The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is seeking a chief information officer (Career Executive Assignment) to serve as part of the commission’s Executive Management Team. Duties and responsibilities, according to the job posting and duty statement, include planning, organizing, directing and managing activities and commitments for the commission’s IT programs.
“This includes formulating, evaluating and implementing all CSAC’s information technology programs, policies and procedures in order to carry out the mission and goals of the CSAC’s IT Division,” the posting says. The CIO, who also functions as the chief of the IT Division, “provides a high degree of expertise in developing and implementing major new programs and related policies for the state by providing technical guidance to legislative staff, commission members, governor’s office staff, advisory committees, higher education segments and the executive staff of the commission.”
CSAC is the principal state agency responsible for administering about $4 billion in financial aid programs for students attending public and private universities, colleges and vocational schools in California. “CSAC operates in an Oracle-based database environment and develops and maintains a cloud-based application that is used by students, colleges and CSAC staff (also known as the Grant Delivery System Modernization project), the posting notes.
Duties of the position include:
- Provide vision, leadership, technical assistance and direction for the development of the commission and statewide IT applications by developing and implementing policies and procedures that will establish the direction and mission for CSAC’s IT services.
- Directly manage and be responsible for making enhancements and continue to improve the services delivered through the Grant Delivery System (GDS) including the final maintenance and operation phases of the GDSM.
- Manage and oversee the work of IT programs including System Requirements and Testing, Application Services, Service Management and Support Services, Enterprise Services/Configuration Management, and the Information Security Office. Oversee the coordination of contracted staff. May also direct the work of other IT staff in the day-to-day operations of the unit or designate as needed.
- Participate in weekly briefings with the commission chair and serve as the commission’s liaison to the Legislative, Audit and Budget Committee, providing policy technical guidance on program issues, developing and presenting agenda items, and developing long-term policy initiatives.
- Work collaboratively with other division chiefs to make decisions regarding the IT budget, accounting, procurement, contracts and personnel issues and decisions.
The position has a monthly salary range of $7,976 to $19,321, and the recruitment will continue until the position is filled.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is recruiting for a chief of IT operations (IT Manager II) for Northern California, overseeing IT operations for six districts and carrying full management responsibility for policies, standards, processes and procedures for the analysis, design, implementation, maintenance and operation of IT services in the districts.
Desirable qualifications and core competencies, according to the job posting and duty statement, include:
- Change leadership: Develops new and innovative approaches needed to improve effectiveness and efficiency of work products. Encourages others to value change. Considers impact and recommends changes.
- Dealing with ambiguity (risk): Can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty, as well as make decisions to act without having the total picture.
- Reliability: Ability to demonstrate dependability in meeting commitments, and providing a consistent work product. Takes responsibility for individual actions in order to meet deadline demands.
- Conflict management: Recognizes differences in opinions and encourages open discussion. Uses appropriate interpersonal styles. Finds agreement on issues as appropriate. Deals effectively with others in conflict situation.
- Fostering diversity: Capable of working with a diverse work group and making everyone feel valuable regardless of differences in personality, culture or background. Fosters a diverse culture to create best solutions.
- Influencing others: The ability to gain the support of others for ideas, proposals, projects and solutions.
- Vision and strategic thinking: Communicates the “big picture.” Models the department's vision and mission to others. Influences others to translate vision into action. Future-oriented and creates competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
- Commitment/results oriented: Dedicated to public service and strives for excellence and customer satisfaction. Ensures results in the organization.
The position has a monthly salary range of $10,421 to $12,668, and the application deadline is Aug. 26.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is recruiting for an infrastructure architect (IT Specialist III) to “identify, collect and perform analysis of technologies, services and systems to help Cal OES meet its goals and mission objectives.”
According to the job posting and duty statement, the architect will investigate, document and report on new and existing technologies and emerging trends; provide actionable strategic, technical and tactical information and intelligence; and prepare reports, briefings and presentations.
“The incumbent works with other IT staff and business units to develop and deploy relevant and timely services and processes to streamline operations and drive innovation,” the job posting says. Desirable qualifications include:
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective and beneficial relationships on behalf of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services with state, local and federal governments and the vendor community, as it relates to information technology.
- Ability to communicate effectively with others as demonstrated by strong written and verbal communication skills, strong negotiating skills, and particularly the ability to represent the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services effectively with the other agencies, key customers, stakeholders and internal staff.
- Experience in obtaining buy-in and providing leadership to a large group of multidisciplinary team members that do not report directly to the incumbent.
- Knowledge of the structure, organization and function of a variety of technology disciplines as well as local, state and federal initiatives and programs.
- Ability to anticipate and manage complex issues affecting many organizations, including the ability to develop policy and integrate all aspects of a strategy to assure resolution of issues.
- Proven track record of gaining the confidence and trust of individuals in key positions.
- Demonstrated ability to document an organization’s infrastructure architecture.
- Ability to evaluate solutions from multiple perspectives (customers, stakeholders, vendors, best practices).
The position has a monthly salary range of $8,488 to $11,375, and the application deadline is Aug. 25.
