Branch Chief of Information and Technology

Description

NOTICE OF CHANGE: The working title of this position has been changed to Branch Chief of Information and Technology. The job classification remains INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS SYSTEMS MANAGER III.

Salary / Benefits

$138,736.00 - $177,049.60 Annually

The County of Santa Barbara's Behavioral Wellness Department is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time position for a Branch Chief of Information and Technology in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc California.

THE POSITION

Under direction, is responsible for leading a full-service technology and business systems unit for a large County department or a large enterprise unit accountable for areas such as: IT operations; IT enterprise security management; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management; coordinates assigned activities with staff in other divisions and departments; provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance and administrative support to executive management staff; and performs other duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the third manager level in the Information Technology & Business Systems Management job family and oversees a division, function, or multiple programs within a department. Incumbents oversee highly complex and strategic technology services and/or business systems functions and have responsibility for significant budget/funding levels. Decision-making includes establishing work unit objectives and goals, exercising considerable discretion in selecting the method to address a problem or issue, and fostering collaboration among and between the work units supervised as well as work units under the direction of others. Positions have significant impact on the specific work units or divisions, which may have department-wide effects.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: Founded in 1962, it is the mission of the Department of Behavioral Wellness to promote the prevention of and recovery from mental illness and addiction among individuals, families and communities, by providing effective leadership and delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services. The Department provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to 10,000 clients with mental illness and substance use disorders annually through its professional staff of over 400, in addition to its many contracted Community-Based Organization (CBO) providers.

For more information, please visit: www.countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Reports to the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Oversees the work of a team through subordinate manager/managers. Exercises direct and indirect supervision over assigned management, professional, technical, and administrative staff.

Examples of Duties

• Overall management responsibility for system design of department applications; directs the activities of project staff in the development, maintenance and daily production of user computer systems.
• Participates as a member of the department's Leadership team, communicating IT issues in a timely manner, and working collaboratively with staff to create responsive solutions to non-IT staff data and technology needs.
• Effectively utilizes information technology staff by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; initiating, coordinating, and enforcing systems, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains organization's effectiveness and efficiency by defining, delivering, and supporting strategic plans for implementing information technologies specific to behavioral health needs, as well as data solutions for interagency Health Information Exchange, and data sharing with other non-health system partners.
• Verifies application results by conducting system audits of technologies implemented and ensures compliance with audit standards for health records.
• Preserves assets by implementing disaster recovery and back-up procedures and information security and control structures.
• Recommends information technology strategies, policies, and procedures by evaluating organization and program outcomes; identifying problems; evaluating trends; anticipating requirements.
• Accomplishes financial objectives by forecasting fiscal requirements; prepares an annual budget; schedules expenditures; analyzes variances and initiates corrective action; plans for system upgrades to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements for electronic health records.
• Identify and implement methods to reduce the IT hardware infrastructure quantity and complexity and increase business continuity and simplicity.
• Collaborate with the department's HIPAA Data Compliance Program and members of the county's security and IT teams to define appropriate and effective information security controls. Work with various business units and department divisions in implementation. Participate in HIPAA risk assessments and gap analysis exercises
• Oversee the installation, configuration, integration, upgrade and administration of enterprise, file, print and application servers, desktops, and other peripheral devices.
• Works with members of the operations support team, technical specialists, vendors and end users to ensure effective integration, utilization and concurrent connectivity with multiple platforms and networks.
• Oversees staff in performing feasibility studies; determining system requirements; formulating specifications; developing or acquiring systems; coordinating user site preparation and training; implementing, maintaining, auditing, and making enhancements to data processing systems.
• Develops contracts, negotiates regulatory requirements, and coordinates program operations with State regulatory agencies; makes recommendations on regulatory and legislation changes; responds to audit and enforcement actions; and ensures compliance with applicable regulatory agency requirements.
• Coordinates work with the general public, County staff, and external agencies; may represent the County on various professional committees; and prepare and make presentations to the public, elected officials, boards, and other stakeholders.
  
  

Employment Standards

Education And Experience

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in computer science, information technology, or related field AND,
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in healthcare IT including at least three (3) years as a supervisor or manager of an IT division/system within the healthcare sector.
  
  

Licenses and Certificates

For specific positions, possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge Of

• Principles, practices and techniques of technology services and business systems in a public agency setting, including IT operations; IT enterprise security management; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network architecture planning and design; network engineering; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management.
• Principles and practices of technology areas related, but not limited, to IT operations management.
• Principles and practices of IT enterprise security management, including e-discovery, cybersecurity, and cloud security management.
• Principles and practices of database management, including, relational database development and management, and techniques of developing report/data warehouse structures, testing, and issue resolution.
• Principles and practices of application development and support.
• Principles and practices of service desk and end user support management.
• Principles and practices of operations system and information, including enterprise resource planning, system management.
• Principles and practices of network architecture planning and design.
• Principles and practices of network engineering, network infrastructure, and telecommunications management.
• Principles and practices of cloud services management, including usage and implementation of cloud-based architecture.
• Principles and practices of public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Management principles, practices and techniques.
• Principles and practices of fiscal management and budgeting.
• Principles and practices of program planning and administration.
• Personnel management principles and practices, including employee supervision, training, and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Principles and practices of procurement and contract administration.
• Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment.
  
  

Ability To

• Effectively administer IT operations; IT enterprise security management; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network architecture planning and design; network engineering; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management activities.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and measuring performance; and participating in the development of goals and strategic objectives.
• Manage assigned operations/programs and ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, participating in developing goals and strategic objectives, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning and monitoring work.
• Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies.
• Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation.
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics.
• Oversee the implementation of and adherence to quality assurance activities and standards.
• Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
• Resolve complex problems within the area of assignment.
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations.
• Create and provide informative presentations to stakeholder, elected officials, County leadership, and the public.
  
  

Additional Information

May be required to work a varied schedule of hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County may be required for some assignments.

Supplemental Information

Application And Selection Process

Application Review. Review of the application and supporting materials to determine those candidates who meet the employment standards.

Panel Interview. Finalists will be invited to complete an interview with a panel of subject matter experts.

Recruiters will communicate with applicant by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines. The County of Santa Barbara will not release any applicant's email address to a third party.

REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Conditional Job Offer

• Live Scan and Background Check: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate's appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a Live Scan and background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.
• This position is at-will and except from Civil Service protections.
  
  

BENEFITS: For more information on County of Santa Barbara benefits click HERE or visit the Benefits Tab above. Additionally, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT: The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County’s mission and to embody a culture of “One County, One Future.” Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Thursday, August 8, 2024 by 4:59 PM PST. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day. at www.sbcountyjobs.com .

Leza Patatanian, TA Analyst II, County of Santa Barbara - LPatatanian@countyofsb.org