Job Description
Step into a leadership role where you’ll guide Business Analysts, champion project management excellence, and enhance critical data systems that support agency operations. From refining processes to mentoring staff, you’ll shape the quality, efficiency, and integrity of key programs. Join us and make a direct impact on mission-driven outcomes.
Position Summary:The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is seeking a Business Analyst Officer to lead our Business Analyst Unit. This is a leadership position and serves the role of a senior level project manager for the IT unit and the agency. The position ensures compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and supports agency projects and mission priorities. The role of the officer serves as a key liaison between operational and technical staff and provides guidance to the Executive Office and Senior Leadership.
Why Join Our Team:
Mission: ACPE provides sustainable solutions for college, career and technical training. We are a collaborative team that supports one another. We actively support and model ACPE’s values: Service, Innovation, Empowerment, Quality, and Accountability. For more information about ACPE, our mission and our services, visit our website at:
Culture: We value continuous learning and growth. ACPE is the State’s postsecondary education agency, promoting access to, and success in, education and career training after high school. We are Alaska’s trusted higher education agency; our purpose is to serve Alaskans. We operate with integrity in everything we do.
Professional Growth: We support training for employees and have opportunities for upward mobility. ACPE seeks engaged candidates who are eager to expand their knowledge and skills. We are committed to providing the training and support needed for the right candidate to succeed.
Office Location: This position is located in Juneau. ACPE’s Juneau office is located in the Vintage Business Park area of Mendenhall Valley, conveniently close to public transportation and has ample parking available.
Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: This position offers a flexible/hybrid work schedule. However, during the probationary period, employees are required to work full-time, in person, at the Juneau office, Monday through Friday. For more information, please review the State of Alaska Telework Policy.
Upon successfully completing the probationary period, employees become eligible to telework. Employees may telework up to four days per week and work in-person at the Juneau office one day per week. Currently, all staff work in-office on Wednesday; this schedule may change based on agency needs, operational needs, special projects, meetings, or other job responsibilities that may require employees to work in the office more frequently. Employees should be prepared to report to the office as needed.
Benefits: As a State of Alaska employee, you may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. Actual benefits vary based on bargaining unit, position type, and full – or part-time status.
For complete information about insurance, retirement, and leave benefits, visit the State of Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits website.
Insurance Benefits:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions
• Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance (additional optional coverage may be available)
• Optional insurance plans, including long- and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), long-term care, and supplemental survivor benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for eligible health care or dependent care expenses
Retirement Benefits:
• Membership in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) or Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), as applicable
• Employer contributions to defined benefit or defined contribution retirement plans, depending on date of hire
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity in lieu of Social Security
• Optional participation in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
Paid Leave and Other Benefits:
• Personal leave that increases with years of service
• Twelve paid State holidays each year
What You’ll Do:
- Resolve complex problems and provide direction for Business Analysts. Plan, schedule, and supervise BA operations.
- Provides project management leadership for large interdepartmental projects. Develop and maintains project schedules and deliverables, update senior management to ensure adherence to ACPE’s project methodology guidelines.
- Develop test plans for software program enhancements. Identify appropriate cross sections of test accounts, perform testing regimens, analyze results, submit problem reports, and provide clear, concise documentation on the project scope, analysis, test results, recommendations, and implementation plans.
- Analyzes priorities and workloads; recommend and implement appropriate changes.
- Recommend enhancements or modifications to data processing programs to improve efficiency and accuracy.
- Hire, train, instruct, and evaluate subordinate personnel. Oversee their work and provide guidance on work habits, setting priorities, and organizing tasks.
- Oversee the research, documentation, and correction of loan, scholarship, and grant data as needed based on staff referrals.
- Serve as a contributing member of the extended management team and participate in ad-hoc committees as necessary.
- Perform other divisional work as required to support the mission of ISS and ACPE
What We’re Looking For – Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge:
- Detailed understanding of student loan servicing; grant and scholarship processing; relevant regulations and statutes; servicing systems structures and anomalies; project management procedures; and continuous improvement methodologies, including LEAN.
- Detailed understanding of data processing concepts, database structures, data analysis, and report creation concepts.
Skills:
- Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing, including conveying highly technical content; working with detailed requirements; and accurately analyzing complex problems. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and senior managers and to utilize sound problem-resolution techniques.
- Advanced skills in MS Excel, Word, Visio (or other flowcharting software); SharePoint; SAP Crystal, SSRS, Power BI (or other reporting systems); project management principles and practices; system testing and defect identification; supervision and team leadership; documentation of complex technical processes.
Abilities:
- Understand, interpret, and apply statutes, regulations, policies and procedures. Research and analyze complex problems; identify their basic elements; describe them as a series of logical steps. Work effectively with system users from a variety of positions and levels of authority. Manage stress, meet deadlines, coordinate multiple tasks, demonstrate good judgement, and make independent decisions.
- Lead group discussions and presentations and provide training to users with a wide range of proficiency levels.
- Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in one-on-one or group settings, both formally and informally, to colleagues at varying skill levels. Reason logically, identify relationships, and formulate credible conclusions.
Minimum Qualifications
- Eight years work experience utilizing analytical skills.
AND
- Four years work experience in a loan/grant/scholarship servicing environment utilizing analytical skills. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution may substitute up to 4 years of work experience.
AND
- One year of work experience in a supervisory capacity; OR two years in a project manager capacity; advanced-level skills with MS office Suite (Excel, Word, Visio, PowerPoint), SharePoint and SAP Crystal Reports or other report creation technology
Additional Required Information
This is a fully exempt job class under AS 39.25.110(11)
In accordance with the State of Alaska Cover Letter Policy, this position is a Range 17 or higher. The duties of this position require the evaluation of competencies that cannot be fully assessed through the application alone; therefore, a cover letter is required and must be submitted with your online application. You cover letter should be no more than one page (2-3 paragraphs).
In your cover letter, describe how your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience align with the key responsibilities and desired qualifications outlined in this job bulletin. If you reference work experience that is not already documented in your application, include the employer’s name, job title, dates of employment, whether the position was full-time or part-time, and a brief description of your responsibilities.
Applicants who do not submit a cover letter or who fail to adequately address the requested information may not advance to the next stage of the recruitment and selection process.
Education: If postsecondary education is being used to meet minimum qualifications, you must complete the Education and Training section of the application and attach your transcripts to your application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of credit hours earned in the “Degrees Obtained” field.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.
It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
Interview:
Applicants invited for an interview will be required to provide the following at the time of the interview:
- List of three (3) professional references including current daytime phone numbers.
- Copies of your two (2) most recent performance evaluations. Letters of reference may be substituted for evaluations.
THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY
This recruitment is open to Alaska Residents only. Applicants must meet Alaska Residency Requirements to be considered for employment at this time.
Special Notice: Please Read Carefully.
An applicant’s response to the minimum qualification question must be supported by the job application.
This position is established as an exempt position range 20.
This position is in the exempt service; therefore, it is not covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. As a result, ACPE may choose to fill this position as soon as a qualified applicant is identified. While ACPE is in the Department of Education and Early Development for administrative support services only, the Commission and its staff are not subject to the direction of the Commissioner of Education and Early Development nor the State Board of Education.
Applicants with an educational loan through the Commission must be current in payments to be considered for employment. A routine background check will be conducted on those applicants interviewed and under serious consideration for the position.
EEO Statement:
The State of Alaska complies with Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or 465-4095 in Juneau or 907-465-3412(TTY) or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.
Contact Information
WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to [email protected]. For applicant password assistance please visit:
Or call: 855-524-5627
For specific information about this position, please contact the hiring manager at the following:
Director of Information Support Services
[email protected]