Staff Services Analyst - Senior

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

This recruitment is open until filled. Applications will be screened on a bi-weekly basis.

This classification is scheduled to receive a general wage increase of 4.0% in July 2024.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To perform the more difficult and complex administrative studies related to the organization and operation of assigned County departments, divisions, or programs; to develop and implement policies and procedures with direction from departmental management; may manage programs with Countywide impact.

This is the advanced journey level class in the Staff Services Analyst series.  Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, by the amount of time spent performing the duties and by the nature of the public contact made.  Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series, which may include direct supervision over professional, technical and clerical staff as assigned.  Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

This class is distinguished from the Administrative & Fiscal Officer series in that the latter has responsibility for implementing and maintaining the budget process and fiscal recordkeeping and reporting operations with day-to-day oversight and participation in fiscal/accounting operations and budget preparation/monitoring activities for assigned department/division.

Receives general direction from management staff of assigned work unit/department.

May exercise supervision over professional, technical and clerical personnel.

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

• Conduct and review analytical studies and surveys in difficult or complex situations which require a high level of skill, judgment and expertise; formulate procedures, policies and program alternatives; make recommendations on a broad spectrum of administrative and program-related topics.
• Conduct difficult and complex productivity and efficiency studies, performance audits, management reviews and administrative analyses of organization systems and procedures; prepare recommendations and confer with appropriate staff.
• Conduct special studies in all areas of department as directed; coordinate studies across program areas.
• Develop and maintain cost analyses and program evaluations; perform a variety of special assignments; prepare complex analytical and statistical reports.
• Review and analyze proposed legislation and advise management on the impact or potential impact; assist with the coordination and development of related proposals, reports and other documentation.
• Analyze federal and state statutes and regulations; develop required responses and/or proposals for various state departments and various statewide associations applicable to assigned work unit or department.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of assigned professional, technical and/or clerical staff.
• Participate in the selection of staff, provide or coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline.
• Develop implementation plans relative to new program implementation requirements.
• Develop statistical tracking systems and management reports for identification of trends, application of staff resources, application of funding or others as identified.
• Develop administrative policies and procedures consistent with policy direction from departmental management.
• Perform project management functions; maintain project resource repositories, lead requirements gathering for resolution of emerging issues, monitor project budgets and expenditures. 
• Draft, revise, and organize complex technical documents and communications.
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for administrative functions; implement policies and procedures.
• Develop and maintain regulations and operating and/or technical procedure manuals.
• Design and recommend systems, procedures, forms and instructions for internal use.
• Develop grant applications and grant reports.
• Administer, monitor and evaluate contracts; participate in negotiating contracts with outside vendors, consultants or organizations; monitor fiscal and legal liabilities of the same.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary; prepare correspondence as needed.
• Prepare correspondence and reports; respond to questionnaires and surveys; establish and maintain files and records as appropriate.
• Represent the department at meetings as required; attend and participate in various boards, commissions, and committee meetings regarding assigned functions.
• Facilitate meetings with department customers as needed. 
• Train and lead subordinate staff.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other county employees and the public, using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

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

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible work experience conducting detailed analysis requiring the preparation and submission of findings with recommendations, including one year at the Journey level.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public or business administration, government, political or social science or a related field.

NOTE: 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 Human Resources Department.

NOTE: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Required 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.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of local government and county administration, organization, programs and functions.
• Principles of management, organization and staffing.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Principles and practices of fiscal control.
• Principles and practices of project management, analysis, and coordination 
• Principles and practices of program performance measures, system analysis, and statistical measurements. 
• Principles and techniques of administrative analysis, including workload measurement, work flow and layout, work simplification and systems and procedure analysis.
• Statistical methods and analysis and the use of statistics in reports.
• Federal and State statutes and local ordinances and rules and regulations relevant to assigned studies or projects.
• Report preparation.
• Research techniques, including the use of surveys and questionnaires.
• Computer systems and software applications and other department specific technical solutions. 
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment/applications related to the area of assignment. 

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; analyze work papers, reports, business process, systems and procedures, and special projects; analyze, interpret, and explain legislative and regulatory information; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; know laws, regulations and codes; remember various rules and interpret policy; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time or in meetings; 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 light weight.
• Analyze problems; identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Conduct administrative studies in difficult or complex situations, requiring a high level of skill, judgement and expertise.
• Understand and interpret complex rules and procedures.
• Negotiate agreement between differing individuals and groups; gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
• Develop and implement policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Supervise, train and evaluate staff.
• Analyze administrative and other management problems.
• Analyze budgets, grants, reports and various proposals.
• Perform complex mathematical and statistical calculations accurately.
• Determine effective method of research; and compile data and present in form most likely to enhance understanding.
• Prepare effective questionnaires and survey instruments.
• Design forms and procedures.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain information through interview; handle multiple assignments; deal firmly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer and standard office equipment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

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.

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 (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list 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 level) 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 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 click here.

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, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources 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.