State of Maryland

An Information Technology (IT) Programmer Analyst, Lead/Advanced is the lead or advanced level of work designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining applications and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools.  Employees in this classification, performing the lead level of work, assign, review and approve the work and train lower-level IT Programmer Analysts or IT Programmers.  Employees in this classification, performing the advanced level of work, function as a project manager for a major computer programming project.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an IT Programmer Analyst Supervisor or other data processing administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays and may be subject to call in.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the classification specification.

The IT Programmer Analyst, Lead/Advanced is differentiated from the IT Programmer Analyst II in that the IT Programmer, Lead/Advanced either assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains IT Programmer Analysts or IT Programmers or functions as a project manager for a major computer programming project while the IT Programmer Analyst II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The IT Programmer Analyst, Lead/Advanced is differentiated from the IT Programmer Analyst Supervisor in that the IT Programmer Analyst Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level IT Programmer Analysts or IT Programmers.

                                                    When functioning at the Lead level:

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level IT Programmers Analysts or IT Programmers;

Trains lower-level IT Programmer Analysts or IT Programmers;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level IT Programmer Analysts or IT Programmers on the resolution of complex problems in designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining applications and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Consults with users to plan, develop, evaluate and revise applications;

Collects and analyzes data concerning applications to determine the purpose of the application, work methods used, cause and effect of problems and improvements needed;

Prepares conceptual designs of proposed new or revised applications outlining the purpose, software components, hardware requirements, cost analysis and alternative solutions;

Prepares technical application designs and project specifications detailing input, processes, output and controls using narrative reports and analysis tools such as flowcharts and diagrams;

Creates and compiles programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Uses specialty software to perform utility routines including debugging and editing;

Develops and assembles documentation including job control language, job control procedures, operating instructions, program documentation and user documentation;

Implements applications by obtaining signatory approval from users, security and other reviewing units;

Debugs and troubleshoots defects, abends, issues and other problems identified in test regions and the production region, as needed, developing software solutions and participating in coordinating software testing and re-migration as needed;

Trains users in the use of new and revised applications;

Maintains applications by evaluating and revising them as required;

Performs emergency maintenance on applications and programs as required;

Prepares system documentation to support software changes such as design documentation, test plans, scope statements and other deliverables required by the work request or project;

Reviews software manuals and other technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to learn to use various computer programming languages and tools used by the agency and to keep abreast of the latest developments in information technology;

May use PC-based productivity tools to assist in program design and documentation;

Performs other related duties.

                                             When functioning at the Advanced level:

Manages, as a project team leader, the development or revision of complex applications which have a significant impact on State government operations;

Coordinates, as a project team leader, the analysis and development phases with programming phases of the project to most effectively and efficiently devise a flow process and procedures from both programming and resources standpoints;

Determines equipment needs related to project information technology requirements and recommends augmentation or modification of equipment;

Oversees the installation of new information applications and makes necessary refinements during the testing and debugging of programs;

Ensures the maximum and equitable use of available information technology resources;

Trains or oversees the training of users in new and revised applications;

Maintains or oversees the maintenance of applications by evaluating and revising them as required;

Performs or oversees the performance of emergency maintenance on applications and programs as required;

Reviews software manuals and other technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to learn to use various programming languages and tools used by the agency and to keep abreast of the latest developments in information technology;

May resolve information technology issues with other operating or control agencies impacted by the information technology project;

May assign, review and approve the work of lower-level IT Programmer Analysts or IT Programmers assigned to assist with the project;

Performs other related duties.  

Knowledge of the principles and practices of information technology applications, analysis and design;

Knowledge of generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of computers and peripheral equipment as related to applications design and programming;

Knowledge of job control languages;

Skill in analyzing and designing computer applications;

Skill in developing and modifying computer programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools;

Skill in using specialty software;

Skill in following emergency, disaster recovery and security procedures;

Skill in applying inductive and deductive reasoning to reach logical solutions to problems;

Ability to develop and present comprehensive plans for applications and software development and implementation;

Ability to determine equipment needs related to information technology requirements and recommend necessary augmentation or modification of equipment;

Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, vendors, computer operations personnel, IT Programmers and technical support staff;

Ability to train lower-level IT Programmer Analysts or IT Programmers.

Experience: Six years of experience, two years of experience designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining applications systems and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools and an additional four years of experience converting data from project specifications by writing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute six credit hours of coursework in application analysis and programming using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools for six months of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and eighteen months of experience converting data from project specifications by writing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools for the additional four years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and fifteen credit hours from an accredited college or university in systems analysis and application programming using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools for the additional four years of the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute experience on a year-for-year basis in one of the following areas: operating computers, scheduling, controlling input and output or maintaining backups or data storage, processing data on computers, evaluating, implementing and maintaining hardware and software, for a high school education.

5. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or other information technology related field and two years of experience designing, developing, testing, implementing and maintaining applications systems and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages or other developmental tools for the required experience.

6. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Computer Systems Programming classifications or Computer Systems Programming specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.