Radio Systems IS Project Manager I (Open)

The County of San Mateo’s Technology Services Department (TSD) seeks a Radio Systems IS Project Manager I to support Radio Services and assigned initiatives within the Network Service Division (NSD). This position combines project management with customer relationship management and administration of the agreements, vendor contracts, and licenses that support these services.

The primary responsibilities include managing assigned Radio Services and NSD projects; serving as a liaison to public safety partners, County departments, and other customers; coordinating Radio Services memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and lease agreements; administering assigned vendor contracts and licenses; translating Radio Services MOU deliverables into trackable customer billing routines; and maintaining project information in the department’s Planview project management suite.

Under general supervision, the incumbent plans, coordinates, and manages department-specific technology projects throughout their life cycle, including identifying customer needs, gathering requirements, evaluating feasibility, defining scope and budgets, developing schedules, coordinating technical reviews and testing, and overseeing implementation and close-out. Assignments include small projects and medium-sized projects whose scope, risk, and budget are appropriate to the IS Project Manager I classification. Projects may include radio equipment upgrades, microwave infrastructure, radio site improvements, network equipment replacements, connectivity upgrades, and related technology or business process improvements.

The incumbent receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel and may provide technical and functional direction and training to staff on a project basis. The position works closely with Radio Services and NSD technical specialists, County departments, partner agencies, customers, and vendors to coordinate resources, manage dependencies, track deliverables, address implementation risks, and resolve issues.

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Have 2–3 years of project management experience with information technology, network, or communications infrastructure projects, including requirements gathering, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and implementation.
• Have 2–3 years of experience building and maintaining effective working relationships with public safety agencies and partners. Work effectively with network and radio technical specialists, County departments, customers, and vendors, and communicate clearly with both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Have experience administering contracts, service agreements, MOUs, or leases, including tracking obligations, amendments, renewals, and vendor performance.
• Have experience coordinating technology upgrades and service transitions, including implementation schedules, testing, customer communications, and operational handoff.
• Use Planview or a comparable project management system to maintain accurate schedules, budgets, milestones, resource information, and status reports across multiple assigned projects.
• Understand the operational needs of public safety communications. Experience with land mobile radio, microwave systems, or related infrastructure is desirable.
• Organize multiple assignments, document decisions, address competing priorities, and escalate issues requiring management approval.

Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the functions of the job.

This individual will be responsible for:

• Managing assigned Radio Services and NSD projects from initiation through close-out; defining scope, deliverables, milestones, acceptance criteria, and work plans in consultation with customers, technical staff, and management.
• Coordinating network infrastructure upgrades, equipment replacements, connectivity improvements, and related NSD initiatives with technical specialists, vendors, and affected County departments.
• Serving as the project and agreement liaison for public safety partners and other Radio Services customers; gathering service needs, coordinating meetings and follow-up actions, and communicating project progress and service commitments.
• Coordinating preparation, review, amendments, and renewals of customer MOUs, service agreements, and radio site leases with management and the appropriate County offices; tracking obligations, expiration dates, approvals, and required documentation.
• Translating Radio Services MOU deliverables into trackable system routines for customer billing, including service commitments, billing schedules, and supporting records.
• Administering assigned Radio Services and NSD vendor and professional services contracts; coordinating scopes of work, tracking deliverables and performance, reviewing invoices, and following up on contractual requirements and unresolved issues.
• Maintaining records of radio software and support licenses and, as assigned, radio system authorizations; tracking renewal dates and coordinating required actions with technical staff, vendors, consultants, and the appropriate County offices.
• Maintaining and updating Radio Services and NSD project records in Planview, including scope, schedules, budgets, expenditures, resource needs, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies, changes, and supporting documents; preparing accurate status reports for management.
• Developing project budgets and schedules, monitoring expenditures and progress, documenting proposed changes, and escalating decisions that affect approved scope, funding, timing, or service commitments.
• Identifying and assessing project risks, including impacts to public safety communications; coordinating mitigation plans, implementation schedules, testing, and service transitions with technical staff and affected customers.
• Gathering information and preparing technical scopes of work for Radio Services and NSD requests for proposals (RFPs). The County contract administrator prepares the actual RFP documents.
• Analyzing customer requirements and work processes; preparing feasibility studies, cost and benefit analyses, requirements documents, and recommendations for technology and workflow improvements.
• Coordinating systems walk-throughs, technical reviews, and vendor solution evaluations with Radio Services and NSD specialists; documenting results and tracking corrections and acceptance of deliverables.
• Coordinating implementation plans, maintenance windows, testing, training, customer notifications, and operational handoff with technical staff to manage service impacts; maintaining project documentation, user procedures, and completion records.
• Working with other County departments and radio site stakeholders to coordinate access, site work, dependencies, and agreement requirements for assigned projects.
• Responding to customer and vendor inquiries related to assigned projects and agreements; documenting issues, coordinating resolutions, and escalating technical, contractual, or policy matters to the appropriate staff.
• Recommending improvements to project tracking, agreement records, vendor coordination, and customer communication; performing related research and preparing reports for management.
• Preparing project status reports and escalating issues affecting scope, budget, schedule, resources, or service delivery to the appropriate supervisor or manager.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of project management, identifying technology needs and issues, researching and evaluating technology, applications, and the most effective courses of action, and implementing solutions.
• Principles and practices of computer systems management, analysis, design, and maintenance.
• Principles and practices of managing network and communications infrastructure projects, including equipment upgrades, connectivity improvements, implementation planning, testing, and service transitions.
• Methods for coordinating technical dependencies, implementation schedules, customer communications, and operational handoff.
• Data management theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Contract administration principles and techniques.
• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Techniques and methods of system evaluation, implementation, and documentation.
• The organization, operation, and functions of the department as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities and to determine appropriate point of escalation.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with vendors and County staff.

 Skill/Ability to:

• Conduct research projects on a wide variety of software issues, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Coordinate and plan applications development, enhancement, and maintenance projects.
• Perform analyses of informational requirements and needs; identify, evaluate, and solve systems problems; design and implement new or revised systems and procedures; provide technical advice and consultation, and ensure efficient computer system utilization.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret procedures and data; develop sound conclusions, recommendations, and solutions.
• Research, develop, and recommend cost-effective technical system improvements.
• Prepare clear and concise program documentation, system and user procedures, reports of work performed, and other written materials.
• Analyze and troubleshoot software issues and use logic to solve the problem.
• Deal tactfully with the customers and staff in providing information, answering questions, and providing customer service.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, rules, and regulations.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
 
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in management information systems, computer science, or a related field and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in performing information technology/systems project management specific to the specialty area assigned which includes infrastructure or application implementation and integration projects. Additional related experience may substitute for education requirement on a year-for-year basis, up to four (4) years.
 
Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License is required.
• Possession of a valid project management certification, such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PGMP), or an equivalent certification, or completion of comprehensive project management education equivalent to such certification, is required.
• Radio technology systems certification is desired.
• Industry-recognized information technology certifications are desired.

Physical Demands
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various County sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 50 pounds with the use of proper equipment.
 
Environmental Elements
Employees work in an office environment with moderate levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Open. Anyone may apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which may include an additional exam component given prior to, or during, the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smgov.org to apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be conducted in person, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go tohttps://jobs.smcgov.org/to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

~Tentative Recruitment Schedule ~
Final Filing Date:  Monday, November 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening (tentative): Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Combined Panel Interview (tentative):  Tuesday, December 1, 2026 and/or Wednesday, December 2, 2026

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. 

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

 HR Contact: Arlene Cahill (IS Project Manager I - V305)