Business Process SME

Business Process SME Job Description

Chicago,IL

Role summary MUST HAVE - experience in writing user stories in the proper user story formats Seeking a Business Process Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead process analysis, design, optimization, and governance efforts. The SME will partner with business stakeholders, IT, and project teams to translate strategic objectives into efficient and compliant end-to-end processes that improve effectiveness, reduce risk, and enable automation. Key responsibilities Act as the primary business authority on end-to-end processes within the assigned domain, providing deep operational knowledge and decision support. Analyze current-state processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, compliance gaps, and opportunities for automation or cost reduction. Design and document future-state processes, detailed process maps, policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Define business requirements, acceptance criteria, and process KPIs to support solution delivery, automation, and continuous improvement. Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize process changes, build business cases, and estimate benefits and risks. Work closely with IT, solution architects, and developers to ensure technical solutions align with business needs and process design. Support implementation of process changes, including testing, training, and adoption activities; validate that solutions meet business requirements. Establish and maintain process governance, controls, and compliance standards; monitor process performance and lead remediation where needed. Mentor and enable process owners and frontline teams to sustain improvements and incorporate best practices. Facilitate workshops, walk-throughs, and stakeholder reviews to drive alignment and secure buy-in. Required skills and experience Proven experience as a Business Process SME, Business Analyst, or Process Manager in the relevant industry or functional domain. Strong capability in process mapping and modeling techniques (e.g., BPMN, swimlane diagrams). Experience defining business requirements, use cases, and acceptance criteria for process-led changes. Practical knowledge of process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar. Excellent stakeholder management and facilitation skills, able to influence cross-functional teams. Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to produce clear documentation and run effective workshops. Data-driven mindset with experience defining and monitoring KPIs and using metrics to drive decisions. Desirable skills Experience with process automation technologies (e.g., RPA, workflow engines, BPA). Familiarity with ERP, CRM, or industry-specific systems relevant to the role. Experience with change management, training design, and operational readiness activities. Certification in business analysis (e.g., CBAP), process improvement (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma), or BPM tools. Qualifications Bachelor s degree in Business, Operations, Information Systems, Finance, or related field, or equivalent practical experience. Relevant professional certifications are a plus. Behaviors and competencies Analytical thinker with strong problem-solving skills. Customer-focused and quality-oriented. Collaborative, influential, and comfortable working across levels and functions. Adaptable to change and able to manage ambiguity. Detail-oriented while maintaining a strategic view. Tools and technologies (examples) Process mapping and documentation: Visio, Lucidchart, Signavio, Bizagi Requirements and collaboration: Confluence, Jira, SharePoint Analytics and reporting: Excel, Power BI, Tableau Automation platforms: UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism (if applicable) Typical success metrics Reduction in cycle time or processing cost for targeted processes Increase in process compliance and reduction of control exceptions Successful delivery of process changes projects on scope and schedule Adoption rates and reduction in rework or manual interventions