Business Analyst - II or Senior

Southwest Power Pool • Little Rock, AR

12d • $70,320 - $112,190 • Hybrid

About The Position

Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is seeking a Business Analyst to plan, analyze, gather, record, and manage requirements throughout the project lifecycle. This role is crucial for ensuring that SPP's projects align with business goals, governing entities, technical architecture, system design/development, and system testing. The Business Analyst will provide input to functional design, oversee system design efforts through system testing, and ensure that system design and delivery satisfy requirements. Responsibilities include test planning and preparation, developing test cases and plans, defining test approaches, and executing tests. The role also drives test automation efforts and leads various test stages such as system integration, regression, non-functional, and user acceptance testing. The Business Analyst will manage defects, deliver testing status and metrics, and may support project activities like data mapping, scripting for testing, system integration testing, and documentation. The position requires extensive communication with employees at all levels, minimal supervision, and good judgment in managing multiple tasks and priorities. The role may involve supporting SPP member committees and working groups, and potentially representing SPP at NERC committees and working groups. For the Senior Business Analyst role, additional responsibilities include defining and improving requirements practice and test management processes, educating team members, providing team leadership, and project status reporting for the BA team. The Senior Business Analyst also supports supervisors with team leadership duties, task assignments, status tracking, and resource management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant/related job experience.
• 2 years of SDLC experience, including requirements and software testing experience (in excess of degree requirement above) and/or relevant/related experience (Business Analyst II).
• 6 years of SDLC experience, including requirements and/or software testing experience (in excess of degree requirement) and/or relevant/related experience (Senior Business Analyst).
• Working knowledge/experience in various requirements approaches and software testing methodologies.
• Thorough knowledge of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Experience articulating requirements in a consumable manner.
• Logical and efficient, with attention to detail.
• Strong prioritization and organizational skills.
• Competent with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint).
• Proficient in both written and oral communication.
• Strong facilitation skills.
• Effective negotiation skills.
• Understanding of and compliance with SPP Policies and Procedures.
• Demonstration of people leadership and process leadership (Senior Business Analyst).

Nice To Haves

• Competent with requirements/test management products.
• Applicable knowledge and experience with developing SQL queries, macros.
• Basic understanding of standard programming languages such as C, C++, Visual Basic, Java, etc.
• Experience with SDLC products/tools.
• Two (2) years of Wholesale Utility industry business knowledge (Business Analyst II).
• Five (5) years leading requirements/testing, software development, and/or system implementation efforts (Senior Business Analyst).
• Five (5) years of Wholesale Utility industry business knowledge (Senior Business Analyst).

Responsibilities

• Plan, analyze, gather, record, and manage requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide input to functional design and follow the system design effort through system testing.
• Be responsible for test planning and preparation, including developing test cases/test plans, test approach, and test execution.
• Drive test automation efforts.
• Lead test stages such as system integration, regression, non-functional, and user acceptance testing.
• Provide overall test management including defect management and delivery of testing status and metrics.
• Support project activities such as data mapping exercises, coding of macros or scripts to support testing, system integration testing, technical and end-user documentation, etc., as needed.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to gather requirements and establish test cases/test plans.
• Provide analysis of customer, business, and technical needs to articulate and develop business goals, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, etc., using SPP’s established requirements methodology.
• Present requirements in a manner that is appropriate to the project.
• Apply requirements approval, management, and traceability throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring scope change control.
• Ensure established requirements methodology and testing strategy are effective, understood, and followed by the team as well as stakeholders.
• Identify, recommend, and implement changes and enhancements to processes and documentation to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the business and systems/applications of their assigned primary functional area.
• Possess and apply technical skills applicable to requirements and testing.
• Develop, document, and execute test cases/test plans, test approaches, test execution, defect management, test status, and test metrics using SPP’s established testing strategy and defect management process.
• Be accountable for all aspects of system testing (e.g., resource planning, test approach documentation, test cases/test plans, test management, defect management, test status/metrics, test exit).
• Help drive test automation.
• Execute system integration testing, as well as executing tests for other test stages as applicable (e.g., site acceptance, functional integration/user acceptance, non-functional).
• Understand and utilize IT practices/methodologies.
• Exercise planning and problem-solving skills with ability to exercise mature judgment.
• Establish effective working relationships with stakeholders and team.
• Demonstrate ability to manage/prioritize multiple assignments/initiatives, while meeting delivery dates (Senior Business Analyst).
• Assist junior staff with planning and problem solving (Senior Business Analyst).
• Support complex projects/implementations that impact multiple systems, interfaces, and departments (Senior Business Analyst).
• Provide guidance, direction, feedback, and coaching to ensure team effectiveness (Senior Business Analyst).
• Assist supervisor of team with day-to-day task assignments, status tracking, and issue resolution (Senior Business Analyst).

Benefits

• Competitive and transparent pay with bonus opportunities
• Excellent insurance package including three great medical plans to choose from, employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Relocation bonus (if applicable)
• Hybrid working environment for positions that are eligible
• Fantastic contributions to your retirement through a 401(k) savings plan with employer-match benefits and a pension (defined benefit plan) fully funded by SPP

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level