Program Analyst Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a program analyst. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a program analyst.
Who Is a Program Analyst?
A program analyst who is also known as a Program Evaluator is an individual who is laden with the responsibility of reviewing a company’s computer system. The program analyst ensures that the company’s computer system operates, and functions efficiently as it ought to. A program analyst is saddled with the responsibility of establishing the requirements for each system, making recommendations to optimize programs accordingly, and observing or identifying and resolving system problems.
A program analyst, being a professional in information technology, will conduct research extensively to arm himself with vital information and data concerning various computer programs. The program analyst also advances in using this research to identify system trends and organize reports. Program analysts need solid project management skills and should be good problem solvers. Advanced computer skills are essential, as is expert knowledge of databases and software systems. Program analysts push to conduct research, identify business and market trends and analyze procedures. Using the data gathered, they present their recommendations to management intending to optimize performance across the business.
Program Analysts also draft new company policies and procedures, identify and solve problems, monitor policy compliance, and address performance issues. With a grasp of information technology principles the program analyst knows and understands projects given to them are easily done. Program analysts should have excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, and presentation skills. They may also provide support and training to relevant personnel. Program analysts also known as management analysts have a firm grasp of information technology and work either in private companies or in local, state, or federal government departments to improve and optimize operations, initiatives, processes, and procedures. The description of a program analyst in an organization entails updating and developing programs that help organizations overcome challenges in their industry and enhance their productivity levels.
Job Description of a Program Analyst
Below are the program analyst job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a program analyst job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Assessing an organization’s program and policies and providing recommendations for how to improve them.
- Monitoring project schedule compliance levels, identifying gaps and assessing project risks.
- Creating and implementing data management collection techniques at all times.
- Analyzing data to determine better ways to implement corporate guidelines while maintaining the profit margins of their organization.
- Creating language codes for programs, testing functionality, and reviewing errors to troubleshoot issues.
- Providing support and training to relevant personnel to effectively use the computer programs designed.
- Gathering system requirements, analyzing system functionality, writing programs, and testing the functionality of the software modules of their company, client, or organization.
- Developing regular experience and skills with various computer programming languages and having a good understanding of how information systems are designed.
- Communicating with clients or auditing their operations and finding issues that have software solutions.
- Contributing to efficient workflow within initiatives by participating in the work of internal review groups and committees.
- Knowing how to develop company-specific programs and systems for corporations, companies, or organizations.
- Executing cybersecurity measures to keep the company’s information safe.
- Collecting data and information regarding customer problems in the industry.
- Analyzing the datasets and information to produce reports, forecasts, and recommendations for the creation of a new program.
- Developing new and improved computer programs as required of the business, client, or organization.
- Creating language codes for programs and reviewing them for errors.
- Testing the functionality of the program and troubleshooting the issues.
- Creating documentation to help users understand how to use the program effectively and productively.
- Optimizing programs to be user-friendly, efficient, and effective at all times.
- Corresponding with relevant departments to retrieve feedback from beta testers.
- Identifying program needs basing on data collected and analyzed for the company’s or organization’s audit.
- Supporting and advising the Program Manager in planning, managing, and evaluating programs, operations, and processes.
- Participating in strategic planning meetings, to enforce the targets or goals envisioned for the organization.
- Drafting departmental policies and procedures, that comply with the policies of the organization.
- Assisting with their organization’s budgeting processes, tracking, and accountability.
- Recognizing and interpreting trends and patterns in datasets to locate influences.
- Contributing data that supports the development of functional and organizational content, practices, and objectives to achieve learning and development goals.
- Evaluating operational and program performance, to ensure their completion and time of delivery.
- Identifying and resolving any issues that may interfere with the timely delivery or performance of the department teammates and designated program.
- Ensuring that all changes in programs and outcomes are well documented.
- Performing data validation and implementing quality control measures to ensure the continued success of programs.
- Evaluating operational and program effectiveness and developing solutions to make improvements or address performance issues that may arise unexpectedly.
- Understanding project management and the need for time management.
- Conducting research, analyzing data, identifying trends, and preparing reports for the program manager.
- Recommending new operations strategies based on the findings of their analyses.
- Observing both staff and internal processes to identify areas of improvement.
- Cleaning up and debugging code in Html, Javascript, Actionscript, and Ajax.
- Acquiring in-depth knowledge of systems and infrastructure, from both technical and business aspects.
- Conducting in-depth interviews to find areas of weaknesses with personnel so the program analysts can recommend ways to fix them.
- Managing teams of varying sizes, and understanding conflict management which is necessary for managing conflict between team members.
- Determining program requirements and making recommendations.
- Analyzing programs, policies, procedures, and systems and making recommendations to optimize these systems or programs.
- Drafting new or revised policies and procedures and performance to identify system trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Managing multiple conflicting priorities while supporting the various process owners.
- Coordinating with internal stakeholders to identify data required and all forms of missing data needed to complete projects.
- Deploying, maintaining, and securing Windows-based applications and utilizing a range of operating systems.
- Developing interactive client-side web pages and a user-friendly interface.
- Counseling program managers concerning planning, testing, and implementing new programs or systems.
- Identifying and resolving IT issues and problems.
- Developing and maintaining the document control system including maintenance of project files, quality assurance, communication, and automation.
- Ensuring document review and approval occur on time as dictated by program management.
- Advising program managers concerning planning, testing, and implementing new programs or systems.
- Identifying and resolving issues and problems promptly.
- Planning, analyzing, and evaluating the effectiveness of operations and programs.
- Preparing and presenting reports and recommendations for teammates or departments at large.
Qualifications
- Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, or other related fields.
- Obtaining (x) years of experience as a Program Analyst, Management Analyst, market analysis, statistics, database management, and program coordination or in any similar role.
- Understanding how to collect and analyze complex sets of data.
- Having good critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Strong project management skills.
- Having excellent communication, interpersonal, and report writing skills, since relating with people can’t be overlooked.
- Having strong organizational, people management, and time management skills, is a necessity in team building, work, or timely delivery.
- Having an understanding of advanced computer skills and knowledge of multiple databases and software systems.
- Being Passionate about creating solutions to customer problems.
Essential Skills
- Technical skills: Razor-sharp IT skills and the mastery of today’s most popular coding languages is what most employers look out for when hiring a program analyst. Participating in preparing operation manuals, logical database designs, and specifications; confers with users in developing and maintaining programs and is ready to give answers or solutions at all times. The development and security of the organization’s website, and accessing and managing of data stored in databases are all done by the program analyst. Every design and program database using Microsoft SQL ( structure query language ) Server is created by the analysts.
- Communication skills: Communication skills are important for collaborating effectively and maintaining a positive relationship. Helping businesses and organizations run better by optimizing and customizing their computer systems and software is essentially what program analysts do. So, it’s very helpful when the program analysts understand the “language” of a business—so when clients talk about their communication challenges, operational structure, and growth goals, the program analyst can keep up, “talk the talk”, and understand those needs. Program analysts may work as part of a team or independently on small projects with supervision and share responsibility for the implementation of a program enhancement(s) or subsystem(s) with their teammates, therefore an understanding needs to be created. Every communication is effective if both parties involved understand each other.
- Quality assurance & analysis skill: Program analysts assess client needs, research possible solutions, and then design and develop those systems and applications that solve problems that come up along the way. Quality assurance is an important part of this job as well. You’ll be expected to thoroughly test any software you develop or modify, and take care of any bugs, before full implementation. On an ongoing basis, a program analyst must evaluate existing programs, and propose functional improvements, based on new trends and best practices. Having a sharp eye for detail, research skills, and effective problem-solving skills are essential requirements for success in this career. The review of budgets, project proposals, and other documents that require critical thinking, you can’t do This involves analyzing information and making logical conclusions about what’s best for the organization.
How to Become a Program Analyst
- Obtaining a high school diploma or GED certificate.
- Having working experience in the telecommunications industry, performing audit response functions, or leveraging financial systems.
- Always be proactive and highly organized, with strong attention to detail.
- Following through with the ability to handle multiple, complex tasks, and establish priorities, while still delivering excellent service.
- Having the capacity to work independently without significant guidance and being able to exercise good judgment, taking the initiative when necessary at all times.
- Having excellent analytical and proven problem-solving skills.
- Analyzing and interpreting program data to identify any risks, issues, solutions, and recommendations.
- Demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and having strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Having advanced computer expertise and knowledge of multiple databases and software systems.
- Having the ability to identify and implement continuous process improvement.
- Being proficient with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Visio).
Where to Work as a Program Analyst
- Software companies.
- Manufacturing industries
- Design agencies or industry.
- Federal and state houses.
- Finance houses.
- Accounting firms.
- Insurance firms or agencies.
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities or centers
- Banking firms.
- Game houses.
- Media agency or house.
- Brokerage houses or firms.
- Colleges and Universities.
- Medical outpatient centers.
- Research Institutes and centers.
- Security agencies.
Program Analyst Salary Scale
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession. The average Program Analyst salary in the United States is $94,815, but the salary range typically falls between $80,948 and $110,201.
