Senior Continuous Improvement Analyst

San Jose State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University seeks a Senior Continuous Improvement Analyst to lead institution-wide process improvement initiatives across academic, student, and administrative units.

This highly autonomous role applies advanced continuous improvement, project management, analysis, and facilitation to identify opportunities, develop future-state solutions, and guide implementation for improved service delivery and operational performance.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training.
• Six years of administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.

Responsibilities

• Workshop Leadership: Plan and lead discovery sessions and value stream mapping workshops.
• Process Design: Translate complex operations into standardized process diagrams.
• Optimization Analysis: Analyze cross-functional operations to identify root causes and gaps.
• Future-State Design: Develop strategic and operational solutions and implementation approaches.
• Consultation and Facilitation: Serve as internal consultant to campus leaders and teams.

Skills

Continuous improvement

Project management

Facilitation

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent training

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Continuous Improvement Analyst serves as a high-levelindividual contributor and internal consultant responsible forleading complex, institution-wide process improvement, operationalanalysis, and business innovation initiatives across academic,student, and administrative divisions. Working with a high degreeof independence, the incumbent applies advanced continuousimprovement, project management, research, analytical, andfacilitation methodologies to assess complex organizationalchallenges, develop strategic and operational solutions, and guideimplementation efforts that improve service delivery, operationaleffectiveness, and institutional performance.

The incumbent independently leads highly complex, cross-functionalprojects; advises campus leaders on process, operational, andperformance improvement opportunities; facilitates the developmentof future-state processes and implementation strategies; anddevelops analytical frameworks and performance measures to supportdata-informed decision making. The position provides functionalleadership and influences outcomes across decentralizedorganizational units through expertise, consultation, facilitation,and consensus-building rather than direct administrativeauthority.

Key Responsibilities

• Workshop Leadership: Plan and lead interactive discoverysessions and value stream mapping workshops with campusstakeholders and subject matter experts to map current-stateworkflows
• Process Design: Translate complex, cross-departmentaloperations into standardized, clear swim lane process diagramsusing Lucidchart or similar tools
• Optimization Analysis: Conduct advanced analysis of complex,cross-functional operations to identify root causes, organizationaldependencies, policy and procedural barriers, service gaps,redundancies, and opportunities for improved effectiveness andefficiency
• Future-State Design: Apply advanced analytical and continuousimprovement methodologies to develop and recommend strategic andoperational solutions, future-state processes, and implementationapproaches addressing complex organizational challenges
• Consultation and Facilitation: Serve as an internal consultantto campus leaders and cross-functional teams, facilitating complexdiscussions, reconciling competing priorities, and buildingconsensus around improvement opportunities and recommendedsolutions
• Performance Measurement: Develop performance measures, KPIs,and evaluation frameworks to establish operational baselines,assess improvement opportunities, and evaluate the effectiveness ofimplemented changes
• Operational Analysis: Collect, integrate, analyze, andinterpret complex quantitative and qualitative operationalinformation to identify trends, root causes, organizationalimpacts, and opportunities for improvement
• Decision Support: Translate complex analysis into clearfindings, recommendations, visualizations, and executive-leveldecision-support materials for campus leadership
• Performance Reporting: Develop and maintain appropriatereporting tools and dashboards to monitor operational performanceand communicate progress toward established goals
• Complex Project Leadership: Independently plan, lead, andimplement highly complex, cross-functional process improvement andoperational initiatives of broad institutional impact, establishingproject scope, approach, milestones, deliverables, risks, andmeasures of success
• Project Governance and Analysis: Develop project charters,implementation plans, risk assessments, decision documents,progress reports, and recommendations for project sponsors andinstitutional leaders
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Provide functional leadership tomultidisciplinary project teams and coordinate work acrossdecentralized organizational units, establishing accountability forproject deliverables without direct supervisory authority
• Strategic Alignment: Evaluate project decisions andrecommendations from a broad organizational perspective,identifying downstream impacts and ensuring proposed solutionssupport institutional priorities and longer-term objectives

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of continuous improvement, organizationalanalysis, process redesign, project management, change management,operational performance methodologies, with demonstrated ability toapply these disciplines to highly complex organizationalchallenges
• Expert analytical and problem-solving skills, including theability to integrate complex quantitative and qualitativeinformation, identify underlying principles and organizationalimplications, and develop strategic and operationalrecommendations
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan, organize, lead, andimplement multiple complex, cross-functional initiatives with broadinstitutional impact
• Advanced consultative and facilitation skills, including theability to engage diverse stakeholders, navigate competingpriorities, influence without direct authority, and build consensusaround complex or sensitive issues
• Ability to assess organizational problems from a broad,systems-oriented perspective; anticipate downstream impacts; anddevelop proactive solutions that align strategic goals withoperational implementation
• Advanced written, verbal, presentation, and data-visualizationskills, including the ability to translate complex analysis intoclear findings, recommendations, and decision-support materials forexecutive and other leadership audiences
• Demonstrated skill in research, operational analysis,performance measurement, program/process evaluation, and theinterpretation of data to develop sound conclusions andrecommendations
• Knowledge of change-management principles and demonstratedability to develop strategies supporting stakeholder readiness,adoption, implementation, and sustainability of organizationalchange
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and serveas a trusted internal consultant with executives, administrators,faculty, staff, and other internal and external stakeholders
• Proficiency with contemporary project-management,process-mapping, analytical, visualization, and collaboration toolsappropriate to the work
• General awareness of emerging technologies, includingartificial intelligence (AI), and a willingness to develop skillsin their appropriate, responsible, and ethical use in a highereducation environment, consistent with institutional policies andpractices
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional andrespectful manner

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training
• Six years of administrative work experience involving study,analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development orimprovement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, orprograms

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business administration, publicadministration, higher education administration, organizationaldevelopment, industrial/systems engineering, or related field
• Professional certification in one or more relevantdisciplines—such as PMP, Lean Six Sigma, Prosci/CCMP, or comparablecertification
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional processimprovement, organizational effectiveness, operational analysis, orinstitutional improvement initiatives
• Experience consulting with senior leaders and facilitatingdiverse stakeholder groups to analyze complex problems, developrecommendations, and build consensus
• Experience applying Lean, Lean Six Sigma, process improvement,change management, project management, or related methodologies incomplex organizational environments
• Experience developing operational performance measures,analyzing organizational data, and translating findings intorecommendations and decision-support materials
• Experience in higher education, public sector, or similarlycomplex decentralized organizations

Compensation

Classification: Administrative Analyst/Specialist – ExemptIII

Anticipated Hiring Range: $8,589/month - $9,297/month (Step 16 –Step 20)

CSU Salary Range: $6,382/month - $9,297/month (Step 1 – Step20)

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefitspackage typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For moreinformation on programs available, please see the EmployeeBenefits Summary

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access anyin-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated orcontrolled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccinerecommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health(CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and otherrelevant indications and comply with other safety measuresestablished by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to [e-mail] .

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which maybe rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, AccurateBackground. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.(e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible TitleIX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Education Code 89521 Requirements

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizesthe release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policyand Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policystatements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information,crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, andinformation about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at [e-mail] .

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at [e-mail] .

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste,color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, genderidentity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition,military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex,sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policyapplies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX ofthe Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal andstate laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in alleducation programs and activities operated by the university (bothon and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicantswith disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to complywith the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as acondition of employment.

Advertised: October 26, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific DaylightTime

Applications close: