Job Purpose and Function
The Fuels Solutions Analyst proactively and holistically leads and partners with various business teams to guide the development and management of a portfolio of solutions. This individual is accountable to align Information and Technology teams to the concepts and understanding of the business goals, objectives and business outcomes, business capabilities, value-streams, and business processes and their importance in the overall enterprise application landscape. The Solution Analyst provides the necessary leadership, analysis and design tasks related to support the development of technology solutions to ensure that solutions meet business needs and align with architectural governance and standards. They create deliverables for managing the organization's portfolio of "to be" and "as is" solutions - including systems (applications, processes, information, and technology), shared infrastructure services, and shared application services and components to enable and drive targeted business outcomes.
How You'll Make an Impact (Key Accountabilities)
Interpret Business Needs
Translates business requirements into technical requirements to achieve business objectives and documents all solution design and analysis work. This includes but is not limited to design documents, process flows, requirements, specifications, test plans and roadmaps.
Partner with the business stakeholders to align resources and plan out activities to ensure the delivery of the technical solution that meets the business needs.
Understands business drivers and business capabilities (future and current state) and determines corresponding enterprise solution designs and change requirements to drive the organization's targeted business outcomes.
Understand technical options, limitations, costs, and risks. Communicate tradeoffs to business partners and work with them to shape requirements accordingly.
Assess Technology
Monitors the current-state solution portfolio to identify deficiencies through aging of the technologies used by the application, or misalignment / changes with business requirements.
Supports management and presents recommendations for end-of-life product decisions to maintain, refresh or retire services, or systems.
Able to research and present emerging technology trends and disruptions and their practical application to enable new and evolving business and operating models.
Analyzes the business-IT environment to detect critical deficiencies, legacy, and technical debt, and recommends solutions for improvement.
Facilitates the evaluation and selection of software product standards and services, as well as the design of standard and custom software configurations.
Consults across the organization to identify when it is necessary to modify designs to accommodate the new and evolving solutions that have direct or indirect impact on the portfolio. This includes but is not limited to current state documentation analysis against proposed solution, vendor assessment for RFP, contribution to cost/benefit analysis, contributions to proof-of-concept implementation.
Create and maintain a Solution Scorecard that assesses the solution fit, alignment to current technology standards, alignment to future strategies and overall "health" of the applications and solutions within the portfolio.
At least annually, analyzes the technology industry, competitors, and market trends, and determines their potential implications for a given solution and presents their findings and recommendations to both business and IT stakeholders during the Solution Scorecard review process.
Apply Technology
Serve as a liaison between business and IT teams by facilitating communication and determining software objectives that align with stated and unstated business needs.
Leads evaluation, design and analysis for the implementation of a solutions across a group of specific business applications or technologies based on enterprise business strategy, business capabilities, value-streams, business requirements and enterprise standards.
Develops a roadmap for the evolution of the enterprise solution portfolio from current to future state.
Creates designs to guide and contextualize solution development across products, services, projects, and systems, including applications, technologies, processes, and information/data.
Will perform the duties of a Project Manager on small projects and enhancements.
Partners with Project Manager(s) on large scale initiatives to ensure the execution of plans corresponds with what is being promised throughout the project or product lifecycle.
Provides support to other Solutions Analysts to ensure the project or product is aligned with the overall enterprise architecture and strategies.
Maintain clear documentation on the solution architecture of their individual portfolio and partner with other Solution Analysts to complete a full view of the enterprise solution architecture.
As required, perform the support duties on Tier 3/4 escalation for supported portfolio
What We're Looking For
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, information systems, project management, or general business management (or a related field); alternatively, equivalent progressive IT experience.
Minimum of 3-4 years of experience in IT solution development disciplines with heavy focus on automation and data-driven decisions.
Experience supporting a multi-unit fuel/wholesale organization with ability to translate business challenges into IT solutions.
PDI Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and/or ERP system implementation experience strongly preferred.
Experience with project or task management tools (i.e., Smartsheet, Azure DevOps/Boards, JIRA, Microsoft Project, etc.), creative solution tools (i.e., Microsoft Power Platform, Power Automate, Power Apps, PowerShell scripting, Power BI, Tableau); functional design tools (i.e., Visio or similar flowcharting tools, UML diagrams, etc.).
Additional Qualifications
Skilled in leading major workstreams or enhancements as part of a large project or proven experience leading smaller projects.
Experience with applications used in Fuel Wholesale Eco system.
Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies, platforms, and processing environments.
Ability to research and present technology trends and their application to business models.
Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
Ability to prioritize and urgency in handling competing priorities.
Proficient in creating architecture blueprints, strategies, and roadmaps.
Understanding of product management, agile principles and development methodologies and capability of supporting agile teams by providing advice and guidance on opportunities, impact, and risks, taking account of technical and architectural debt.
Experience in delivering presentations to executives and technical audiences.
Understanding of IT standards, controls, and application development methodologies.
Familiarity with infrastructure and network architecture.
Ability to collaborate with developers in an outsourced environment.
Organizational skills to navigate politics and competing agendas.
Ability to influence and guide stakeholders in decision-making, leading through indirect management.
Effective communication of ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Balancing long-term and short-term goals.
Translating business requirements into solution requirements.
Estimating the financial impact of solution alternatives.
Creative and analytical problem-solving skills.
Quick comprehension of new technologies' functions and capabilities.
Competencies
Adapting and responding to change
Working with people
Delivering results and meeting customer expectations
Analyzing - Strong analytical, planning, organizational and technical and skills
Applying expertise and technology
Deciding and initiating action
Adhering to principles and values
Presenting and communicating information
Learning and researching
Creating and innovating
Following instructions and procedures
Availability and Travel
The hybrid schedule includes two days (Tues and Thurs) in-office at our La Plata, MD headquarters each week. Additional days may be requested in advance for training, development, project meetings, etc.
Occasional travel to our sites or for training or conferences may be required, related travel expenses eligible for reimbursement.
Why You Should Join Wills Group
We are a $1.5 billion company headquartered in La Plata, Maryland (an easy 45-minute reverse commute from DC) with nearly 300 retail locations across the Mid-Atlantic region, including Dash In, Splash In ECO Car Wash, and SMO Motor Fuels. A family-owned company since 1926, our passion areas are in convenience retailing, fuels marketing, and commercial real estate and we pride ourselves on keeping our customers', employees', and communities' Lives in Motion.
Our Wills Group employees come to work for more than just a paycheck, but rather they come to learn, make contributions, make an impact, and feel valued as a part of our family-friendly culture. We have a work-hard, play-hard mentality that makes us a progressive company and we thrive on giving back to our community. That is what is core to our DNA.
Benefits and Perks
Are you interested in joining a certified Great Place to Work that invests in your development, future, and well-being? Are you looking for more than the "daily grind" where your day-to-day work makes an impact not only for the organization but for your community and your future? Then The Wills Group is the right fit for you. We take pride in investing in our people's well-being . click apply for full job details