Data Analyst

HMH is a learning technology company committed to delivering connected solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental and intervention solutions, and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students’ potential and extend teachers’ capabilities.

HMH serves more than 50 million students and 4 million educators in 150 countries. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com

The data analyst is responsible for executing and governing our HMH product master data within our business systems (SAP, Salesforce). This individual is responsible for executing processes and stage-gates that allow or disallow creation and maintenance of data models, product master data within the HMH business systems (Salesforce, SAP), and analytical tools (SQL). The data analyst provides support in maintaining and supporting databases, including inputting and cleaning data, developing or retiring data quality guardrails, policies that govern our product master data, establishing data specifications, configuration/integration, updating sources, and ensuring data integrity. The data supports development of new business requirements, assists in the development of new master data fields in SAP, influencing and guiding the development of business processes, and is a steward of the work governed in SAP, Salesforce and analytical tools.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Analyze, define, and document business data models
• Assist in eliciting business requirements to drive transformation or process improvements to our business systems
• Assist in developing and implementing systems (SAP, SQL, Access, Salesforce)
• Acquire data from primary and secondary sources and maintain data systems
• Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in complex data sets
• Drive proactive solutions and reduce reactionary data quality fixes
• Improve data quality for Salesforce and related business systems
• Analyze data using statistical techniques and provide reports
• Provide support for cutover, migration and deployment activities
• Conduct clear communication on project status with US-Based team and reporting structure
• Ability to navigate against time zone requirements and limitations, clear time management and prioritization on daily, weekly basis

Technical Skills

Data Analysis and Modeling

• Define conceptual, logical, and physical data models
• Develop data dictionaries and document associated business rules
• Develop data flow diagrams
• Derive data requirements from business processes
• Develop report requirements based on an understanding of business needs and data structures
• Work closely with the Data Governance team to implement standards and data quality practices across the organization

Data Integration

• Coordinate with the SAP and Salesforce integration team to deliver efficient data interfaces, data sync, testing, validation
• Support integration activities including plans, requirements, and interface specifications (middleware, snowflake)
• Help implement, support, and troubleshoot integrations, monitoring, and error remediation
• Provide support to all necessary applications, troubleshoot issues, and recommend appropriate solutions

Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring

• Plan business analysis approach
• Plan stakeholder engagement
• Plan decision-making and approval processes
• Plan requirements management

Elicitation and Collaboration

• Elicit requirements
• Validate requirements
• Communicate requirements
• Manage stakeholder collaboration

Requirements Lifecycle Management

• Trace requirements
• Maintain requirements
• Prioritize requirements
• Assess requirements changes
• Approve requirements

Skills and Abilities

Business Analysis Competencies

Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Demonstrates strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Demonstrates strong critical thinking skills
• Applies a variety of creative interviewing techniques to identify needs, issues, and solutions, while working with a diverse audience (business, management, technical)
• Facilitates and maintains stakeholder confidence in the decision-making process
• Is results-oriented

Behavioral Characteristics

• Exhibits strong self-starter attributes
• Demonstrates a high level of personal organization and time management
• Builds trust with stakeholders by applying honest and ethical standards in all interactions
• Adapts to rapidly changing environments and varieties of stakeholders
• Accepts responsibility for, and ownership of, personal errors
• Remains confident and ‘cool under pressure’ to perform in situations that are filled with more ambiguity than clarity

Business Knowledge

• Understands both organizational and technology goals
• Demonstrates business acumen in understanding business needs
• Understands the organizational structure and enterprise architecture
• Ability to connect commercial operations to business operations activities

Communication & Interaction Skills

• Demonstrates strong oral and written communications
• Effectively facilitates stakeholder sessions, ensuring success through preparedness and co-ordination
• Applies facilitation techniques to keep discussions focused and organized
• Adjusts style of written communications to meet the needs of the audience
• Relates, cooperates, and communicates with different kinds of people, including executives, sponsors, colleagues, team members, developers, vendors, learning and development professionals, end users, customers, and subject matter experts (SMEs)
• Strong communication skills to provide bi-directional communication up to SLT Leadership, Executive Summaries and within the department

Tools and Technology

• Uses a variety of software applications to support communication and collaboration, create and maintain requirements artifacts, model concepts, track issues, and increase overall productivity
• Use a variety of tools and technology to model, document, and manage outputs of business analysis activities and deliverables to stakeholders
• Demonstrates proficiency working within a Microsoft-based environment (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook, SharePoint).
• Proficient with Business Intelligence tools like Power BI

Organizational Competencies

• Instill trust: Gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Communicate effectively: Develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Customer focus: Build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions
• Drive results: Consistently achieve results, even under tough circumstances

Education and Experience

• Individuals must have a minimum of bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology/Systems, or Business, or in a related field
• Minimum of five years’ experience in a data analyst role
• Must have proven ability to quickly grasp HMH processes and apply business analyst skills and knowledge in a fast-paced environment, with minimal supervision
• Understanding of the practice of business analysis and industry standards
• Must have proven record in system implementation and undergoing CRM or ERP installations

The Information Technology organization is transforming to realize our mission: Become a leader in HMH’s digital transformation, and as a strategic partner, innovate and deliver highest value, competitive advantage solutions across all corporate and business functions. Our ambition is to be a digital leader through innovation and develop and deliver leading edge technology such as robotic process automation and artificial intelligence to solve some of HMH’s greatest operational business challenges. Our professionals will have business relevant skills to connect our HMH partners to technologies that propel the businesses to deliver the greatest value for HMH and our customers.

We are building a team of IT professionals with an insatiable appetite to learn, a relentless focus on customer service, a technological curiosity toward future possibilities, and a creativity in solving business challenges with leading technologies. Our team will find ways to work together, create a sense of community where it’s safe to take risks and learn together, develop our careers, and all have an opportunity to work on new technologies. We will work together, learn together and have fun together. As a team, we will lead HMH’s digital transformation.