Business Analyst - Continuous Improvement

FirstEnergy; Greensburg (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Pension plan

401(k) with matching

Tuition reimbursement

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

FirstEnergy is seeking a Continuous Improvement Business Analyst to identify and implement efficiency improvements across the organization. The role focuses on data-driven analysis, KPI tracking, and collaboration with multiple stakeholders to enhance operational effectiveness and profitability.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead workshops and create predictive models to forecast trends and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 7 years of relevant work experience in process improvement, optimization, financial management, change management, and CI project delivery.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with ability to identify challenges and propose solutions.
• Experience gathering and analyzing information, developing solutions, and presenting recommendations.
• Understanding of overall business operations and departmental functions.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities with business units on process improvement, waste reduction, and cost optimization.
• Conduct detailed process analyses using mapping, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and data analysis.
• Gather data and KPIs to quantify inefficiencies and track improvements.
• Lead workshops and initiatives to drive process enhancements and engage teams in problem solving.
• Collaborate with departments to align and support improvement initiatives.
• Establish metrics to track progress and report outcomes to senior leadership.
• Develop tools and models to maximize asset value and support decision making.

Skills

Process improvement

Data analysis

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder collaboration

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

7 years experience in lieu of degree

Tools

Oracle BIP

Toad Database

RapidMiner

Python

Data visualization tools

Job description

Overview

FirstEnergy is a forward-thinking electric utility committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better, and our communities stronger. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, we operate one of the nation’s largest investor‑owned electric systems, with over 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid‑Atlantic regions and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of 3,780 megawatts.

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Business Analyst reports to a Director of Continuous Improvement and may be located within the FirstEnergy service territory. The role is an individual contributor that identifies and implements improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce redundancies, optimize operations, and ensure customer satisfaction. The analyst acts as a change agent, supports a culture of continuous improvement, and empowers the organization to improve operational effectiveness and profitability while delivering exceptional service.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities and work with business units on process improvement, waste reduction, and cost optimization.
• Conduct detailed analysis of current processes using tools such as process mapping, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and data analysis.
• Gather and analyze data, including performance metrics and KPIs, to quantify inefficiencies and track improvements.
• Lead and participate in workshops and initiatives to drive process enhancements and engage team members in problem solving.
• Collaborate with various departments and stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for improvement initiatives.
• Establish metrics to track progress and measure the impact of initiatives; report project status, savings, and outcomes to senior leadership.
• Apply controls and provide ongoing support to maintain optimized processes and embed improvements into daily operations.
• Remain updated on industry trends and best practices through continuous research and learning.
• Evaluate potential improvement projects based on financial impact and prioritize those with the highest return on investment.
• Assess financial implications of different improvement strategies and choose the most impactful solutions based on data.
• Utilize and develop tools to maximize asset value through sound strategy, informed decision‐making, and business process development.
• Develop predictive and prescriptive models using statistical techniques, software, and machine learning algorithms to forecast future trends and outcomes.
• Create reports using platforms such as Oracle BIP, Toad Database, RapidMiner, Python, and data visualization tools.
• Participate in periodic release process regression testing as needed.
• Build and maintain models to enable and improve data‑driven decision‑making.
• Focus on safety and compliance by applying continuous improvement to ensure adherence to safety regulations and industry standards.
• Additional hours of labor may be required during storm restoration to meet customer needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience, or 7 years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree. Relevant experience includes process improvement, optimization, financial management, change management, and CI project delivery.
• Proficient analytical and quantitative skills with a demonstrated ability to identify challenges and propose solutions.
• Strong ability to gather and analyze information, develop solutions, and present recommendations.
• Knowledge of overall business operations and fundamental departmental functions.
• Proficiency in working with management and peers internally and externally.
• Ability to support established relationships and interface with external parties while maintaining core business objectives.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We reward individual and team efforts through a total rewards philosophy that includes competitive pay, incentive compensation, a company‑sponsored pension plan, a 401(k) savings plan with matching contribution, and a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs. We also offer skills‑development training with tuition reimbursement.

FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.

We do not work with recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. We currently cannot sponsor or transfer H‑1B visas.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co‑workers, our customers, and the public. Our goal is to provide a safe work environment, maintain an accident‑free workplace, and promote public safety, striving to achieve world‑class safety standards.

Position Classification

Exempt

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team