicited.
• Coordinates the dependencies required for test scenarios required by the business and IT.
• Manages the implementation of test plans, validates documented results are accurate and has received business approval to ensure a quality product is approved for implementation.
• Provides test support by designing and assisting in the execution of test scenarios for enhanced or new functionality and ensures all components of the testing are complete and accurate.
• Tracks and manages defects impacting testing. Engages the business and participates in troubleshooting and research of system defects or other gaps and ensures fixes are fully tested.
• Drives standards, procedures and process improvements for the Business End User Teams as a result of the Operational Readiness efforts.
• Working with the business, identifies and develops process improvement opportunities for the projects.
• Validates business readiness for implementation including requirements validation, test execution, business acceptance, testing, training, implementation and post implementation efforts to ensure the business can manage the steady state of all new functionality and processes post implementation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills & Requirements

Required Experience

• BS degree or equivalent and 2-4 years work experience in the Health Care/Dental Insurance Industry or equivalent combination.
• Working knowledge of SDLC methodologies.
• Understanding of project management principles and deliverables.
• Possesses an understanding in the areas of application functionality.
• Understands how various systems and applications function to support business objectives.
• Strong experience using MSOffice tools; working experience with visio and MS Project Manager strongly desired.
• Demonstrates key analytical skills with a strong working knowledge of the business in order to effectively validate business needs, validate solutions and prepare the business for implementations.
• Experience working in cross functional team projects.
• Excellent problem solving ability.
• Demonstrated Critical thinking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organization and prioritization skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Shows initiative to learn more and take on more challenges.