Strategic Business Analyst & Product Owner

General Summary

The Strategic Business Analyst & Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of [REDACTED] products, business processes, and technology investments by aligning organizational objectives, member needs, and operational capabilities. This role serves as a strategic partner to business leaders and stakeholders by identifying opportunities to improve processes, enhance user and member experiences, increase operational effectiveness, and support organizational goals.

The Strategic Business Analyst & Product Owner leads business analysis, product ownership, process improvement, and solution evaluation efforts across the organization. The role is accountable for defining priorities, facilitating informed decision-making, guiding the delivery of business and technology initiatives, and ensuring solutions achieve intended business outcomes.

The position acts as a bridge between business stakeholders, leadership, technology partners, and vendors to ensure [REDACTED] investments deliver measurable value and support continuous improvement.

Essential Functions

Strategic Analysis & Business Process Improvement

• Lead the assessment, analysis, and redesign of business processes to improve efficiency, consistency, quality, and service delivery.
• Identify opportunities to optimize workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, reduce risk, and improve operational performance.
• Facilitate discovery sessions, process mapping activities, requirements gathering, and future-state design efforts.
• Analyze business data, operational metrics, industry trends, and member needs to support fact-based recommendations and decision-making.
• Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, and return-on-investment evaluations to support strategic initiatives and technology investments.
• Promote continuous improvement and standardization across products, services, and business processes.

Product Ownership & Solution Delivery

• Define, prioritize, and manage product, process, and system enhancement initiatives based on organizational priorities and business value.
• Partner with stakeholders to establish product vision, objectives, requirements, and success measures.
• Balance business needs, operational considerations, member experience, risk, and technical feasibility when establishing priorities.
• Evaluate completed work and determine whether delivered solutions achieve intended business outcomes.
• Serve as the voice of the business and end user throughout the design, development, testing, and implementation process.
• Maintain ownership of product backlogs, enhancement requests, business requirements, and delivery priorities as applicable.

Stakeholder Engagement & Organizational Alignment

• Build collaborative relationships with business leaders, subject matter experts, member representatives, vendors, and project teams.
• Facilitate discussions that challenge assumptions, clarify priorities, and drive consensus around strategic objectives.
• Communicate complex business and technical concepts in a clear and actionable manner.
• Advocate for member and user needs when evaluating process improvements and technology solutions.
• Provide thought leadership, recommendations, and strategic insights to support organizational decision-making.

Project & Change Enablement

• Support the successful planning, execution, implementation, and adoption of business and technology initiatives.
• Coordinate with project teams to define scope, manage priorities, resolve issues, and maintain alignment with organizational goals.
• Assist with development and delivery of communications, training materials, testing activities, and change management efforts.
• Monitor implementation results and identify opportunities for additional value realization and process improvement.
• Serve in project leadership, business lead, product owner, or subject matter expert capacities as organizational needs require.

Vendor & Solution Management

• Evaluate vendors, products, and technology solutions to determine alignment with organizational requirements and strategic objectives.
• Lead or support vendor selection activities, solution assessments, demonstrations, and implementation planning.
• Collaborate with legal, operational, and business stakeholders during contract review and negotiation activities.
• Foster productive vendor relationships that support innovation, service excellence, and organizational success.

Organizational Support

• Maintain knowledge of business operations, insurance industry trends, technology capabilities, and emerging best practices.
• Support organizational initiatives that improve member experience, employee experience, and operational effectiveness.
• Develop, maintain and analyze organizational data for presentation.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Claims Examination Support

• May review and approve requests for reimbursement on complex Michigan PIP claim files. Gathers supporting documentation for assigned claim files. May determine reserve amounts for claims in accordance with [REDACTED] policies and procedures.
• May approve requests for authority from member companies. may Consult with Claims Supervisor on complex or escalated requests for authority. May consult with legal counsel, may be responsible for claims in litigation, and may need to attend legal proceedings.
• May evaluate, monitor, and resolve ongoing requests for reimbursement and reviews semi-annual claim status reports prepared by member companies. May respond to questions related to claim status, Association procedures and other matters.
• May proactively assist member companies with compliance with [REDACTED] claims policies and procedures, including MMS based and on-site audits of carrier claim files as needed.

Employment Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Insurance, Finance, Information Systems, Healthcare Administration, or a closely related field required. Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Experience Required

• Five to seven years of experience in business analysis, product ownership, process improvement, claims operations, insurance operations, or a related field.
• Experience evaluating business processes and developing recommendations that improve operational performance.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder discussions, gathering business requirements, and translating needs into actionable solutions.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience in Michigan no-fault insurance, PIP claims administration, or catastrophic claims management.
• Experience serving as a Product Owner, Business Analyst, Product Manager, Process Improvement Consultant, or Project Lead.
• Experience with Agile methodologies, backlog management, user story development, or product roadmap planning.
• Experience with project management and collaboration tools such as Jira.
• Experience conducting quality reviews, audits, process assessments, or operational improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with [REDACTED] business processes, member operations, and claims systems.
• Knowledge of Power BI utilization.

Success Factors

Success in this role is demonstrated through:

• Delivery of business and technology solutions that achieve measurable organizational outcomes.
• Improved process efficiency, quality, consistency, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Effective prioritization of initiatives that maximize organizational value.
• Strong partnerships with business stakeholders, vendors, and project teams.
• Successful adoption of process improvements and technology solutions.
• Contributions that support [REDACTED] strategic objectives and operational excellence.

Physical Requirements

• This position requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the role with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to use a computer and other standard office equipment for extended periods of time.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and in writing.
• Ability to review and analyze data, reports, and documentation.
• Ability to travel periodically to member organizations, vendor locations, conferences, meetings, and [REDACTED]-sponsored events.
• Ability to occasionally lift and transport files, laptops, or other business materials.

Working Conditions

• Primarily performed in a professional office and hybrid work environment.
• Frequent interaction with employees, leadership, member carriers, vendors, and external partners.
• May require attendance at meetings, conferences, training sessions, and member-related events.
• Periodic travel may be required.
• Work may involve managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and organizational initiatives simultaneously.

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Livonia, MI 48152