Senior Program Business Analyst

NOTE: Effective April 1, 2024 the salary range for this position is $82,217 to $121,155 per year in compliance with AMAPCEO collective agreement provisions. The new rates, effective retroactive to April 1, 2024, were recently confirmed and dates for implementation of the new salary rates are still to be determined.

Are you a dedicated professional with experience in business analysis, process improvement, digital transformation, change management and strategic planning and analysis? Do you have strong communication and stakeholder/relationship management skills? Are you interested in making a difference for both internal and external stakeholders by contributing to transformative process improvements? Are you interested in modernizing the management and delivery of government funding programs?

If so, Transfer Payment Ontario Branch is looking for a client-focused, innovative and collaborative Senior Program Business Analyst who is ready to provide leadership for the planning, analysis and implementation of projects, and collaborating with partners to drive enterprise-wide change while focusing on the delivery of transformational / change management activities.

About Us: The Transfer Payment Ontario Branch is the key administrative and coordinating hub for the ongoing use, planning and development of the Transfer Payment Ontario system. Staff provide leadership, business advice, project management for ministry onboarding and program implementation, change management resources and technical support for both internal and external clients.

Transfer Payment Ontario's Program Strategy Unit consists of a team of dedicated professionals who bring enthusiasm and creativity to their work. As a team, we promote an inclusive and supportive workplace culture that encourages open communication and knowledge sharing.

Our unit leads work on the Transfer Payment modernization for the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD). Transfer Payment modernization is focused on improving the way the Ontario government delivers transfer payment programs (funding) to service providers, such as municipalities and non-profit organizations. Our team supports the goals of modernization and transformation by working closely with central agencies and ministries to promote the use of the Transfer Payment Ontario system (TPON), an enterprise web-based system for delivering transfer payment programs. We support policy discussions and provide advice as it relates to the ongoing use of TPON.

Why work for the Ontario Public Service? The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is committed to being an employer of first choice, creating a positive and inclusive work environment. We welcome new ideas and new people, encourage learning and development, and reward achievement. We offer challenging work and competitive pay and benefits package, Worklife balance in a diverse and inclusive workplace

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this role you will:
• Lead the initiatives and projects supporting the transfer payment modernization.
• Work closely with central agencies and ministries to advance the guidance to ministries and promote the use of the Transfer Payment Ontario system (TPON), an enterprise web-based system for delivering transfer payment programs and lead change management activities for various ministry clients in order to optimize and modernize their funding processes and tools.
• Work closely with ministry program areas to assess their needs, gather future state requirements and identify areas of improvement.
• Prepare a range of analytical, planning and communication materials (e.g., project charters and plans, fit-gap analysis, presentations, briefing notes, correspondence, option papers, orientation packages) requested by internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with central agency partners on enterprise and cross-ministry initiatives related to governance, data integrity, policy development and implementation and change management.
• Work with the other Transfer Payment Ontario teams to coordinate modernization initiatives, provide strategic perspective and user-centric approach.
• Engage in user experience (UX) and digital innovation projects to collect user feedback and help design/implement system enhancements to improve the overall TPON user journey
• Deliver internal/external change management sessions to provide guidance and share the best practices to our community of users.

How do I qualify?

Project Management and Business Planning Skills:

• You have demonstrated knowledge of project management methodologies and techniques to manage a portfolio of initiatives.
• You are able to monitor project tracking and facilitate project reporting, providing recommendations to address issues and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• You have experience leading planning and/or implementation activities in order to support government funding activities. This includes user research, business analysis, demos, process reviews, planning, requirements gathering, and fit-gap analysis.
• You have experience in supporting change management activities in order to manage the transition of transfer payment programs onto the system.
• You have strong planning and organizational skills to build strategies, frameworks, plans for initiatives and projects deal with multiple priorities and contentious issues.
• You can provide guidance to program staff when leading/coordinating implementation and change management activities .
• You have expert knowledge of business planning, analysis and management principles and practices to provide advice to program areas and senior staff in program management and delivery.

Relationship Management and Consultation Skills:

• You have excellent communication, consultation and interpersonal skills to maintain strong partnerships, provide advice and recommendations, and ensure that stakeholder needs are addressed.
• You have demonstrated facilitation and presentation skills to lead discussions and workshops, present recommendations and advice to stakeholders of different levels and backgrounds
• You have the ability to collaborate and provide leadership and advice in the areas of your expertise
• You have mediation, consensus-building, influencing and persuasion skills to gain support implementation and buy-in
• You demonstrate diplomacy when responding to contentious and sensitive issues.
• You can prepare documents to provide overviews, project concepts, strategic plans and recommendations to senior leadership including presentations, in-depth reports, briefing materials, project documentation and correspondence.

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• You have knowledge of and proven experience with business analysis processes, Siebel based client-relationship management tools and Adobe Software to lead complex projects in relation to transfer payment modernization and digital government initiatives.
• You have demonstrated knowledge of and skills in process and program improvement principles and techniques.
• You have knowledge of government decision making processes.
• You have knowledge of process analysis/evaluation techniques, as well as understanding of data analysis approaches.
• You can understand provincial strategic directions, policy and legislation related to transfer payment administration.
• You can develop and execute strategies that improve overall user interactions with digital government products and services, resulting in positive user feedback.

Analytical, Research and Computer Skills:

• You have strong analytical, research and problem-solving skills to assess qualitative and quantitative information and to plan/conduct research studies, environmental scans and risk assessments.
• Carry out risk assessments of proposed projects / initiatives and work plans in support of transfer payment
process improvements.
• You can interpret guidelines, identify policy gaps/issues, develop solutions and make recommendations.
• You can use standard software programs/tools.
• You have ability to quickly learn and adapt to new software and technology platforms
• You have analytical and problem-solving skills to assess clients' business requirements and propose new business processes.
• Evaluate directions, trends, standards and policies in a complex and evolving environment using multiple sources of guidance; collect requirements, develop options and make recommendations on process improvements.

Decision Making Skills and Political Acuity:

• You have excellent decision making skills and political acuity to develop policy and program recommendations/strategies/options that advance government strategic objectives for modernizing government funding administration.
• You can identify issues and develop a response, taking into consideration corporate direction and effectively managing client expectations.