Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Business Analysis

Business Analysts work with many project stakeholders, senior leaders, subject matter experts, project managers, change management consultants, and trainers to facilitate a broad range of organizational improvement activities. Business Analysts define, develop, facilitate, and modify new or existing business processes or solutions; visually model current state processes, organizational structure, data structure, and other business information to identify the root causes of business problems; interview stakeholders to elicit, analyze, specify, validate, and verify requirements; identify business needs and determine solutions to business problems; negotiate compromises among stakeholder groups; support, develop, and deliver communications and training related to new business processes or solutions; generate reports and program documentation; conduct and evaluate process analysis, process improvement, organizational change, strategic planning, and/or policy development.

• Meet with various stakeholders to gather and analyze information about critical business needs
• Elicit requirements using various methods, including but not limited to interviews, document review, requirements workshops, and surveys
• Validate and verify the business needs or requirements by testing, reviewing, and documenting
• Document definitions and attributes of current business functions using visual diagrams, process models, workflows, process maps, cost analysis, or other tools as appropriate
• Analyze existing business solutions in comparison to improved or proposed changes to identify gaps and/or necessary changes; conduct solution comparisons to evaluate, select, and optimize best solutions
• Prioritize tasks and projects; design new or improved business solutions based on analysis; build consensus; manage subsequent changes to improved business functions
• Identify potential bottlenecks and/or risks in new or improved business functions and make recommendations for resolution; contribute to continual process improvement; ensure that proposed processes do not conflict with other processes across the unit or institution
• Develop and administer training resources and communication plans; administer and collect regular feedback; deliver training and/or stakeholder acceptance plans
• Partner with key roles such as project managers, other business analysts, process improvement specialists, and change management consultants to maximize business value for the customer
• Contribute to the establishment of project definition and scope for short-term and long-term projects
• Provide regular progress updates to Project Manager, Senior Business Analyst, unit leadership, etc.
• May supervise staff, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Principal Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 13
• Minimum – $86,300.00
• MidPoint – $107,900.00
• Maximum – $129,500.00