Advanced Business Analyst

This is for an open position with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. 

All employees who apply for a posted position must notify their supervisors that they have applied.  Employees who have not been in their current positions for at least one year or who are in a position with specific requirements beyond one year, must obtain approval from their supervisor before applying.

This position is located in Reading, PA or Akron, OH.

The level will be determined by the experience level of the successful candidate.

This position is responsible for supporting Work Management Operations (WMO) Consolidated Planning technical responsibilities and processes.  Major accountabilities are: 

• Learning and understanding the various aspects of the monthly duties related to the standardized long range planning database including providing and processing monthly change logs, extracting, processing and loading of actual timesheet data as each calendar month closes, and related activities; 
• Backing up other analysts as vacations and other absences or assignments require additional support including:
  • supporting and collaborating with operations leadership in using and understanding long range planning tools and reports; 
  • presenting to and interacting with operations leadership up through senior level on consolidated planning work plans and results;
  • providing updated work plans to short term planning personnel to facilitate completion of annual required work; 
  • ensuring the use of booked man-hrs as it compares to budgeted hrs and any variances balance out and if not providing the proper level of reporting to operations and WMO leadership.

This position has accountability for supporting Work Management initiatives as well as implementing Work Management process and performance improvements. 

Responsibilities: 

• Designing, building, and optimizing relational databases, custom macros/modules, and automation tools within the Microsoft Office suite (specifically Access and Excel).
• Translate complex business requirements into clean, scalable, and user-friendly automation solutions.
• Create intuitive, user-friendly GUIs, forms, dashboards, and reporting interfaces for non-technical end-users.
• Analyze and upgrade existing legacy databases, spreadsheets, and VBA applications to improve performance and stability.

• Write technical documentation and user guides for the tools and scripts.

• The following tasks will be more as a backup or as needed to support the other Business Analysts in the department:
  • Facilitating recurring meetings to discuss the work plans.  Attendees include the short term planning personnel, the Operations Manager (when available), and Engineering personnel with responsibility for the designers.
  • Collecting agreed upon target changes for remaining work and remaining absences via recurring meetings and collaboration with key stakeholders. Entering collected data into a change log and providing to the database administrator for implementation in the database.
  • Preparing, publishing, and/or distributing WMO Consolidated Planning reports as needed. 
• Promoting safety and safe work practices. 
• Providing storm support including off hours, weekends, and holidays. 
• Supporting and championing Consolidated Planning systems and processes for FirstEnergy Utility Operations. 
• Filling a supporting role to management and business partners following well-defined practices while providing a consistent level of service, continuous support and proactive involvement. 
• Recommending and developing solutions to issues and assignments. 
• Identifying and supporting process improvement activities and efficiencies through collaboration with other corporate departments (Engineering as an example)
• Anticipating and meeting internal and external customer needs. 
• Conducting business-specific research, and analyzing work plan data, interpreting results, and assisting in implementation activities for corrective action when necessary. 
• Participation in the development of WMO Consolidated Planning programs and policies. 
• Travel to meetings, trainings, etc. is possible on occasion but should be considered very infrequent in nature

Qualifications at the Assistant Business Analyst level include:

• Two or four year degree of Science in STEM fields: Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Software Development, Programming, Data Science/Analytics, Information Technology or related field (or equivalent practical experience).  Certificate in Computer Science Related field will be considered.
• Strong understanding of relational databases, SQL, and data modeling.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Access (Required), Microsoft Excel (Required), and TOAD (Tool for Oracle Application Developers) (Preferred).
• Detail-oriented and analytical VBA Designer/Developer to streamline business operations by automating and optimizing existing processes.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to build relationships with key stakeholders
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and make recommendations based upon analytics

• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders 

• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and logic skills

• Questioning attitude and willingness to challenge the status quo 

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality, work independently and /or in teams, and demonstrate strong decision-making capabilities 
• Models FE core values and behaviors
• Ability to deliver quality, accurate work within established guidelines
• Basic analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills are necessary with proven ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Ability to research and utilize best practices
• Actively seek ways to build challenges and add value within scope of assignments
• Awareness of changes to tasks, processes, and procedures that impact the organization
• Two- or four-year degree of Science in STEM fields: Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Software Development, Programming, Data Science/Analytics, Information Technology or related field (or equivalent practical experience).  Certificate in Computer Science Related field will be considered.

Qualifications for the Associate Business Analyst level include all of the above plus:

• Deeper knowledge or requirements listed above. 

Qualifications for the Business Analyst/Advanced Business Analyst level include all of the above plus:

• Bachelor’s degree of Science in STEM fields: Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Software Development, Programming, Data Science/Analytics, Information Technology or related field (or equivalent practical experience) with a minimum of 4 to 7 years relevant work experience or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience. 
• Advanced knowledge of analyzing data to deliver recommendations 
• Ability to communicate to different levels of upper leadership, representing the Voice of the Employee 

Qualifications for the Senior Business Analyst level include all of the above plus:

• Bachelor’s degree of Science in STEM fields: Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Software Development, Programming, Data Science/Analytics, Information Technology or related field (or equivalent practical experience) with a minimum of 7 years relevant work experience or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Independent thought driver that leads collaborative efforts