IS Project Manager II - Information Services Department - Limited Term (Open)

Description

The County of San Mateo's Information Services Department seeks qualified candidates for the limited term position of IS Project Manager II.

The incumbent in this position plans, coordinates, and manages a variety of complex, County-wide and/or interdepartmental information services projects through their entire project life cycle, including identifying users' needs, gathering detailed requirements, analyzing project feasibility, developing project scope and estimating budget, designing and programming systems applications, technical review and systems testing, and overseeing implementation; administering professional services contracts; and performing related work as required.

The incumbent receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel, and may exercise technical and functional direction over and provide training to lower-level staff on a project basis.

This is a journey-level project management class responsible for oversight of complex, County-wide and/or interdepartmental information service projects. The incumbent is required to conduct complex business requirements, needs, and other detailed review and analysis of various information technology strategies necessary to automate departmental processes and to resolve organizational issues. Incumbents perform work within a broad framework of general policy requiring creativity and resourcefulness to accomplish goals and objectives, apply concepts, plans, and strategies which may deviate from established methods and practices, and regularly lead projects of critical importance and substantial consequence of success or failure to the County.

The ideal candidate will:

• Understand the principles and practices of project management, identifying technology needs and issues, researching and evaluating technology, applications, and the most effective courses of action, and implementing solutions. Exposure to construction (new building sites or renovating existing ones) projects that required IT infrastructure implementations would be beneficial.

• Have experience with contract administration principles and techniques

• Have knowledge and experience of:

• Current trends in applications technology, including web-based architecture, security, workflow and systems design; government enterprise business processes; project management and information systems development and maintenance

• Architectural, civil, structural, and engineering design and specifications; financing, estimating and budgeting, calculating overhead, design and construction costs

• Legal requirements for City and County projects; regulations and commissions affecting planning, zoning, design and construction

This is a limited term, at-will position.Limited Term Employees are assigned to assignments not to exceed three years. They receive medical and dental benefits, similar to regular employees, and a defined contribution retirement plan.

Information for current County employees:Current and regular San Mateo County Employees who are interested in this assignment must submit application materials and compete in the selection process. If you are successful in the selection process and are being considered for the assignment, HR will work directly with you and/or your department for options. Please note that there is no guarantee that you will be allowed by your department to rotate into this assignment nor are your departments obligated to allow you to take on this assignment. The salary range for this position is "as is" and non-negotiable.

Examples Of Duties

Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the functions of the job.

• Manages complex, County-wide and/or interdepartmental information services projects such as research, development, conversion, installation, upgrade, and maintenance projects

• Provides coordination, guidance, and oversight for all phases of a project, including initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and close-out

• Designs and recommends business processes and workflow strategies for various information technology systems and infrastructure

• Plans, organizes, and defines project requirements, methods, and end objectives in consultation with end users; performs risk assessments; develops concept documents, impact analyses, stakeholder analyses, and draft process documentation; coordinates project activities with team members, other section staff, user representatives and outside vendors

• Interviews, analyzes, and documents end user work processes and information services requirements; conducts systems walk-throughs and technical reviews; develops or refines specifications, including evaluating and testing vendor packages for conformance with user requirements and priorities

• Develops and tracks project budgets, contracts, and schedules; monitors project progress and ensures project goals and contract requirements are met

• Develops consultant requests for proposals and qualifications for professional services; evaluate proposals and recommends project award

• Designs and programs systems applications, conducts technical review and systems testing, and oversees implementation

• Prepares feasibility studies, cost and benefits analyses, product evaluation, requirement specifications, designs, and other analyses and documentation

• Maintains and regularly updates a project risk matrix with severity indicators and a plan to eliminate or mitigate impacts

• Regularly tracks project expenditures, reviews invoices for accuracy and consistency with contractual obligations, and recommends appropriate dispersals of allocated funds

• Tracks regularly project tasks, resources utilized, deliverables completed and upcoming

• Reports regularly on project status based on Key Performance Indicators

• Responds to and resolves software users' inquiries and complaints and escalates problems or issues to vendor representatives as needed

• Plans, schedules, and conducts training classes and demonstrations; determines training objectives and requirements; prepares and designs training materials, reference guides, and user manuals

• Develops and recommends comprehensive standards, policies, procedures, and technical documentation

• Functions as a liaison between application support analysts, systems specialists, data specialists, communications specialists, and customer support specialists to ensure standards and protocols are maintained; assists in coordinating activities with other information services staff

• Provides recommendations to managers and supervisors on the development of long- and short-term system infrastructure plans

• Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in technology related to County operations; recommends, and evaluates vendor solutions and technologies; implements improvements; works with staff to maintain, revise, or improve operations and systems

• Writes and maintains user and technical operating instructions and documentation; provides training to users and other technical staff, and advises on best practices

• Provides updates, status, and completion information to staff and/or users via voicemail, email, or in-person communication

• Leads, coordinates, and plans applications development, enhancement, and maintenance projects

• Manages multiple projects simultaneously

• Organizes and prioritizes a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organizes own work, sets priorities, and meets critical deadlines

• Be a liaison between County's ISD (Information Services Department)) and PDU (Project Development Unit) to improve communication, collaboration, partnership, and management of technology aspects included in various construction projects.

• Manages ambiguity that may surround some aspects of projects and recommends data-based optimal directions to stakeholders and steering committees

• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in management information systems, computer science, or a related field and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in performing information technology/systems project management specific to the specialty area assigned which includes infrastructure or application implementation and integration projects. Additional related experience may substitute for education requirement on a year-for-year basis, up to four (4) years.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Some positions may require possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License.

• Some positions may require possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), or equivalent certification.

• Some positions may require possession of, or ability to obtain, industry-recognized information technology certifications.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of project management, identifying technology needs and issues, researching and evaluating technology, applications, and the most effective courses of action, and implementing solutions.

• Advanced principles and practices of computer systems management, analysis, design, and maintenance.

• Advanced data management theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.

• Contract administration principles and techniques.

• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.

• Advanced techniques and methods of system evaluation, implementation, and documentation.

• The organization, operation, and functions of the department as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities and to determine appropriate point of escalation.

• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.

• Principles and procedures of record keeping.

• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.

• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.

• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with vendors and County staff.

Skill/Ability to:

• Conduct complex research projects on a wide variety of software issues, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.

• Coordinate and plan applications development, enhancement, and maintenance projects.

• Manage multiple projects at the same time.

• Perform analyses of informational requirements and needs; identify, evaluate, and solve systems problems; design and implement new or revised systems and procedures; provide technical advice and consultation, and ensure efficient computer system utilization.

• Identify, evaluate, and solve information services problems; design and implement new or revised systems and procedures for the automation of information processing.

• Collect, analyze, and interpret procedures and data; develop sound conclusions, recommendations, and solutions.

• Research, develop, and recommend cost-effective technical system improvements.

• Prepare clear and concise program documentation, system and user procedures, reports of work performed, and other written materials.

• Analyze and troubleshoot any software issues and use logic to solve the problem.

• Deal tactfully with the customers and staff in providing information, answering questions, and providing customer service.

• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, rules, and regulations.

• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.

• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.

• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.

• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.

• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.

• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various County sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 50 pounds with the use of proper equipment.

Environmental Elements

Employees work in an office environment with moderate levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Application/Examination

If you are interested in being considered for this limited term position, the following materials must be electronically submitted in a Word or PDF format:

• Cover letter with responses to Supplemental Questions (maximum of 2 pages)
• Resume

Supplemental Questions:

• Please describe the education, training and experience that qualify you for a position as IS Project Manager II. Include specific certificates, training and experience. Be specific.

• Tell us about one of your IT projects that you recently completed that had major infrastructure components. Describe these and state which components benefited the project most. Illustrate your answers with actual deliverables from your project.

• Tell us about the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that you used in managing your projects. State and expand on the actuals used from your project. Which indicators did you find most useful and why?

Please include the words "IS Project Manager II - Information Services Department - Limited Term" in the subject line of the email submission. Please submit the required materials electronically via email to the following:

Harshil Kanakia at hkanakia@smcgov.org,Ghyas Ahmed, gahmed@smcgov.org, and Jose Sierra at jsierra@smcgov.org

Application materials will be reviewed as they are received, and well-qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Apply immediately. Resumés will be accepted until position is filled. This posting is open on a continuous basis and selection may be made at any time within the process.

NOTE: Application materials are only accepted via e-mail. Materials sent via regular mail and/or fax will not be accepted. Submittals that do not include all required elements (cover letter with responses to supplemental questions and a resume) will not be considered.

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.