Principal Business Systems Analyst

City of Santa Monica, CA

$126K — $156K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, project management, computer science, or a related field.
  • Five years of recent experience with large-scale technical systems like ERP/CRM/SCM.
  • Experience in maintaining business applications and automating processes.
  • Leadership experience in supervising and training staff is a plus.
  • Agile process or PMP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Act as a strategic partner to gather and meet business requirements.
  • Lead and coordinate the work of technical staff under supervision.
  • Analyze and document business processes for improvements.
  • Develop technology roadmaps aligned with business goals.
  • Manage relationships with external service providers for project success.
  • Oversee system setup, upgrades, and modifications for software applications.
  • Provide training and support for business software applications.

Benefits

  • Sick leave and holiday pay.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Tuition reimbursement options.
  • Retirement plan through the Public Employees Retirement System.
  • Flexible workplace policy including telework opportunities.
Full Job Description
Salary : $126,612.00 - $156,312.00 Annually
Location : City of Santa Monica, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 261225-01
Department: Information Systems
Opening Date: 07/31/2026
Closing Date: 8/28/2026 5:30 PM Pacific

Job Summary
NOTE: The current vacancy is in the Public Safety division, which supports the Police and Fire Departments. This recruitment will also be used to fill future vacancies in the Technology Department.
Serves as a lead strategic partner responsible for understanding and meeting business requirements and serving as a project lead, including providing expertise on reactive, proactive and enhancement support services.
SUPERVISION

Works under the administrative supervision of a division manager, or designee, who outlines work, occasionally reviews work in progress, and periodically reviews completed work. Exercises general and technical supervision over professional and clerical staff, as assigned.
Representative Duties
Provides business support and acts as a project lead and technology liaison, supporting business-specific systems.
Leads, trains, coordinates, and reviews the work of staff, including providing technical oversight.
Collects, analyzes, documents, and evaluates business requirements for process and customer experience improvements. Defines end-to-end use cases and user stories.
Participates and oversees development of technology roadmaps based on business objectives.
Establishes and manages relationships and agreements with external service providers.
Designs, implements, tests, and supports business software systems and applications.
Configures, maintains, updates, and evaluates technical applications, as needed.
Oversees and monitors activities that support all system setup, configuration, upgrades, and modifications for business software applications per established standards.
Manages process and system change activities in adherence to all policies and procedures focusing on enhancing system security, reliability, and availability.
Monitors, measures, evaluates and provides feedback on process and system performance.
Analyzes and identifies current business processes for improvement and overall technical requirements.
Prepares Requests for Proposals, Requests for Information, and Requests for Quotes; evaluates vendor proposals and reviews vendor invoices.
Evaluates and documents process workflows, system support materials, knowledge articles, and supports self-service capabilities through the ISD Service Portal.
Provides individual or group training on business software applications, policies, and procedures, including development of training and procedural guides for end-users.
Leads and coordinates during major incidents impacting business units. Adheres to major incident management process and escalation requirements. Conducts post-mortem incident reviews and root cause problem identification.
Evaluates and conducts research on emerging information technology products and services to support business needs.
Responds to periodic after-hours calls and emails to address critical systems outages both in-person and via phone.
Performs other duties, as assigned.

Requirements
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:
Business process and customer experience facilitation techniques, including Lean IT, Voice of the Customer, and Journey Mapping

ITIL and the entire IT Service Delivery lifecycle

Project and program management principles and best practices

Software delivery life cycle methodologies including Agile, SCRUM, and Kanban

Software system configuration, maintenance, administration, analysis, and problem resolution best practices
Ability to:
Lead, train, coordinate, and monitor the work of others

Negotiate contracts and monitor the work of project consultants

Develop Requests for Proposals, Requests for Information, and Requests for Quotes.

Become proficient in new technical applications

Document technical information and user procedures

Provide training and instruction on various computer applications

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Conduct research and make recommendations on technology

Develop and author council staff reports

Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City employees and the general public

Work with people from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds as well as a variety of work styles, personalities, and approaches
Provide effective customer service
Skill in:
Project management and implementation of information systems

Software configuration, maintenance, and problem resolution

Strategic planning

Meeting facilitation, public speaking, and presentations.

Data analysis
REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.
Experience: Five years of recent paid work experience implementing large-scale technical systems such as ERP/CRM/SCM/Asset Management/Smart Crime Center or similar systems, maintaining business applications, and automating business processes.
Experience coordinating, training, or providing general supervision to others is desirable.
Experience in the administration of systems serving public agencies is desirable.
License and Certificates:
Industry-recognized Agile process certification (CSM, CSPO, SAFe, LeSS, or equivalent) or PMP certification is desirable.

Supplemental Information
How to Apply:

Applicants must submit a completed on-line City Application along with any required supplemental application materials with the Human Resources Department by the filing deadline. If you do not submit your on-line application by the filing deadline, you will not be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. Resumes, CVs and cover letters are not reviewed as part of the application screening process.

Selection Process:

All applicants must submit clear, concise and complete information regarding your work history and qualifications for the position. All applications will be reviewed and only those applicants determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
Testing may consist of a combination of any of the following and is subject to change as needs dictate:

Training and Experience Evaluation - Qualifying

Oral Interview - 100%
If three or more qualified City employees apply and pass the examination, a promotional list will be established in addition to an open-competitive list. If fewer than three qualified City employees pass the examination, the appointing authority, in accordance with the City's civil service rules and regulations, can decline to use a promotional list, in which case a promotional list will not be established for this position.

Note: Internal staff who submit transfer applications must notify the analyst in charge of the recruitment, via email, upon submission of their transfer application.
Background Investigation:

Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is regularly performed indoors in a home or office environment in accordance with the City's Telework/Flexible Workplace Policy. Office work requires sitting for prolonged periods of time and using a computer keyboard and screen. The incumbent may be required to work in confined areas. Off-site assignments and irregular work hours are occasionally required. May be required to work evenings and/or weekends. Physical demands may include kneeling, bending, stooping, reaching and grasping.
The City's liberal fringe benefits for full-time employment include sick leave, holiday and vacation pay, the Public Employees Retirement System, medical, dental and vision insurance, credit union, deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement, Dependent Care Assistance Plan and priority enrollment consideration at Hill & Dale Family Learning Center, Marine Park Child Development Center, and Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School.
01

The classification of Principal Business Systems Analyst requires graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree in business administration, project management, computer science, or a closely related field, and additional qualifying work experience. If you would like for your education to be considered, you must attach a copy of your college diploma or transcripts to your online application. Applicants who indicate receipt of college-level coursework or a degree from a foreign institution must provide United States credential equivalency verification along with a copy of their college diploma or transcripts. If you wish to use additional qualifying experience, please describe that experience below. Be sure to include the name of the employer and the years that the experience took place.Do you understand the information in the statement above?
  • Yes
  • No

02

The Principal Business Systems Analyst position requires a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Do you meet this requirement?(Note: If yes, you must submit a copy of your college-level transcripts or degree copy. Applicants who indicate receipt of college-level coursework from a foreign institution must provide United States credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your transcripts. All materials must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than close of business on the application closing date. You may attach a scanned copy of your college-level transcripts or degree copy to your online application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.)
  • Yes, I have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • No, I do not have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. I understand that selecting this option disqualifies my application from further consideration.

03

The Principal Business Systems Analyst position requires five years of recent paid work experience implementing large-scale technical systems such as ERP/CRM/SCM/Asset Management/Smart Crime Center or similar systems, maintaining business applications, and automating business processes. Do you meet this requirement?
  • Yes, I have five years of recent paid work experience implementing large-scale technical systems such as ERP/CRM/SCM/Asset Management/Smart Crime Center or similar systems, maintaining business applications, and automating business processes.
  • No, I do not have five years of recent paid work experience implementing large-scale technical systems such as ERP/CRM/SCM/Asset Management/Smart Crime Center or similar systems, maintaining business applications, and automating business processes. I understand that selecting this option disqualifies my application from further consideration.

04

Describe your experience implementing large-scale technical systems such as ERP/CRM/SCM/Asset Management/Smart Crime Center or similar systems, maintaining business applications, and automating business processes. Your response must include the following per qualifying work experience: 1) Employer Name, 2) Dates of Employment (Mo/Yr to Mo/Yr), 3) Job Title, 4) Duties Performed. If you have no such experience, mark N/A.
05

Do you have experience administering and serving Public Safety Technology systems?
  • Yes
  • No

06

Were you referred for this position? If yes, please provide the name of the individual who referred you. If no, please enter "N/A.
Required Question

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