Application Administrator (Operational) I, II

Under general supervision the Application Administrator supports the specialized processes and technology needs of the Ada County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) and its public safety partners. This position works directly with agency employees to understand business needs, improve processes, support applications, coordinate system access, and assist with technology projects. Application Administrators serve as a link between employees, Business Systems, Ada County IT, vendors, and partner agencies. The position is primarily focused on people, processes, and applications with some technical administration.  

Distinguishing Features of the Class:

Application Administrator (Operational) I - performs application support, business analysis, and process improvement functions related to specialized law enforcement and public safety systems.   The position works directly with users to understand business needs, support applications, document processes and requirements, and assist with technology projects and improvements.  Work requires the ability to learn law enforcement operations, business processes, and the systems that support them.

Application Administrator (Operational) II - is distinguished from an Admin I by greater independence, complexity of assignments, and a broader knowledge of law enforcement operations, business processes, and supporting systems.  An application administrator II serves as a subject matter expert in assigned applications and processes, leads more complex analysis and improvement efforts, and may train, mentor, and support level I administrators.

Application Administrator Operational I

• Meets with users and stakeholders to understand business needs, operational challenges, processes, and desired outcomes;
• Gathers, analyzes, and documents business and system requirements;
• Reviews business processes and workflows and assists in identifying opportunities for process or technology improvements;
• Serves as a point of contact for ACSO employees and public safety partners regarding assigned applications, operational issues, and enhancement requests;
• Provides application support, including managing user access, researching issues, and coordinating resolution with System Administrators, Ada County IT, vendors, and other resources as appropriate;
• Develops and maintains system, process, and user documentation, including procedures, requirements, workflows, and training materials;
• Educates and supports users regarding application functionality, system changes, updates, and process improvements;
• Develops and participates in testing application changes, upgrades, patches, and new releases before and after implementation;
• Supports business analysis activities, including discovery, requirements gathering, evaluation of potential solutions, and development of business cases;
• Supports small projects and assists senior Application Administrators and the Public Safety IT Project Manager with project requirements, milestones, testing, implementation, and communication;
• Follows established change, configuration, security, and application management practices;
• Maintains appropriate issue, priority, project, and status documentation;
• Performs other related duties as needed or directed.

Application Administrator Operational II

• In addition to the above;
• Independently identifies and analyzes business and user needs, evaluates existing processes and applications, and recommends improvements;
• Leads discovery and requirements gathering activities for more complex business needs and initiatives;
• Facilitate working sessions with users, stakeholders, technical resources, vendors, and partner agencies;
• Evaluates potential process and technology solutions and considers impacts to users, operations, related systems, and partner agencies;
• Proactively identifies application, process, or operational issues and recommends preventative or improvement measures;
• Maintains a strong understanding of assigned applications, vendor roadmaps, system capabilities, and business processes; 
• Plans and coordinates implementation of application changes, including testing, communication, documentation, training, and user readiness;
• Works with stakeholders to support adoption of new processes, applications, and system changes;
• Validates requirements, workflows, and proposed solutions with users and stakeholders to ensure they accurately address the identified business need;
• May provide project, application, and process updates and recommendations to leadership through formal and informal communication;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with ACSO employees, Ada County departments, vendors, and public safety partner agencies;

• Provides guidance, knowledge sharing, training and support to level I Application Administrators.

Application Administrator Operational I

• Any combination of training and experience that demonstrates possession and competency in the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and work effectively with technical and non-technical employees at all levels of the organization;
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work through ambiguous situations and application issues;
• Ability to work directly with users to understand their business needs and operational challenges, build effective working relationships, and identify process or technology improvements that help them accomplish their work;
• Ability to gather, analyze, and document business and system requirements;
• Ability to learn new software, and develop subject matter expertise in assigned applications and processes;
• Ability to understand and document complex business processes and workflows and identify opportunities for improvement;
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively both independently and collaboratively;
• Ability to develop follow, and document test plans and test cases;
• Ability to work professionally with agency employees, vendors, Ada County IT, and outside partner agencies;
• Previous experience with business analysis, process improvement, application support, project coordination, or similar work is preferred but not required.

Application Administrator Operational II

• In addition to the above;
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible level work in business analysis, application support, process improvement, project coordination, or other work closely related to the essential functions of the position; 
• Associate degree in business, information systems, or a related field, or an applicable industry certification, is desirable;
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, practices, tools, and techniques;
• Experience planning and facilitating working sessions with users, technical staff, vendors, and other stakeholders;
• Experience gathering and analyzing business requirements and translating them into application, process or technology solutions;
• Demonstrated ability to develop a strong understanding of assigned business processes and applications and use that knowledge to identify needs and recommend improvements;
• Ability to develop and apply strong understanding of assigned applications, business processes, and operational needs to independently support users and recommend improvements;
• Ability to independently manage multiple assignments or project-related responsibilities with competing priorities and deadlines;
• Ability to evaluate proposed changes by considering business needs, user experience, operational impacts, dependencies, and the needs of other stakeholders;
• Ability to communicate recommendations, project information, and systems changes effectively to employees, stakeholders, and leadership;
• Ability to support and mentor Level I Application Administrators and share knowledge with other team members.

Other Requirements:

• Must appear before an oral board and successfully complete a polygraph, credit check, and background investigation prior to hire;
• This position has been designated safety sensitive and therefore the incumbent is subject to random drug testing.

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment and the employee in this class is subject to inside environmental conditions;
• This position occasionally works in a Jail Environment in addition to other remote locations across Ada County;
• Requires sitting at a desk for long periods of time, up to 10 hours, and may be required to lift up to 20 lbs.

Disclaimer:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of individuals in the job. This job description is not an employment agreement and/or an expressed or implied employment contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. Ada County provides Veteran's Preference for all County jobs except for those deemed "key positions" in accordance with Title 65, Chapter 5 of Idaho Code.