Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Systems Analyst

Recruitment #14-1827-01

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Please read the instructions for submitting the Supplemental Questionnaire in the 'Examination Components' section of this announcement. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

THIS EXAM HAS A LIMITED FILING PERIOD

Applications will only be accepted on Tuesday, December 9th, 2014 from 8:00am until 5:00pm. Applications will only be accepted online.

On December 9th, "Click Here to Apply" button will appear at the bottom of this page. Be aware that if you complete an application template you must still return to this page and apply for the position in the time period stated above to submit the application for the Systems Analyst.

DESCRIPTION

The Department:
The Information Technology Department provides services to County Departments to aid in the effective delivery of IT services that support the business needs of the county. County Information Technology is a vital part of the organization, providing faster and better ways for our employees to do their jobs and for our residents to access our services. We continue to keep our technology current and to work with members and management of all departments to provide the computing capabilities that are needed. 

-Application Services
-Infrastructure and Technical Services 
-Data Center Services

 

The Position:
This position is located in the Application Services Division, under general direction, to perform systems analysis, by working extensively with user departments in order to investigate, analyze, evaluate, make recommendations and create documentation concerning a department's needs; to provide program and system design specifications; devise procedures for using the systems; to provide for the implementation of the newly-designed system or system change; to prepare instructional material for staff and the user department; to act as a project manager on small projects and as team member on larger projects; to support database design; and to perform related duties as required.

The Division:
Application services include the assessment, development, implementation and support of technology-based business solutions to support County department goals and objectives. Services in this area include:

Business Analysis: To aid in the determination of how innovative business solutions technologies can improve operations, add business value and present business re-engineering opportunities, staff translate technology-based solutions into detailed designs of the computer system to be developed or purchased. A project team created from business unit staff and technology professionals provide descriptions of the business functions to be supported, diagrams of the proposed system, and flexible application designs for easy modification.

Application Construction: Staff use information obtained in the business analysis phase of a project and perform application construction services (programming) for custom-built applications used to achieve an automated business function.

Web Support: Staff manages the county Internet, Intranet and Extranet sites. The look and functionality of our web site is continuously.

Project Management: Staff provides project management services, creating roadmaps covering all aspects of a project including the necessary resources and timelines to monitor, track and implement projects.

The Ideal Candidate:
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications the ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in the following:

  • Thinking both creatively and artistically while demonstrating a thorough knowledge of a computing environment/systems similar to those found in Alameda County such as: .Net development; PowerBuilder applications PeopleSoft Applications, Java and related web based development techniques; WebSphere, COBOL, CICS.
  • Adhering to established standards, and complete projects within stringent time schedules.
  • Handling multiple tasks at once, prioritize, and demonstrate excellent follow-through on each task assigned.
  • Performing well under pressure; analyze and diagnose problems quickly to come up with a workable solution within prescribed standards.
  • Expressing oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • Working closely with and explaining sophisticated technology, techniques and processes in layman's terms to client/customer community and a thorough knowledge applications, systems, software packages, and hardware found in Alameda County.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Defines and documents the scope of system problems and the goals and needs of the automated systems; determines methodology to solve application problems.

2. Analyzes and documents current business practices of a department by conducting organizational analysis, administrative methods analysis and systems survey; develops and documents alternatives to improve system flow and output.

3. Prepares feasibility studies to improve a departments’ functions and/or procedures; identifies potential solutions and reports on the advisability of each, including feasibility, equipment and infrastructure requirements, personnel requirements, cost/ benefit effectiveness, time requirements, and makes a recommendation on which solution should be used.

4. Develops overall system project plans with Senior Systems Analyst based on the resource requirements approved by management and the user department; assesses equipment; identifies inputs and outputs, major files, data handling techniques; breaks systems into sub-systems; identifies and develops program specifications.

5. Designs detailed systems and programs or delegates this responsibility to a Programmer Analyst.

6. Codes and tests programs in programming languages and tools used by Alameda County ITD.

7. Coordinates and facilitates equipment and system installation.

8. Develops and coordinates new system testing plans to assure that related systems fit user's needs and are fully compatible in terms of program/system implementation and maintenance.

9. Develops procedures for using the system and develops training programs for users and staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Programmer Analyst in Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.).

 
Or II

The equivalent of four years of full-time, increasingly responsible experience in systems analysis and programming. This experience must include two years in systems analysis and design and two years of programming in at least one of the programming languages and tools used by Alameda County ITD.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• programming languages and tools used by Alameda County ITD.
• Database concepts and SQL language.
• Systems analysis and design principles.
• Applications programming.
• Estimating methods for equipment costs, production costs, programming costs, and system benefits.
• Project Management techniques.

Ability to:

• Analyze processing problems.
• Develop and evaluate alternatives.
• Develop work plans and set target dates.
• Develop reasonable cost and time estimates.
• Communicate technical concepts on problem solutions to user department representatives in an effective manner.
• Analyze data and prepare clear, concise and informative reports.
• Understand and consider impact of organizational, management, administrative and personnel aspects of systems design.
• Resolve related problems and make appropriate recommendations.
• Work effectively with staff and user department representatives.
• Write programming specifications.
• Manage projects and maintenance units.
• Utilize Microsoft Office productivity tools: Excel, Word, Project, Visio, PowerPoint, Outlook, Sharepoint

 

 

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps: 1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. 2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process. 3) A performance exam which will be weighted at 50% of the candidate' final examination score. 4) An oral interview which will be weighted as 50% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.  CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.  We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

 

***SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE INSTRUCTIONS***

A copy of the supplemental questionnaire can be found here. Please download, print, complete, sign, scan and email the completed questionnaire to Sylvia.perez@acgov.org with the subject line: 14-1827-01-Supplemental Questionnaire - (Your Last Name). Failure to complete the questionnaire and submit it accordingly will result in disqualification. Should there be any questions regarding how to submit the questionnaire please call, 510-208-9593. Additionally, supplemental questionnaire will ONLY BE ACCEPTED on 12/09/2014 between 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Questionnaires must be completed and emailed by 5:00 PM on the Last Day of Filing.


 Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the "What You Need To Know" section of our website:  www.acgov.org/hrs.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS

Selection Plan

 

Applicants will be informed via e-mail with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

  

 

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:

Limited Filing Period:

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

Best Qualified Screening:

Performance Exam:

Oral Interview Exam:

8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Tuesday, December 9, 2014

 Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Week of January 26, 2015

Week of February 9, 2015

 

 

 *WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statues.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
  • Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
  • Vision
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
  • County Allowance
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Short-term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Group Auto/Home
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 

Sylvia Perez, Human Resources Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

510-208-9593

Sylvia.Perez@acgov.org

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer