Job Responsibilities
Act as intermediary between business users and technical
resources for systems design and implementation. Write functional
specifications and oversee technical design from those
specifications. Write user training materials. Train trainers and
users during implementation. (40%)
Maintain project plans and allocate resources. Write requests for
proposals for software and consultants. Review proposals and
serve on selection committees. Write statements of work for
vendors and consultants. Review deliverables. Track budgets for
projects. (30%)
Design and generate reports for project results and other
requirements as determined. (20%)
Capture user initiatives or requirements for presentation to
executives for incorporation into strategic plan. Provide
assistance and guidance on systems testing. (10%)
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Job Requirements
Requires bachelor's degree in business with extensive computer
systems experience or in computer science with extensive business
accounting and retail experience. I came in with a degree in
finance, 13 years in credit and lending, 10 years as a computer
retail installing and supporting retail and financial systesm,
and 4 years in consulting. This person is a team generalist who
is responsible for integrating business processes with automated
systems and for assuring data integrity across systems. The
upward path from here is to project and program management.
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Uppers
The best part of the job is exposure to the entire business, across the
enterprise. There is visibility to and from the managers in all operating
departments. Working with teams from different locations and cultures can be very
rewarding.
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Downers
Visibility can be dangerous. Some projects are predisposed to
fail. Seeing this path ahead and having no power to change it can
be frustrating.
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Lifestyle
Hours are fairly regular most of the time. Compressed work schedule is an
option, so 40-44 hour weeks are normal. During implementations, all bets are off
- 60-70 hours per week are not unusual. I traveled 2-4 week stretches for 40% of
two years. This is not necessarily a bad thing. You sometimes have more control
of your work and your life outside the office.
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Compensation
Benefits are excellent. We are a federal government entity with
13 days vacation and sick leave and 10 paid holidays from the
beginning. Vacation days go up after 3 years to 20 days. We have
received annual bonuses for the past three years based on the
performance of the company and one's pay level for their job
description. We have a 401k and matching employer contribution.
There are no stock options. Pay is good for a retailer, not as
good as the same position would be in a civil service position
from the appropriated funds sector.
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Advice to Jobseekers
This position is never a "subject matter expert." As computer
positions go, many technical shops look puzzled and wonder what
you bring to the table. Larger IT shops well-integrated with the
business users understand the purpose of the integration person.
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