Business Engagement Analyst

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is currently seeking a Business Analyst for a full-time position within the Business Engagement team of our IT Department. This position will serve as an advocate for the for the business stakeholders as they submit their IT requests. Responsibilities include conducting research related to the agency program IT requests and coordinating the gathering, development, and documentation of business cases, technology requirements, and the review and assessment of business processes. Additionally, this role will participate in legislative analysis and fiscal note activities related to legislative initiatives affecting program areas’ technology requirements.
A Business Analyst in the IT Business Engagement team performs complex business and systems analysis work that involves gathering, developing, and documenting user requirements, reviewing and assessing business processes, and providing research and special project work. This role works in concert with appropriate stakeholders on IT solutions and business decisions to support the organization’s short-term and long-term business goals/strategy to ensure they align with IT strategies and project requirements. Good communication and presentation skills are required for developing reports, fiscal notes, and presentations. Familiarity with child and adult welfare case management system requirements is desired.
The mission of DFPS is to protect children, the elderly, and people with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by involving clients, families, and communities. We are looking to grow our teams with people like you who share our energy and enthusiasm to get behind our mission of protecting those among us who are most in need.
This position is classified as a full-time position (40 hours a week). Work outside of regular hours may be required. Travel to other Austin offices(s) may be required. Work will be performed under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
This position is a full-time position that includes other State of Texas benefits as described in this SAO site: http://www.sao.texas.gov/SAOReports/ReportNumber?id=18-704

Requirements

• Ability to work within cross functional teams.
• Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with technical, non-technical, functional, management and executive staff.
• Knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Project Management Life Cycle (PMLC) methodologies; high-level system design methodologies and techniques (entity/relationship models, data/process flow diagrams); object-oriented programming and of programming client/server applications.
• Knowledge of information gathering techniques with demonstrated experience for developing findings and recommendations from data collection.
• Knowledge of technical approaches used to deliver projects, products and services to large client organizations; and current and future IT trends and best practices.
• Ability to analyze legislation to determine and document agency impact analysis, fiscal notes and cost estimates.
• Strong skills in meeting facilitation and presentations for meetings involving cross-functional teams and including external stakeholders.
• The ability to use independent judgment in identifying root cause of problems, and developing solutions to a variety of problems of moderate to large scope and complexity.
• The ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Intermediate level knowledge of office productivity software including Microsoft Office Suite to include MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project, SharePoint, Visio and/or SQL.
• Ability to analyze and process information quickly.
• Ability to identify and address existing and potential obstacles, issues and opportunities; and identify and mitigate key issues affecting the progress of organization and process solutions.
• Ability to translate up-to-date information into continuous improvement activities that enhance program area performance.
• Demonstrates excellent organization skills, e.g., defines and organizes tasks, responsibilities and priorities.
• Consistently demonstrates strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to develop documentation that maps and illustrates processes and develop framework for process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience in expressing technical and business concepts and conclusions orally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate with all team members and stakeholders; technical teams and customers; work in a team setting; manage multiple tasks, projects and priorities; train and mentor junior level staff.
• Skill in analyzing business processes and developing business cases for new or modified customer-related products and services.
• Skills in problem root cause analysis and negotiating problem resolution
• Ability to analyze and interpret program and technical information including regulations, policies, and business rules to aid in DFPS IT program goal and priority setting.
• Ability to work with moderate supervision and provide full transparency into all aspects of ongoing work assignments.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent professional experience may substitute for formal education on a year‑for‑year basis. (Example: Four years of relevant experience may substitute for a bachelor’s degree, and vice versa.)
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in business analysis, project management, or supporting IT or business process projects.
• Experience may include: requirements gathering, stakeholder facilitation, workflow/process mapping, document development in support of enterprise projects, or project coordination.
• Demonstrated experience translating business requirements into technical solutions or implementation plans.
• Experience working with cross functional teams, including IT, data, legal, privacy, and security.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Case Management applications or CCWIS application systems a plus but not required.
• Prefer experience in estimating project effort and timelines.
• Prefer knowledge of Texas Project Delivery Framework.
• BRMP – Business Relationship Management Professional Certification a plus, not required
• CBAP – Certified Business Analysis Professional Certification a plus, not required
• ITIL – Information Technology Infrastructure Library Certification preferred, not required
• Experience working in government, public-sector IT, or other regulated environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages, evaluates, and processes incoming Information Technology (IT) service requests.
• Assists in identifying agency-wide continuous process improvement initiatives with primary emphasis on development of business process optimization/redesign and use case development.
• Develops reporting mechanisms to track and prioritize incoming technology requests compared to existing IT capabilities and agency funding.
• Conducts research and analysis to cost and document effects of legislative initiatives on IT systems and processes.
• Reports on IT resources required to evaluate existing and proposed system or network infrastructure changes and determine level of effort and cost for requested changes; and develops related benefit analysis in meeting high-level business needs.
• Analyzes complex business processes, equipment, and techniques for applicability, reliability, efficiency, speed, cost, flexibility in meeting customer needs with relation to customer IT Service Requests.
• Maintains a strong awareness to the agency strategy, funding, goals, child and adult welfare practices, IT platforms, and processes to ensure IT requests reflect the priorities and needs of the agency.
• Review and comment on complex project deliverables such as project charters, quality management and risk assessment plans, workflow diagrams, and business rules.
• Communicates planning and key decisions by program and IT leadership and management to appropriate audiences.
• Leads and coordinates change management activities e.g., frequent communication to customers about the change and its impact.
• Advocates, coaches, and mitigates resistance to changes to minimize disruption and achieve desired results from initiatives that are triggered/enabled by technology.
• Negotiates agreements and commitments by effective facilitation and communication between business stakeholders and IT from initial requirements to final implementation.
• Develops presentations for senior and executive level management and governing bodies to communicate recommendations, options, risks, cost benefit analysis, end user impacts on business processes and system priorities.
• Ensures IT solutions and business decisions support the organization’s short- and long-term business goals/strategy and aligns with IT strategy.
• Analyzes technology trends to determine impact on achieving agency’s goals.
• Uses the service catalog to identify opportunities and perform assessments for developing solid recommendations based on business relevance, technology, implementation and deployment.
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to align technology solutions with business strategies.
• Documents IT solution decisions/risks/issues.
• Contributes to the business case process and develops corresponding documents as required.
• Plans, participates, and/or facilitates stakeholder business planning and strategy meetings to include short- and long-term strategic planning sessions with customers and agency management.
• Coordinates work with other IT applications/interfaces within and external to DFPS to include other state and federal agencies.
• Develops, implements, and maintains quality assurance policies, processes, best practices, and standards.
• Coordinates or performs root cause analysis for issues with IT system or processes.
• Outlines recommendations for business process improvement.
• Solicits and manages stakeholders’ satisfaction for IT services using available tools and metrics.
• Ensures stakeholders’ expectations are met and identifies and resolves disconnects through negotiation or governance mechanisms.
• Develops and coordinates other special projects and performs other duties as assigned

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

What This Job Offers

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