Application Specialist
Chicago, IL

Job Description

FT/PTFull-time Overview

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director, Innovation and Technology, the Application Specialist / Systems Analyst is a key role within the Information Technology organization. The role is responsible for providing escalated technical support for a few of the Associations most critical applications; supporting technical innovations and projects identified as being a part of the associationbroader strategic initiatives. Activities may include interfacing with various internal business partners, external vendors to resolve escalated technical issues, analyzing future platforms/products, coordinating project efforts.

Scope of Responsibilities:

Technical / Analyst Support

* Provide support services for business line and enterprise wide applications
* Develop deep understanding of applications, supporting infrastructure, systems integration, and data load activity.
* Gain solid understanding of the business process, workflows and data requirements for each supported application.
* Liaise with the business lines on business requirements and potential technology improvements or emerging technologyneeds.
* Document technical specifications, procedures, and other requirements to support each application.
* Document, track support issues and improve documentation of support policies and procedures
* Triage problems and resolve issues. Take an active role in the incident response processes, representing the application environment. Provide root cause analysis for problems and measures to mitigate future occurrences. Communicate application problems and issues to key stakeholders, including management, development teams, and end users.
* Troubleshoots and develops work around (technical solutions) related to software and setup errors.
* Administer applications, including design, application configuration, user management and vendor management.
* Provide on-call support for critical applications.
* Design, build, test, implement and maintain integrations between the applications and other internal and external applications.

Project Coordination

* Work with Project Manager to create scope, requirements and detailed designs to meet business needs. Assists in theproject coordination for applications and releases deployments
* Plan and develop use-case test plans and perform testing.
* Work with other IT areas to define application architecture and implement general best practices.
* Help define new business processes; data elements and system change requests.
* Proactively monitor application performance, capacity and response times.
* Participate in vendor due diligence and perform vendor ongoing monitoring.
* Perform IT risk assessment for applicable applications.
* Provide direct implementation and product support, including training and tutorials
* Build relationships with external vendors

Requirements:

* Bachelor's Degree or relevant work experience
* 1 year of relevant experience in a customer facing, technical software/applications support role
* Experience with applications administration and with some database experience.
* 1- year application Programming Interface (API) support experience
* Exposure to SQL
* Outstanding customer service and communication skills
* Interest in technology and aptitude to learn new technology quickly
* Outstanding troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, along with an ability to collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-paced start-up like environment
* Strong verbal and written communication skills, presentation skills and the ability to translate IT concepts and adapt communications to appropriate audiences at all levels of the organization. Proven experience working with local and distributed cross-functional teams comprised of individuals with varying levels of exposure to formal projectmanagement activities
* Ability to facilitate meetings
* Motivated and self-directed with a demonstrated history of working autonomously with minimal direction to achieve goals and priorities.
* Demonstrated ability to analyze business and IT processes and procedures and recommend continuous improvements that enhance efficacy.
* Supports the mission and vision of the YMCA as assigned.
* Support the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:
* Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor or the person responsible for those items at your site.
* Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to managing visitors and guests at our facilities.
* Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor.
* Completing all child abuse prevention training as required.
* Ability to travel locally when needed in the Chicagoland area (city and suburbs)
* Ability to work in the United States without sponsorship