Business Analyst - Merchandising & Supply Chain

Merchandising Business Analyst

Serves as Merchandising Business Analyst responsible for analyzing and documenting user business requirements within the scope of a project to improve existing MCCS Merchandising and Supply Chain System's business objectives. Translates the user needs into detailed specification documents of a system solutions (Internal/External Design). Ensures that the chosen business system solution requirements are met and are properly integrated into the business environment. Develops overall functional requirements, test-plans and assigns rework requirements to the development team. Manages and supports project tasks to ensure corporate objectives are met. Supports the integration of all system components such as procedures, databases, policies, software, and hardware. Actively participates in planning system implementation.

Leads the development of project scope and objectives. Consults with personnel or organization units involved to analyze current operational procedures, identify problems, and learn specific input and output requirements. Research industry systems and technology utilized outside the organization that may be possible system solutions for the business. Analyze and challenge user requests by finding alternative innovative solutions. Participates in the development of project plans. Documents detailed description of user needs, program functions, and steps required to develop or modify computer systems. Creates process flow diagrams to specify current and future business processes for review by business areas and development teams. Maintains and supports changes to the functional specifications document throughout the project.

Serves as liaison to internal or external development team(s) in resolution of functional specification issues, business process flow, testing, and implementation requirements.

Leads in the preparation and facilitation of joint application development sessions. Schedules user requirements and review meetings. Prepares agenda and presentations for meetings. Documents and distributes meeting minutes. Presents screen prototypes of design to business community. Provides functional specifications document to development staff during a Technical Review. Demonstrates to users how proposed system solution will support their business needs and secures their acceptance and signoff of the functional specifications document. Communicates updates/enhancements made to the system post implementation to the business user community. Prepares status reports indicating accomplishments and next steps for the reporting period as well as identifying any project related issues. Participates in weekly meetings with project team to discuss any project related matters as well as providing business related information.

Reviews computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations to determine if requested change is necessary and conforms to MCCS objectives. Responsible for maintaining project scope and objective by not allowing scope creep. Evaluates business user need in comparison to development effort and cost to determine appropriate course of action that minimized risk.

Develops and documents a test plan, test cases, and expected results based on the functional specifications document. Compiles test data that will execute each test case. Coordinates with the development team to execute system test in accordance with the test plan. Evaluates the testing output against the expected results documented in the test plan. Documents system flaws. Communicates necessary fixes to development team. Re-execute test scenarios to ensure desired results are met. Supports Quality Assurance team in final testing phase prior to implementation. Collaborates system testing with the user community for their evaluation and acceptance. Prioritizes system fixes/changes/installation based on severity to normal business interruptions.

Ensures that the agreed to system solution is understood by the user community and is integrated into their business procedures. Assists users in development of business process and timeline documentation. Formulates job aides to assist in the implementation of new business procedures. Coordinates the creation of user manuals with the training department. Responsible for initial training of core business users. Provides post implementation support and necessary follow-up training.

This is a white-collar position where occasional lifting up to 20 lbs. may be required.