IT Analyst - Senior

Job Title: IT Analyst - Senior
Rate: $38.43 – $50.72 per hour based on experience and qualifications
Employment Type: Temp to Hire Resource, W-2
Duration: 10/2/23 – 10/1/24
Location: Hybrid position with requirement to be onsite Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Columbus, OH or Merrillville, IN.

Scope of Services:  

The IT Analyst helps manage the provision of outsourced server operations and Infrastructure services including hardware and software asset management services for all business units. This role collaborates closely with the Director of IT Operations and IT Operations Managers to ensure that Infrastructure Services for Data Center operations are provided within the scope of the Service contract as reflected by service levels, the statement of work and pertinent schedules/exhibits. This role will specifically drive the Data Center operations in conjunction with the Service Providers. This individual will work closely with their Service Provider Delivery Managers to track and monitor the overall progress of IT Operations processes. This role will work with Project Managers and Architects on small-to-medium sized Infrastructure Services projects to ensure issues are communicated and resolved in a timely fashion.

Roles, Responsibilities and Deliverables:

• Under the direction of the IT Operations Director or IT Operation Manager(s), performs routine assignments in the advanced level of the Lead IT Analyst job band
• Facilitate cross-functional governance to ensure all aspects of the IT Data Center portfolio are included in long term planning and prioritization.
• Provide the organization with visibility into the long-term roadmap for functional and technical changes to the portfolio.
• Ensure all Business Analysts are aligned on expectations for the quality and thoroughness of deliverables; review the work of less experienced Business Analysts and ensure consistency across the portfolio
• Work closely with IT Infrastructure Architects, IT Application, IT Office of the CIO, and business unit professionals, project managers and other areas of company, and Service Providers to perform and/or support operations processes, including procurement and payment processing, spending optimization, and expense management related to infrastructure services
• Help drive resolution of operational and service-based issues in the Data Center, reviewing, analyzing, and reporting on Service Provider operations, as directed by the Director of IT Operations reporting related to Service Provider performance
• Work closely with company project managers and Service Provider personnel to help track and monitor projects that meet business needs and adhere to agreed-upon service levels (e.g., budget, schedule, quality)
• Gather Data Center data on spending patterns for analysis and reporting.
• Provide information on spending for company cost allocation and metric reporting.
• Gather data on Data Center day-to-day operational execution of services and equipment delivery for analysis and reporting
• Review monthly/annual forecast of expenses for the IT Budget, and analyzes and report variances to budget
• Facilitate audits of processes related to Data Center.
• Assist in ensuring the Service Providers are adhering to company’s defined standards
• Confirm that Data Center supporting documentation is available and kept up-to-date
• Maintain a solid understanding of the Service Providers’ operational and service delivery capabilities and processes as it relates to Data Center.
• Interact with Service Provider team members, helping to ensure they are properly qualified and staffed appropriately to meet business needs
• Maintain a solid understanding of the scope of the Service contracts as reflected by service levels, statement of work and pertinent schedules/exhibits
• Assist with communications for planned and unplanned outages
• Other duties as assigned to maintain stable IT operations
• Prepare for and help facilitate regular performance review meetings on the Data Center operations with the Service Provider and prepare performance and status information for NiSource IT and business leaders, as requested
• Resolve or escalate issues related to Data Center operations in a timely manner
• Work closely with the IT Governance to resolve Service Provider related issues

Qualifications: 

• 5-7 years’ experience in infrastructure services or infrastructure analysis, deployment and support
• Experience working closely with service providers and delegating operational activities to them, as directed by a director or manager
• Knowledge of IT infrastructure components, trends and best practices
• Knowledge of ITIL processes and metrics
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience that provides knowledge and exposure to fundamental theories, principles, and concepts
• Four plus years of experience in medium to large Data Center operations
• Experience working closely with service providers and delegating operational activities to them, as directed by a director or manager
• Knowledge of IT infrastructure components, trends, and best practices
• Solid skills with enterprise-class servers, operating systems and productivity software (MS Office Suite, MS Project, and other IT applications) and ability to learn new technical concepts quickly
• Excellent analytical abilities, including process analysis and development, problem solving and root cause analysis
• Strong teaming skills, collaboration, negotiation, communication, organizational, people management and conflict resolution skills
• Willing to travel to business unit or Service Provider locations, as needed
• Three plus years of experience in a support IT functions
• Advanced knowledge of ITIL processes and metrics and certification is required
• General working knowledge of the gas and electric utility industry
• Can work independently in the assigned functional domain
• Demonstrated experience leading process development and improvements
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Understands Project Management Fundamentals and proven track record in managing complex projects

To apply, please submit a resume outlining your relevant experience and approach to being a Senior IT Analyst. 
Short-listed candidates will be expected to complete a Blue Star Partners Bio.