POSITION INFORMATION

This position is based in Auburn, CA, with required travel to various locations within Placer County and the surrounding areas, including Tahoe, Lincoln, and Roseville.

The eligible lists established as a result of these recruitments may be used to fill vacancies in various County departments as they arise, subject to position-specific requirements.

DEFINITION

Performs professional duties related to the analysis, development, maintenance and administration of computer hardware and software systems to meet business needs. Incumbents may perform any of the following functions: analyzes, designs, monitors and administers servers and related platforms; designs, maintains, configures and monitors network and/or telecommunications infrastructures and related system components; consults with departmental customers to identify and analyze business functions that can be improved by the implementation of new hardware and/or software solutions; translates business requirements into system deployments, including the development of design specifications; performs professional-level systems maintenance and customer support duties; and performs other related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the journey-level class in the Information Technology Analyst series. Positions in this class are distinguished from Information Technology Analyst I by the performance of the full range of duties.

Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

The Information Technology Analyst I and Information Technology Analyst II classifications are distinguished from the Information Technology Specialist classification series in that the Information Technology Analyst series describes positions with professional/analytical responsibilities where the primary duties include the analysis of business and/or system needs, the evaluation of current systems, and the design of solutions to meet the identified business or system needs, including work which emphasizes business systems analysis and the development of technology solutions to resolve application problems or improve efficiency; network/telecommunications systems analysis, design, and administration; system analysis, design, and administration, and/or database analysis, design, and administration. In contrast, the Information Technology Specialist classification describes positions with responsibility for providing a broad range of routine and complex duties in support of specialized systems, including user support, system troubleshooting, review of business processes and communication of user requirements/problems to a vendor or statewide system which then architects and develops the technical solution, implementation of system upgrades or modifications, and user training.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Incumbents at this level work under direction from an assigned supervisor, receiving occasional supervision while working toward a definite objective that requires use of a wide range of procedures and involves planning and/or determining specific procedures or equipment required in order to meet assigned objectives and solve non-routine problems. Only unusual matters are referred to a supervisor. Incumbents may also receive technical and functional supervision from a Senior Information Technology Analyst. Incumbents may provide direct supervision over technical and/or specialist level staff. Incumbents may exercise technical or functional supervision over other professional staff on a project basis.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following. Incumbents assigned to the Information Technology Analyst I classification initially perform the following duties in a learning and/or on-the-job training capacity.

• Evaluates customer technical needs and recommends solutions; plans, determines requirements, designs, builds, customizes, tests, implements, maintains and/or enhances a variety of hardware and software systems, integrating County network infrastructure and/or other systems; considers protocols, acceptable system security risk, and other related elements.
• Provides professional customer support for system-related software and/or hardware issues, needs, or requirements. Interacts with clients to analyze system requirements; recommends technology solutions to improve operations.
• Determines and develops cost benefit analyses related to recommended technical solutions; evaluates risk options; ensures project compliance with County procedures or protocols, budgetary constraints and staff/resource utilization.
• Is responsible for the coordination and completion of projects that are limited in scope and/or specific to area of assignment; develops and monitors project budgets and resources; interfaces with clients to define project scope and review project activities, recommendations and outcomes; coordinates the use of project resources based on project requirements; designs and implements project testing and quality assurance processes. Project-related duties may include:
  
  • determining and developing cost benefit analyses for project justifications; developing projected budgets and resources needed to conduct the work; evaluating risk concerns and options; providing technical input into the development of specifications for "requests for proposals" pertaining to external services; reviewing vendor submissions and providing recommendations on vendor selection;
  • monitoring vendor performance to ensure compliance with County specifications; ensuring project compliance with County procedures or protocols, budgetary constraints and staff/resource utilization;
  • serving as the primary client interface on assigned projects; reviewing recommendations with clients and receiving approval to proceed; reviewing final outcomes with the client and obtaining their sign off that all work has been conducted in accordance with client requirements;
  • coordinating the activities of contract personnel and/or vendors, consistent with project plans; identifies and resolves obstacles to progress;
  • designing and directing project testing and quality assurance processes for assigned projects;
• Coordinates information technology activities of County department(s), division staff, and/or vendors consistent with project plans; identifies and resolves obstacles to progress, prepares for and manages delivery and installation.
• Prepares technical documentations, procedural plans, reports, correspondence and other documents; participates on committees and task forces; attends meetings, conferences and training sessions.
• Builds and maintains positive and professional working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, vendors, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Exercises technical or functional supervision over technical and/or para-professional staff. Exercises functional supervision over other professional staff on a project basis.
• Provides technical and functional supervision of contractors/vendors.
• Provides after hours technology support as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Functional Assignment Areas

(While the majority of duties assigned to a position typically fall within one of the following areas, incumbents may also be assigned duties that cross multiple areas)

When assigned to Business Systems Analysis/Application Development (In addition to general duties) duties may include but are not limited to:

• Interacts with clients to analyze their business requirements and recommends technology solutions; identifies and maps business processes; gathers user requirements and translates non-technical business requirements from the Business Process Analyst or other assigned management staff into technical software specifications.
• Writes application and/or system design specifications, designs application and/or system flow diagrams, schematics, file structures, reports, forms and menus; prepares a definition of the problem, the desired output, and performance requirements.
• Coordinates design, development and implementation processes with system programmers, network analysts, database administrators, and server administrators to implement new or modified application software.
• Designs, develops and maintains websites, including the design of website navigation and application frameworks and creates database connections.
• Performs various system quality assurance activities; tests, troubleshoots and debugs system issues using appropriate technology; prepares and executes testing plans to validate functionality and resolve issues.
• Serves as main client interface on all aspects of application development projects. For third party software, coordinates project activities with vendors; maintains effective communications with users regarding vendor activities, problems, status, timelines and other details; ensures compliance with County specifications and drives resolution of identified software bugs and deficiencies.
• Writes, revises, and maintains computer programs based on established specifications, using various computer languages and/or database platforms.
• Conducts training pertaining to the use of new applications or systems for users and/or other information technology staff.
• Provides professional systems support to users of particular applications.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances; position occasionally requires travel to other locations. Work environments may include noise, dust and/or unpleasant odors, marked changes in temperature and humidity, and may occasionally require work in confined spaces. Occasional evening, holiday and/or weekend work may be required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Show Your Qualifications

When applying, please be sure to clearly describe how your background meets each of the Minimum Qualifications listed below. This ensures our screening team can accurately evaluate your eligibility.

Experience: Two years of professional level information technology experience comparable to Information Technology Analyst I with Placer County

Training: Equivalent to the completion of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science, information technology or a closely related field. Additional relevant technical experience that demonstrates the ability to perform analytical duties in assigned technology area may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis. Possession of one or more approved information technology certificates and/or completion of other approved technology-related training may substitute for some or all of the required education.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Depending upon assignment, demonstrated technical competency and/or certification pertaining to the information technology used by the appointing department may be required.

Experience as a Substitute

You may substitute relevant, equivalent experience for the required education. The Human Resources Department will evaluate your background to ensure it qualifies as the same knowledge, skills, and abilities as the specified degree or coursework.

International Degrees

If you earned your degree outside the United States, you must provide proof of accreditation from a recognized evaluation agency. Please attach this documentation to your application to ensure your education is verified.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• General operations, services, concepts, terms and activities common to a comprehensive, state-of-the-art information systems program.
• Principles, methods and techniques used in designing, developing, testing and implementing computer hardware and software systems.
• Data processing techniques, including the types of hardware and software currently used to process data with different levels of complexity.
• Basic project management principles and techniques such as organizing and managing a project, developing schedules, identifying critical paths, and breaking down a project into individual tasks.
• Structured analysis and database concepts.
• Computer hardware and software systems similar to those being used by the hiring department.
• Tools and equipment used in testing the functionality of computer applications.
• Principles and practices of troubleshooting computer hardware, software and network problems.
• Principles and practices of customer service.
• Methods and techniques of developing and presenting technical documentation and training materials.
• Principles and practices of record keeping.
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment.

Ability