IT Solutions Analyst in Minneapolis, Minnesota at Portico Benefit Services

We are hiring for an IT Solutions Analyst to join our team!

The IT Solutions Analyst is responsible for supporting the reliable delivery of technology solutions across Portico’s IT delivery lifecycle. This role will own the day-to-day operation, reliability, and continuous improvement of Portico’s Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines, including pipeline execution, deployment readiness workflows, pipeline-integrated validation checks, issue escalation, and release coordination.

This position works closely with DevOps, developers, application analysts, business stakeholders, and service desk teams to improve delivery quality, strengthen release readiness, and increase production confidence. The role helps ensure that enhancement requests, fixes, and project work are clearly documented, appropriately triaged, technically ready, and validated before release.

The IT Solutions Analyst also supports light business analysis by partnering with business and IT stakeholders to clarify acceptance criteria and validation needs. This requires the ability to think critically, ask good questions, understand business intent, and translate that understanding into actionable delivery and validation steps.

This role supports key Portico systems and delivery processes, including SAP, Azure DevOps, and Service Desk. The role requires practical knowledge of SQL, API/testing concepts, Agile/DevOps delivery practices, and service request management. The role applies an automation-first mindset to reduce manual effort, improve repeatability, and support stable production operations.

This position must understand and comply with all of Portico’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance standards, including internal controls, regulatory compliance, policy compliance, and evidence retention.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Own the day-to-day operation and monitoring of Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines to support reliable solution delivery across development, test, staging, and production environments.
• Coordinate pipeline execution, deployment readiness, validation checks, and release-related activities to help ensure smooth, predictable implementations.
• Identify pipeline issues, failed checks, deployment blockers, and readiness gaps; document findings clearly and escalate issues for timely resolution.
• Partner with DevOps team members to improve CI/CD workflows, pipeline-integrated validation, automated checks, deployment documentation, and release reliability.
• Support the intake and flow of work from Service Desk and business requests into Azure DevOps by helping ensure work items are documented, triaged, prioritized, and tracked appropriately.
• Work with developers, application analysts, business stakeholders, and service desk teams to clarify acceptance criteria, validation needs, dependencies, and implementation considerations.
• Support release readiness by confirming that required validation, documentation, deployment steps, support handoffs, and operational considerations are complete.
• Participate in incident triage by helping reproduce issues, isolate root causes, document findings, and coordinate follow-up actions with appropriate IT teams.
• Improve production confidence by helping teams identify defects earlier, validate deployment readiness, document known risks, and support post-release monitoring.
• Provide reporting and updates on pipeline status, deployment readiness, validation progress, issue trends, risks, and dependencies.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with business and IT teams to support delivery priorities, manage expectations, and ensure transparent communication.
• Perform other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS: Must possess knowledge and experience with the following technologies, practices, and capabilities:

• Azure DevOps or similar work tracking, pipeline, and delivery management tools.
• CI/CD concepts, release readiness, deployment coordination, and production support practices.
• Service Desk or similar ticketing and request management processes.
• SQL for analysis, validation, issue investigation, and troubleshooting.
• API/testing concepts, including the ability to understand API behavior, validate integrations, and document results.
• Agile and DevOps delivery practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to think critically, ask clarifying questions, and translate business intent into actionable acceptance criteria and validation needs.
• Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate across teams, and escalate blockers appropriately.
• Detail-oriented approach with a commitment to deliver quality, accuracy, and follow-through.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on reducing manual effort and increasing reliability.
• Ability to work successfully in a matrixed team environment.
• Capacity to learn quickly and adapt in a changing technology environment.

Preferred additional skills:

• Experience with SAP.
• Experience with automation frameworks, scripting, or pipeline-integrated validation.
• Experience with PowerShell, Python, or similar scripting tools.
• Experience supporting annual enrollment, benefits administration, financial services, or regulated environments.
• Experience with AI-enabled productivity, validation, or monitoring tools.
• Experience developing or maintaining release readiness checklists, runbooks, or operational handoff documentation.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree required

EXPERIENCE (length in years and type)

• 3+ years of experience in IT solutions delivery, DevOps, IT operations, application support, software delivery, or a related role.
• Experience working with Agile or DevOps delivery practices.
• Experience with Azure DevOps or similar tools used for work tracking, pipelines, releases, or deployment coordination.
• Experience with Service Desk or similar ticketing/request intake processes.
• Experience using SQL for analysis, testing, validation, or troubleshooting.
• Experience supporting solution validation, release readiness, issue management, or production support.
• Portico-relevant experience may also be considered.

COMPETENCIES

• Customer Focus
• Ethics & Values
• Functional/Technical
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Problem Solving
• Drive for Results
• Integrity & Trust
• Continuous Improvement
• Action Oriented
• Dealing with Ambiguity
• Priority Setting
• Listening
• Timely Decision Making

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

FLSA Status: Exempt

STARTING PAY RANGE: $74,000 - $110,000.00 Annualized

BENEFITS SUMMARY: Portico offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes premiums paid for health care coverage and a 10% employer retirement contribution as well as competitive time off and wellness benefits.

#LI-Hybrid