Port Planning Analyst

The Port Planning Analyst role at Port Houston involves driving process improvement and operational excellence across the organization, establishing data‑driven business cases, analyzing systems and workflows, and facilitating performance enhancements through stakeholder engagement, structured methodologies, and continuous improvement techniques.

The analyst leads and contributes to projects from concept to implementation, delivering value through innovative, efficient, and sustainable solutions.

• Business Process Analysis & Improvement
  • Map, assess, and optimize current business processes using tools such as process flow diagrams, SIPOC, and value stream mapping to identify performance gaps.
  • Identify root causes, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies and recommend improvement strategies including process reengineering, standardization, or automation.
  • Support deployment of Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement frameworks across departments.
  • Conduct evaluation of existing business processes for the purpose of identifying and executing improvement initiatives.
• Project & Program Support
  • Lead or support a wide range of strategic and operational projects, including business‑case development, benefit‑cost analysis, transportation modeling, benchmarking, and market analysis.
  • Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to define project scopes, timelines, deliverables, and performance metrics.
  • Conduct feasibility studies and support the development of project proposals and funding justifications.
  • Manage the implementation and testing of process changes and evaluate outcomes to ensure measurable improvements.
• Data‑Driven Decision Making
  • Collect, clean, and analyze data from internal systems and external sources to identify trends, insights, and performance gaps.
  • Develop dashboards and reports to monitor process KPIs, support decision‑making, and promote transparency.
  • Leverage data visualization tools to communicate findings to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management
  • Facilitate workshops and stakeholder interviews to gather requirements, align objectives, and foster buy‑in for process changes.
  • Support change‑management initiatives by preparing communication plans, training materials, and readiness assessments.
  • Serve as a liaison between departments and other functional areas to ensure seamless implementation of new processes or systems.
• Technical Expertise & Thought Leadership
  • Provide subject‑matter expertise in at least one relevant technical or functional discipline (e.g., planning, business process engineering, IT systems, management consulting, Lean Six Sigma, environmental planning).
  • Understand broader port operations and infrastructure planning to incorporate cross‑functional insights into problem solving.
  • Support enterprise‑level initiatives such as digital transformation, sustainability planning, and operational risk management.
• Communication & Documentation
  • Prepare clear and concise project documentation, technical reports, executive summaries, and presentations.
  • Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
  • Review work of peers and project teams for quality, accuracy, and alignment with project goals.
• Other
  • Act in accordance with Port Houston’s core values:
    Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Diligence, and You.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned to support the department and organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management or related field
• Master’s degree preferred
• Professional certifications such as Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt) or other related credentials
• 3‑6 years of experience in business analysis, project management, or process improvement
• Experience working in a port, transportation, infrastructure, or public agency environment is a plus.

• Strong understanding of project planning, including design principles and the preparation of technical specifications
• Familiarity with construction techniques, sequencing, and practical implementation on infrastructure…