Business Analyst 3 (Software Licensing Analyst)

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us is on our website.

The Metropolitan Council has an opening Business Systems Analyst 3 that will be responsible for a new role in IT Software Asset management. This position will be a part of The Council's Information Services department.

About the Department:

Information Services is the central IT department supporting all divisions of the Metropolitan Council. Our 150 plus team members provide technology, practices, and innovative solutions that enable the core services of the Council.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Business Systems Analyst Level 3/ Software Asset Management (SAM) Specialist role is responsible for the oversight and management of software assets throughout their lifecycle. This role ensures software license compliance, optimizes license utilization, and maintains accurate records within the Ivanti Neurons IT Asset Management (ITAM) system. The SAM Specialist plays a crucial role in managing software requests, tracking virtual and physical licenses, and developing dashboards and reports to enhance visibility and decision-making.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework arrangement. The candidate's telework location must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

• Perform daily maintenance and updates within the asset management system.

• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to software tracking and reporting.

• Ensure data integrity and completeness in asset records.

• Collaborate with IT teams to integrate software asset data with other enterprise systems.

Software Asset Management System Maintenance

• Add and maintain software assets within the Neurons IT Asset Management (ITAM) system, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

• Lead or align with other projects that affect parts of IT Asset Management like procurement and other enterprise asset management tools.

• Manage software license entitlements and coordinate renewals for both physical and virtual environments.

• Monitor software usage to optimize license allocation and reduce unnecessary expenditures.

Software Request Review & Response

• Evaluate and process software requests from employees, ensuring compliance with licensing policies.

• Work with procurement, security, and infrastructure teams to approve, procure, and deploy software as needed.

• Address inquiries regarding software availability, licensing, and compliance.

License & Compliance Management

• Track, manage, and reconcile software licenses for both physical and virtual assets.

• Ensure software licensing compliance by conducting periodic audits and addressing any discrepancies.

• Work with vendors to maintain an up-to-date understanding of software license agreements and usage rights.

Dashboard & Reporting Development

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to provide insights into software inventory, compliance status, and usage trends.

• Generate regular reports for stakeholders, including IT leadership, Budget, Audit and Procurement teams.

• Identify cost-saving opportunities by analyzing software usage data.

Any of the following combinations of experience in business analysis including a focus on software license management WITH a minimum of two (2) years' experience managing software license entitlements, and completed education in Business Administration, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field or closely related field):

• High school diploma/GED AND eight (8) years of experience.

• Associate degree AND six (6) years of experience.

• Bachelor's degree or higher AND four (4) years of experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Certifications in Software Asset Management is a plus

• Experience working with Ivanti Neurons is a plus.

• Understanding of ITIL practices.

• Experience working in an IT environment.

• Knowledge of cloud-based licensing and SaaS subscription management.

• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.

• Project management experience

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Interdepartmental and council-wide processes, procedures, and requirements regarding administrative functions such as budgeting, financing, and procurement.

• The capabilities of the information technology software application.

• Goals, operating procedures, workflow, and regulations regarding department functions.

• Effective project management principles.

• Knowledge of other Council business systems.

• Knowledge of the Council's Ivanti Neuron's processes including IT Service Management.

Skills in:

• Effective processes, methods, and techniques to analyze and evaluate business needs.

• Advanced computer skills in creating complex spreadsheets, graphics presentations (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

• Ability to:

• Read, analyze and interpret contracts, technical procedures, and government regulations.

• Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

• Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of customers or clients.

• Act as a lead liaison between department end-users, technical analysts, information technology analysts and vendors in analyzing, designing, configuring, testing and maintaining system to ensure optimal system performance. Work in a technical and project lead capacity; directs professional and technical staff; and works in a detailed hands-on capacity with moderately complex to complex systems projects and assignments.

• Assist in defining project scope, objectives, project deliverables and critical target dates.

  Develop, coordinates, and implements plans to test business and functional processes during system development and quality assurance testing.

• Applies analytical methods to develop information needed to evaluate current operations such as work distribution charts, flow charts, process-and-operation charts trends and costs.

• Research best practice models for business processes and administrative systems within and outside the public sector. Models include process design, performance measurement, technology (web-based solutions), and other efficiencies. Reads and keeps up to date on business functional areas in order to understand system customer requirements and system feasibility.

• Communicate proposed solutions and implementation details of system components to appropriate parties.

• Develop training curriculum and conducts formal training sessions for assigned customers.