Business Analyst - Continuous Improvement

FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of 3,780 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. [SC00]

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Business Analyst role reports to one of the Directors, Continuous Improvement and can be located within the FirstEnergy service territory. Travel on an as needed basis. The Continuous Improvement Business Analyst is an individual contributor who plays a vital role in identifying and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce redundancies, optimize operations, and ensure customer satisfaction. The individual should act as a change agent, supporting a culture of continuous improvement and empowering the organization to improve operational effectiveness and profitability while delivering exceptional service to all key stakeholders. The individual should foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, creating a more efficient, resilient, and responsive organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify opportunities and work with the business unit on process improvement, waste reduction, and cost optimization.

• Conduct detailed analysis of current processes, using tools like process mapping, value stream mapping, root cause analysis tools, and data analysis to understand pain points, inefficiencies, and root causes of problems.

• Gather and analyze data, including performance metrics and KPIs, to quantify process inefficiencies and track improvements over time.

• Lead and participate in workshops and other initiatives to drive process enhancements and engage team members in problem-solving.

• Collaborate with various departments and stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for improvement initiatives, adopting a collaborative approach to change.

• Establish metrics to track progress and measure the impact of improvement initiatives, reporting on project status, savings, and outcomes to senior leadership.

• Apply controls and provide ongoing support to ensure that optimized processes are effectively implemented and maintained by teams, preventing lapses and embedding improvements in daily operations.

• Remain updated on industry trends and best practices by continuously researching and learning about new technologies, methodologies, and best practices.

• Evaluate potential improvement projects based on their financial impact and prioritize those that offer the highest return on investment and or base O&M reductions.

• Assess the financial implications of different improvement strategies and choose the most impactful solutions based on data and analysis.

• Utilize and develop tools to maximize asset value through sound strategy, informed decision-making, and business process and tool development

• Developing predictive and prescriptive models using statistical techniques, software, and machine learning algorithms to forecast future trends and outcomes.

• Develop reports using platforms such as Oracle BIP, Toad Database, RapidMiner, Python, and other tools through data visualization tools

• Participate in periodic release process regression testing as needed.

• Build and maintain models to enable and improve data-driven decision-making.

• Focus on safety and compliance by applying continuous improvement to ensure adherence to safety regulations and industry standards

• Additional hours of labor may be required during storm restoration so that we may meet the needs of our Customers.

Qualifications at the Assistant Business Analyst include:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, data science, statistics, mathematics, computer science, or engineering, in lieu of degree, two years of related experience required.

• Related experience includes but is not limited to process improvement and optimization efforts, financial management and change management. Experience in managing and delivering CI projects, meeting deadlines, and budgetary requirements, is also necessary.

• Proven expertise in electric utility operations, ability to drive operational excellence, and innovation.

• Analyze and interpret data to identify areas for improvement and measure the effectiveness of implemented changes.

• Capabilities to analyze key financial ratios to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement or potential risks

• Deep understanding and experience with Continuous Improvement methodologies.

• Skills in mapping current state processes and identifying bottlenecks or inefficiencies.

• Ability to plan, execute, and manage continuous improvement projects effectively, including setting timelines, managing resources, and tracking progress.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with team members and stakeholders.

• Willingness to adapt to changing priorities and learn new skills and methodologies

• Ability to work independently and manage one's own workload.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Visio and other business-unit specific applications.

• Experience with development of applications within Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint, Dataverse and Copilot

• Creation of analytics using Power Query and DAX in Power BI

• Familiarity with all phases of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) which includes gathering and analyzing business requirements, functional/technical specifications, designing, developing, testing, deploying the applications and providing production support

• Working knowledge of stage-gate project lifecycle processes.

• Knowledge of streamlining processes in areas like call centers while enhancing customer experience.

• Knowledge of employing modern utility solutions and technologies to enhance efficiency and reliability in the field operations.

• Demonstrate a questioning attitude to learn, grow produce results and work across FirstEnergy to develop relationships and deliver results.

• Develop effective working relationships with employees at all levels.

• Ability to deliver quality, accurate work within established deadlines.

• Excellent time management skills.

• Ability to lead by example.

• Demonstrate a questioning attitude.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification

Exempt

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team