Information Technology Analyst - II

Placer County is a beautiful place to live and work. Stretching from the suburban outskirts of the Sacramento Valley to the mountains of the North Lake Tahoe region, quality of life in Placer County is truly the key to its attractiveness. Recreational prospects abound in the County’s numerous rivers, lakes, state parks and ski resorts. Three vibrant suburban communities offer world-class shopping and dining, cultural activities, and the chance to tee off at one of several championship golf courses. The foothills, home to the world-famous Gold Country, offer well-stocked rivers and tree-lined lakes. This distinctive area gives residents the opportunity to explore the lifestyle of country living with big city convenience while bringing them closer to nature and surrounding them with history.

Placer County’s Administrative Services Department's Telecommunications Division is seeking a network/telephone systems professional.  This position is responsible for designing, implementing, operating and maintaining the Placer County local and wide area networks; Placer County telephone systems, both small and medium call centers; and IP video services.  This position will work closely with the County's telecom service providers as well as maintenance vendors. The network infrastructure consists of products from Cisco Systems, HP and NEC.

Ideal candidates should have in-depth knowledge of network technologies, hardware, software and telephony; as well as a thorough understanding of networking concepts and systems, such as, routing and switching, WAN/LAN, Cisco and HP network devices, VoIP PBX, call center systems, WLANs/Wi-Fi and Carrier Transmission Systems. 

Additionally, the ideal candidate should be experienced and skilled in vendor/partner management, project management, customer service, and business/cost analysis and excellent problem solving skills.

While this position is stationed in Auburn, some travel to other work locations throughout Placer County, including the Tahoe and Roseville areas is required.

Possession of industry certifications from Cisco Systems, HP and/or NEC are desirable but not required.

To support network infrastructure needs; to assist assigned customer departments to identify their business needs; to manage information technology projects related to assigned technical area of responsibility; and to manage operational systems such as host systems, network infrastructure and data/voice communications in a team environment.

This is the full journey-level professional class in the Information Technology Analyst series.  Positions within this class are distinguished from the Information Technology Analyst I by independently working on larger more complex assignments including the maintenance and upgrades of existing large systems related to area of assignment.  Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

Receives direction from an assigned supervisor, and may receive technical and functional supervision from a Senior Information Technology Analyst.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over technical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide information technology operational systems support for the County or department network infrastructure, including analyzing, diagnosing, maintaining, and troubleshooting assigned system areas such as operating systems, database systems and network systems including routers, switches, and hubs.
• Prepare and maintain systems procedures and documentation; monitor systems and network resources; maintain and administer security systems and methodologies.
• Assist in the development and administration of Feasibility Study Reports and Request for Proposals to acquire applicable departmental programs or systems from vendors to meet the identified departmental needs.
• Answer questions and provide information to personnel of customer departments; analyze questions and recommend appropriate corrective action as necessary.
• Assist in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; monitor and control expenditures.
• Coordinate information technology activities of County departments, division staff, and/or vendors, consistent with project plans; identify and resolve obstacles to progress, prepare for and manage delivery and installation.
• Monitor disk storage space and backup management.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on requests from operating departments related to computing system development and/or the feasibility of computer applications.
• Evaluate and recommend customer technical solutions; design and/or identify solutions integrating County network infrastructure and other systems, considering protocols, standard data elements and codes, acceptable system security risk and other related elements.
• Evaluate operations and activities of customer support; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Follow, maintain, and implement internal control, network security and other security systems for computer and telecommunication data, systems and hardware protection.
• Maintain and administer County information technology security systems and methodologies.
  Maintain and update manuals, codebooks, templates, web pages for departments, and computer control tables.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of information.
• Monitor project schedules and work requests utilizing County project management guidelines; coordinate with customer department management and staff; report project status to management; and prepare internal and external project reports.
• Participate in the analysis, diagnosis and correction of problems with existing computer applications.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports; prepare written correspondence; review reports and customer documentation; research written documentation, the Internet, and vendor help sites to resolve problems.
• Provide user support, digital certificate, and user account administration.
• Provide server and web server software maintenance including hardware maintenance and support.
• Build and maintain positive and professional working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Work in a safe manner at all times.
• Follow County policies and procedures.
• Perform related duties as assigned. 

When Assigned To Network Management/Telecommunications

• Monitor and analyze network performance and resolve network issues.
• Plan, design, install and document new network segments and connections.
• Enforce infrastructure security through accounts and access control lists.
• Troubleshoot network connectivity issues. 
• Perform professional and technical duties related to media, phones, and radio using voice/audio/data over internet protocol including wireless technology.
• Design, implement and maintain telecommunication systems and projects.
• Analyze business needs and prepare recommendations and solutions involving telecommunications technology.

It is the applicant's responsibility to identify in their application materials how they meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below.

Experience: One year of professional level information technology experience similar to an Information Technology Analyst I with Placer County or one year of professional level technology solutions experience similar to a Senior Technology Solutions Analyst with Placer County or two years of responsible professional experience in network support, telecommunications support, database design, or operating system support.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in computer science, business administration, or a related field. 

• Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency
• Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Personnel Department.

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.

NOTE: If needed, an additional screening will be conducted to select the best qualified candidates for this recruitment. Best-qualified consideration will be given to those applicants who demonstrate professional-level experience in data networking and/or telecommunications infrastructure.

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Knowledge of:

• Standard principles and practices of business office automation and information technology, including network systems, telecommunications, database administration or operating systems.
• Common word processing and spreadsheet software for personal computers.
• Troubleshooting techniques used in resolving operational problems with computer software.
• Methods used in the development of technical systems documentation and report writing.
• Basic principles and practices of application systems and procedures analysis and design.
• Security systems and methodologies for network computer and data/voice communications systems.
• Common application programming languages.
• Standards and protocols for data/voice communications and methodologies for database management.
• Principles and practices of good customer service.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• Principles and practices of systems and procedures analysis and design, including procedures and methods for systems documentation.
• Principles and practices of project management and work flow analysis.
• Effective report writing and research for complex work.
• Administrative functions, procedures and problems of assigned or customer departments in order to develop new systems or revise existing systems.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal laws, ordinances and rules.
• Complex project management tools, methods, and techniques.

Ability to:

• Conduct analysis of alternatives; develop and review a technical support plan; write computer programs or modify software to meet department-specific needs for internal and external users in accordance with established standards and practices.
• Analyze and define problems, identify appropriate alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and coordinate and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Assist users in solving problems related to their data on the computer and processing problems; may suggest alternate methods of operation to users.
• Work efficiently and effectively with various operating systems, databases and network systems.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Maintain and administer County security systems and methodologies.
• Manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk and in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift heavy weights, depending on assignment area.
• Prepare and maintain documentation for procedures, processes, and tables related to area of assignment.
• Provide on-call duties and service during off hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a respectful, tactful and effective manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Train multiple team members in the use of complex technical equipment and software.
• Independently analyze and define problems, identify appropriate alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and coordinate and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Develop training documents.  
• Manage meetings effectively.
• Diagnose problems of a more complex nature.
• Work independently researching and proposing solutions to technical problems of the most complex nature. Effectively work with County employees from multiple departments, with contract employees and outside vendors to complete information technology projects.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

All applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be required to respond to an online Conviction History Questionnaire, which will be sent as a link on their notification that minimum qualifications have been met.  Failure to respond to this questionnaire within (3) three calendar days of the minimum qualification notification will result in disqualification from the examination.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination, which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation, sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation and/or be bonded.

All new permanent employees, with the exception of sworn law enforcement and management, shall be required to join the employee organization or pay an 'Agency Fee' as a condition of employment.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County now offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. Please contact the Personnel Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Personnel Department.

Click here to view benefits for Professional bargaining unit