Systems Analyst/Product Support Analyst
IT – Analyst, Data Management
Cape Town – Western Cape
ENVIRONMENT:
DESIGN and ensure exceptional delivery and optimum performance and stability of systems as the next Systems Analyst/Production Support Analyst sought by a reputable Retail Group to join its IT Merchandising division. You will be expected to interpret and transform business requirements into well-defined system solutions and specifications. while ensuring ideal integration of new systems and services to the broader ITS environment. You will also support and provide input into the maintenance/ enhancements of applications. The successful candidate requires a 3-year IT related tertiary qualification, 5-8 years relevant experience in a similar role with strong SQL & relational database knowledge, Application Management skills, good working knowledge of various system integration formats and experience working on multiple projects.
DUTIES:
- Collaborate with all key stakeholders including Business Project teams, partners, Development teams within ITS, to understand business requirements.
- Participate in the process design or re-design and translate business/user requirements/ processes into a system design.
- Ability to interpret business requirements / Business Requirement Definitions/Specifications into System Requirement Specifications.
- Develop and maintain System Requirement Specifications and test documentation.
- Analyse existing system and interfaces for modification / improvement purposes and evaluate and design system enhancements.
- Give input to business requirement specifications.
- Document, publish and maintain system design (new system developments and enhancements/changes) and all interfaces with other systems.
- Manage and take ownership of incidents / problems / changes logged through the Service Desk and impacting Merchandising and downstream systems.
- Resolve user queries, provide input to Programming Support teams when needed and provide technical leadership and guidance.
- Identify root cause of problems (including cross team) and appropriate measures taken.
- Maintain focus on systems availability and achieving Service Level Agreement targets.
- Manage multiple tasks and prioritise appropriately to minimise business impact.
- Investigate and resolve complex systems issues across applications.
- Maintain operations documentation (specifications and standby), ensure accurate and relevant at all times, according to agreed standards.
- Do standby on a rotational basis.
- Cross skill in different Merchandising processes.
- System Changes: – Testing, Implementation and Maintenance.
- Develop system test plans for System and Integration Testing.
- Design, document and test interfaces with other systems.
- Change systems specifications based on testing problems / changing requirements.
- Perform Quality Assurance, Regression and Systems Integration Testing and feedback results.
- Manage the creation and hand-over of the system administration procedures where required.
- Manage integration projects or sub-projects.
- Provide input into implementation plans, review back-out plans for completeness and ensure tasks are coordinated effectively during implementation.
- Identify risks and ensure appropriate contingencies are in place.
- Provide system input to design of user training material; where applicable, test changes with users and ensure users are adequately prepared for the changes.
- Monitor changes to ensure correctness and provide post-implementation support.
- Participate in the post-implementation reviews for completed projects.
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications –
- 3-year IT tertiary qualification.
Experience/Skills –
- 5-8 Years relevant experience as a Systems Analyst/ Production Support Analyst.
- Strong SQL and relational database knowledge.
- Good working knowledge of various system integration formats.
- Application Management skills.
- Good understanding and application of the SDLC.
- Relevant business process context knowledge.
- Experience working on multiple projects.
- Knowledge of IT landscape, including systemic understanding of key business linkages and dependencies.
Advantageous –
- Relevant retail and business knowledge.
- Good understanding / knowledge of IT Merchandising processes.
ATTRIBUTES:
- Strong analytical skills.
- Appropriately derives and organises the essence of information to draw solid conclusions.
- Looks beyond symptoms to uncover root causes of problems to be solved.
- Clearly defines objectives and translates them into workable activities.
- Anticipates potential obstacles and their impact on the accomplishment of goals and timelines and propose/ take corrective action where required.
- Listens attentively and checks understanding of the message being received.
- Speaks fluently in team meetings when presenting information.
- Convinces others by identifying benefits for all; looks for ways to increase the value of the partnership for all parties.
- Genuinely cultivates personal bonds with colleagues in order to enhance performance throughout the organisation.
- Adjusts to work effectively within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
- Demonstrates resourcefulness in acquiring necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to adapt to change.