Business Analyst

The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is recruiting for a permanent, full-time Business Analyst (Operations and Policy Analyst 3) in our Business Services Division.  

The Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing the Distilled Spirits Program business operations including liquor distribution systems and the retail operations programs. Develop new fiscal and administrative systems to conduct analysis of existing systems, and to implement resulting recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of OLCC’s distribution center. Develop detailed analysis and recommendations for establishing retail outlets for distilled spirits using a wide range of analytical tools including statistical and spatial (GIS) analysis In addition, the position is responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating major research studies for the distilled spirits program including cost studies, statistical projects, and reports to comply with legislative mandates and assists with agency budget development.

Who are we?

The OLCC is the agency responsible for regulating the sale and service of alcoholic beverages in Oregon by administering the state's Liquor Control Act and regulating the production, processing, and sale of recreational marijuana in Oregon through the Control, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act.

The agency is comprised of three major operational programs; the Distilled Spirits Program, the Recreational Marijuana Program, and the Public Safety Program. All three programs are supported by the Administration, Financial Services, and Support Services divisions. Revenue generated from these programs helps support state and local government programs. The OLCC distributed more than $600.4 million in the last two years to Oregon’s General Fund, Cities, Counties, and Drug/Alcohol Abuse Programs. This money helps fund essential services such as schools, police, and healthcare for Oregonians.

The Distilled Spirits Program oversees the distribution and sale of distilled spirits in the state. The Distilled Spirits division centrally purchases, warehouses, and distributes distilled spirits to Oregon’s independently operated liquor stores. OLCC’s Public Safety Program licenses and regulates businesses in the alcohol industry such as manufacturers, wholesalers, bars, restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores.

The Recreational Marijuana Program is exclusively authorized to make recreational marijuana available to consumers and licensed businesses through retail marijuana stores. The program also tracks the growing, transporting, processing, and selling of recreational marijuana products. The Public Safety Program is responsible for licensing and regulating the operation of the recreational marijuana industry in Oregon.

The following list represents the general responsibilities of the Business Analyst.

• Conducts research to support recommendations for the Distilled Spirits Program, policies and procedures.

• Provides solutions to the Distilled Spirits Program to improve operational efficiency, consistency, and compliance in support of the agency’s tactical business objectives.

• Prepares informational, and special reports and major studies for the agency’s Commissioners, Executive Leadership and Staff. Identifies purpose and method of studies, designs surveys, collects and interprets data, and writes reports. Uses research methods, financial and accounting analysis, and statistical techniques to arrive at conclusions and make recommendations to executive management and commission based on results. Utilizes advanced spreadsheet and presentation software for the presentation and reporting of results.

• Assists and supports expansion by providing necessary data to expand retail liquor stores with a measured and responsible approach to growth. Provides demographic data, geographic data and economic trends to evaluate potential markets in order to satisfy the State’s population, consumer demand and increase state revenues. Supports the evaluation and application review process. Weighs the opportunity cost of adding new locations, including the impact to existing locations and communities. Provides executive summaries of proposed locations to the agency’s Commissioners, Executive Leadership and Staff.

• Supports and implements strong organization change management practices for project-related changes.

• Collaborates with the Information Technology Department to develop or procure software to collect and analyze economic data and develop queries for management reporting. Uses research and analysis to recommend efficiencies that enhance, streamline or automate existing systems or processes.

• Supports Oregon Small Businesses, Liquor Agents and Distillery Retail Outlets, through research and solutions that ensure proper safeguards, financial reporting, inventory tracking and sales reporting.

• Participates in the creation of business/technology visions that promote operational change. Provides technical consultation, written responses, and specialized information on request to top level managers as needed for sensitive projects.

• Collaborates with Industry during state and national meetings, conventions and conferences. Attends agent training events and serves as the data analyst for developing reports.

• Assists managers and other staff in formulating analytical responses to major legislative initiatives specific to the Distilled Spirits Program. Prepares fiscal impacts related to proposed legislation impacting the Commission.

• Works cross-functionally with Financial Services, Information Technology and Management Services to build or optimize reporting and inventory tracking components of the Distilled Spirits Program. Develops and provides solutions specific to Oregon Distillery programs, including Distillery Retail Outlets.

• Designs research-project methodology and plans, assigns, checks and manages the work of other research staff engaged in gathering, compiling and analyzing information and data.

• Provides, or arranges for technical training for team members and staff. Manages projects that include broad cross-functional team members.

• Provides staff and management analysis of the retail liquor inventory, including inventory turnover rates, assortment efficiencies, supplier fulfillment, supplier in-stock rate and criteria for new product listings. Collect, input, verify, correct, and analyze data to measure key performance measures against business objectives.

• Responsible for the Distilled Spirits Program Key Performance Measurement Program. Conducts program evaluation and develops performance measures by reviewing the effectiveness of an agency program in achieving its policy objectives. Analyzes and reviews the relationship of the structure of a program to its goals and objectives, agency structure, line and staff functions, and flow of work. Conducts evaluation in a tactful way with an emphasis on finding solutions, not emphasizing problems.

• Develops high-level Key Performance Measures and contributes to the agency’s Annual Performance Progress Report (APPR), which is supplied to DAS-BAM, LFO, and included in biennial budget.

• Responsible for the Distilled Spirits portion of the Business Continuity Plan and serves as a Project Manager. Works in collaboration with Administrative Services Division and Agency Research Analyst to develop, test and revise the plan.

What do you need to qualify? Minimum Qualifications: 

A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, Finance, Political Science or any degree demonstrating the capacity for the knowledge and skills; and four years professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work.

OR;

Any combination of experience and education equivalent to seven years of experience that typically supports the knowledge and skills for the classification.

What we are looking for (Desired Attributes):

• Ability to interpret, analyze, and present complex data.

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with internal and external stakeholders.

• Ability to work autonomously and multi-task on multiple projects at once while exercising sound judgement.

• Knowledgeable in data analysis methodologies.

Note:  You must clearly describe your experience in each area listed in your cover letter. Failure to provide this information may result in eliminating your application from further consideration.

How are candidates selected?

The selection process consists of a review of your application and an evaluation of your education, experience, training, and overall professionalism of your application materials.  Candidates that follow the application directions, submit what is required and provide us with credentials that showcase their skills and how they meet the minimum qualifications and desired attributes will be invited to an interview. Resumes will not replace the completed job history experience in Workday.  We will only review documents that are requested. Because details are really important to us, your application materials will be evaluated for grammar, spelling and punctuation. 

What's in it for you?

• 11 paid holidays per year.

• 8 hours of vacation leave earned per month, eligible to be used after 6 months of service.

• 8 hours of sick leave earned per month, eligible to be used as accrued.

• 24 hours of personal business leave per fiscal year, eligible to be used after 6 months of service.

• Click to learn more about State of Oregon benefits.

• A workplace that fosters fairness, equity, and inclusion to maintain a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

• A healthy work/life balance, with opportunities for hybrid remote work.