Senior Productivity Analyst

To perform analytical studies, develop performance improvement strategies and manage administrative projects in order to improve department operational performance and ensure cost savings for SMUD.

Serves as a technical or functional expert or consultant providing expertise and/or direction in one or more areas of a professional discipline and assumes responsibility for resolving complex problems and projects; may serve in a lead role and assist in planning, coordinating, prioritizing, monitoring and evaluating the work results in assigned area and in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating and developing lower-level personnel.

• Performs consulting services by conducting studies of manual and automated information systems and related programs; coordinating and negotiating input and involvement of several departments when project scope involves multiple departments; documenting workflow, paperwork channels, work methods, procedures and other aspects of systems; analyzing systems to identify inefficiencies; and designing productivity systems and/or preparing recommendations for performance and/or system improvements.
• Manages multiple highly complex projects concurrently including planning, analyzing, directing, monitoring and evaluation of each project and associated milestones.
• Prepares project implementation plans and schedules, including detailed task development, scheduling and monitoring of performance.
• Plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, and guides work activities with team members.
• Leads and supports key business initiatives by overseeing the development of short- and long-term strategic and operational plans.
• Partners with applicable stakeholders within and across business units and departments.
• Leads in the performance of both short- and long-term strategic business planning, balancing the experiences and needs of customers while also focusing on internal priorities, resources and objectives; oversees long-term strategies while also delivering value to the business through short-term, actionable efforts; clearly identifies SMUD's current state, desired state, key steps required to reach desired state, and benefits to SMUD and stakeholders; maintains a focus on customer experience excellence; ensures achievement of department results and goals that support SMUD's strategic objectives.
• Responsible for identifying and implementing cost savings.
• Assists in planning, reviewing and conducting work activities and researching required project information associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plan/contract required.
• Provides expertise in support of systems benchmarking for anticipated major system implementations, enhancements or modifications by providing documented system specifications; evaluating vendor proposals; recommending appropriate courses of action; and implementing accepted vendor proposals with affected SMUD departments and units.
• Prepares and presents written and/or oral communication materials which promote concepts and ideas for proposed system and operational changes, report findings of studies and project teams and summarize recommendations which address system solutions for SMUD system users and managers.
• Identifies system operational performance data by researching documented studies and/or benchmark descriptions of systems; developing performance indicators; deriving monitoring schemes or methods for system operation and performance; providing management with documentation of performance indicators and monitoring schemes; and performing audits or reviews of new system/program installations to verify their effectiveness, measure achievement of objectives and validates projected savings.
• Audits or reviews newly installed systems and/or programs for effectiveness, performance, and cost savings by observing system operations; collecting and analyzing statistical and financial data; and measuring system performance using established system monitoring methods and performance indicators.

• Participates in design, development and presentation of training and related materials, which support implementation of system installations and enhancements and improve department information resources and utilization of automated information systems.
• Develops and interprets SMUD and departmental policies and procedures, maintains the department's policies, practices and procedures manuals and filing systems for controlled documents and coordinates management review, concurrence and approval of new and revised SMUD policies and procedures.
• Participates in departmental annual budget preparation and ongoing administration by developing and presenting guidance and training to department staff; choosing and ensuring classification of expenditures in accordance with federal guidelines; developing management reports containing comparison of analysis of budget content; assisting in development of unit budget and annual and revised program budget presentations for management review; supporting development and utilization of automated systems for budget preparation and assessment; evaluating, comparing and preparing managements reports of actual expenditures to projected budget; and reviewing annual budget reports for adherence to SMUD policies and procedures.
• Provides quality control in preparation and maintenance of department budgets and reporting by developing and presenting staff training; preparing training and reference manuals for support of budget processes; and communicating budget policies and procedures to department staff.
• Performs other related duties as needed to include working outside of typical business hours when necessary.

• High school diploma or equivalency

• At least five (5+) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in the evaluation of business and automated information systems, development of productivity improvement and performance monitoring systems, and development and application of performance improvement strategies in work environments

Basic math, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; fundamentals and practices of systems evaluation; procedures and practices for cost control and project scheduling; procedures and practices for monitoring and managing projects; methods and techniques for report preparation and writing; techniques and strategies for public speaking; concepts related to evaluating and recording performance results; methods and techniques for training staff; fundamentals and practices of business systems; fundamentals of statistical and financial accounting policies and systems; complex computer systems and resources, electronic records, database administration and development of automated reports; methods and techniques for record keeping; fundamentals, practices and techniques of productivity improvement and related programs; fundamentals of management theory; techniques for data gathering; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.

Interpret SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs and/or other special agreements; design productivity systems; develop performance improvement strategies; develop new and revised policies and procedures to provide for the effective operation of the unit; identify and assess training needs for staff; interact with others to influence and motivate; compile and prepare technical, statistical and/or analytical reports and presentations; develop and conduct oral presentations to internal/external audiences; reconcile significant and/or controversial differences to bring interested parties to consensus; evaluate and resolve complex technical or management issues; plan, organize, prioritize and schedule projects; monitor and manage projects; evaluate procedures/systems and develop/implement operational improvements; evaluate situations, documents and data for conformance to established policy and procedures; develop approaches for implementing an idea; develop an estimation of how a system should work under ideal conditions; identify significant organizational issues, concerns and needs and develop strategies for rectifying them; interpret, clarify, understand and evaluate verbal/written information and ideas; prepare a business case to weigh the relative costs and benefits of a potential action; utilize judgement and evaluation to identify the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches; assist in budget preparation and administration; serve as reference person for other employees; interact with others to influence, motivate and stretch; use mathematics to solve problems; choose the appropriate mathematical methods or formulas to solve problem; use of basic mathematics; use judgement and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problem solving; develop general rules or conclusions based on problems and logically substantiate recommendations and/or explanations; utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field directly related to area of assignment.
• Process Improvement Certification (e.g. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ Certified Quality Improvement Associate)
• Project management certification (e.g., Project Management Professional - PMI, Certified ScrumMaster - Scrum Alliance, Professional Scrum Master - Scrum.org)
• Business analysis certification (e.g. IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional, ASQ Certified Quality Process Analyst)
• At least five (5+) years serving as an internal or external consultant.
• Strong facilitation skills.
• At least five (5+) years of experience with documentation creation and management (e.g., information mapping expertise), gap analysis, metrics, and process improvement project ROI.
• Experience facilitating kaizen events.
• Experience designing optimal customer experiences (e.g., customer journey mapping, human-centered design process expertise, identifying customer touchpoints, gathering VOC, training design and development).