County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

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.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Incumbents in Systems Analyst positions, having had experience in programming analysis, are competent to work independently in the design and analysis of new automated systems. Supervision is received from a Senior Systems Analyst. Positions in the class of Systems Analyst differ from those in the next lower class of Programmer Analyst by having responsibility for the design of an entire system starting with undefined user needs and continuing through implementation of a system, whereas Programmer Analysts are assigned a segment of the system design made up of systems of programs or computer processes. Systems Analysts are further distinguished from the higher class of Senior Systems Analyst by the clearly defined supervisory responsibility of the latter who provides first-line supervision, guidance, and technical assistance to the Systems Analyst. The Systems Analyst is further distinguished from the Senior Systems Analyst in that the latter has the responsibility of planning support and resource allocation for projects or maintenance units.

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

 

 

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

WW:lfm Revised 9/16/81
DF:rf 12/24/01
New doc: Jobspecs/1827.doc
ys/3/01
CSC Date: 10/13/81
KU:pf Rev. 12/3/02
CSC Date: 2/26/03
SG: cs Revised 4/29/11
CSC Date: 7/27/11

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 & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• 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
• 1^st 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.