IS Business Analyst - Senior (1053) - job 1 of 2

This is a Position Based Test conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111A.

• Application Opening - October 31, 2024
• Deadline to Apply:  November 14, 2024, 11:59 PM PST
• Recruitment ID:  REF45372Y
• Exam Analyst:  Zoey Feng

The Department

The San Francisco Planning Department (CPC) plays a central role in guiding the growth and development in our City. The Department works with other City agencies and the community to help achieve great planning for a great city.   

Our Mission
The mission of the San Francisco Planning Department, under the direction of the Planning Commission, shapes the future of San Francisco and the region by: generating an extraordinary vision for the General Plan and in neighborhood plans; fostering exemplary design through planning controls; improving our surroundings through environmental analysis; preserving our unique heritage; encouraging a broad range of housing and a diverse job base; and enforcing the Planning Code. 

Our Racial and Social Equity Vision 

The Department’s racial and social equity vision is:  

We envision inclusive neighborhoods that provide all with the opportunity to lead fulfilling, meaningful, and healthy lives. We envision a city where public life and public spaces reflect the past, present, and future of San Franciscans. We envision a city where a person’s race does not determine their lives’ prospects and success. 

We envision an inclusive Planning Department and Commissions that represent and engage the communities we serve. We envision a department that proactively infuses racial and social equity in both internal operations and external Planning work. Together, we are reimagining what the Planning field is and can be – inclusive, diverse and one that centers racial and social equity both as a practice and as an indicator of success. 

To achieve this broader city vision, we must do our part and address racial and social equity within the Planning Department’s policies and practices.

The 1053 IS Business Analyst-Senior is responsible for executing the business analysis and system configuration activities for the Permit and Project Tracking System (PPTS) – an Accela Automation software. PPTS integrates the permit tracking systems of the Planning Department and other City agencies by consolidating multiple systems into one citywide permitting system.

The 1053 IS Business Analyst-Senior is accountable for system enhancement business analysis, workflow design and documentation, configuration, report development, and coordination of user testing. The 1053 IS Business Analyst-Senior will ensure that the business analysis and system configuration activities meet customers’ business requirements specific to Planning Department staff. The 1053 IS Business Analyst-Senior will manage all system maintenance and enhancement requests, including report development and testing. This may include the development of new, integrated system features, such as new record types, mobile applications, reports and other features.

The 1053 IS Business Analyst-Senior will be adept at understanding client organizations, business processes, application environment and requirements. The 1053 IS Business Analyst-Senior will also apply knowledge of best practices in government Agencies’ business processes, specific to building and planning departments. Keys to success include the ability to build and manage client relationships, the capacity to build functional and technical knowledge of the Accela Automation software.

Essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Assess and optimize system designs through review and analysis of user/department needs, customizing systems through system design and administration to meet the changing business needs of the users/department;
• Analyze data processing needs; research and evaluate software on multiple platforms to assist users to meet their departmental goals; assist in developing the evaluation criteria for software;
• Determine operating characteristics and requirements; develop or modify and document general system design; write detailed design specifications; conduct "walkthroughs" for proposed solutions to system problems;
• Conduct feasibility studies; evaluate vendor products; make recommendations based on user/department requirements and systems analysis to ensure adequate planning;
• Troubleshoot software problems; monitor and diagnose complex program failures; provide support, analysis, coordination and assistance for disaster recovery;
• Document procedures and troubleshooting techniques related to systems/networks software and hardware; develop and review documentation prior to general distribution;
• Install, configure, upgrade, maintain, document and troubleshoot Accela software application. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Accela Automation
  • Accela Citizen Access
  • Accela GIS
  • Accela Mobile Office
• Test, configure and modify software programs for compatibility; write database applications; edit and write JavaScript code and SQL queries; generate Crystal Reports;
• Update system software and make modifications to system configurations; facilitate data communication between systems platforms;
• Conduct database systems analysis and designs; may perform data normalization tasks; assist in the development of relational databases; assist in performance of data conversion tasks and maintenance of data dictionaries;
• Implement, maintain and update databases, tables and security access; create, document and compile manuals related to procedures;
• Participate and represent the department in computer users meetings or meetings of related committees;
• Assist with the department’s Information Technology Strategic planning review

Education:

An associate degree in business administration, public administration, information systems, economics, finance, computer science or a closely related field from an accredited college or university OR its equivalent in terms of total course credits/units [i.e., at least sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter credits/units with a minimum of twenty (20) semester or thirty (30) quarter credits/units in one of the fields above or a closely-related field].

Experience:

Three (3) years in the information systems field, including system analysis, business process design, development and implementation of business application solutions or IT project management.

Substitution:

Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester units / forty-five (45) quarter units with a minimum of 10 semester / 15 quarter units in one of the fields above or a closely related field.

Completion of the 1010 Information Systems Trainee Program may be substituted for the required degree.

Desirable Qualifications

The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• One (1) year of experience with geographic information systems, including ESRI ArcGIS
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Verification
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456

Note
Falsifying one's education training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Procedures

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

1. Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) - Qualifying
Candidates will be sent an MQSQ via email as part of the employment application. Applicants will be required to respond to the MQSQ in the time frame indicated and submit their answers as directed. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

2. Supplemental Questionnaire Exam (SQ) - Weight 100%
Candidates who meet the minimum qualification for this position will be sent a Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) via email to complete and return. Applicants will be required to respond to the SQ in the time frame indicated and submit their answers as directed.

The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to determine relative knowledge, skills and ability levels in job related areas which may include, but not be limited to: Knowledge of the principles, practice, techniques, and theory of computer programming, system analysis and design; Knowledge of the methods and techniques of database analysis and design; Knowledge of statistical, research and analytical methods; Problem Solving Ability; and Written communication ability.

The SQ will account for 100% of the total weight of the final score.

A passing score must be achieved on all components of the selection procedures in order to be placed/ranked on the score report. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of Seven (7). Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. To find other Departments which use this classification, please see:  https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2023-24.pdf.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Position Based Testing Information
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Terms of Announcement:

This is a Position Based Test conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111A. Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.  Clerical errors may be corrected and, if so, an amended note will be posted on this official job announcement.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule.  Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director.  Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date

How to Apply:

To be considered, please submit a SmartRecruiters application and attach to your application:

• Resume

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Questions:  If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Zoey Feng, by telephone at 628-652-7628, or by email at [email protected].

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.