IS Project Manager II - Technology Services Department (Departmental Promotional Only)

The County of San Mateo's Technology Services Department (TSD) seeks qualified candidates for a Departmental promotional opportunity as an IS Project Manager II in the project management office of TSD.

Candidates must possess recent work experience of project managing:

• Applications development and upgrades including software testing and release management
• Move projects that entail large departmental relocations requiring new infrastructure set-ups
• Process and workflow automation leveraging tools to reduce cycle times and enhance productivity 

The incumbent in this position plans, coordinates, and manages a variety of complex, County-wide and/or interdepartmental technology services projects through their entire project life cycle, including identifying users' needs, gathering detailed requirements, analyzing project feasibility, developing project scope and estimating budget, designing and programming systems applications, technical review and systems testing, and overseeing implementation; administering professional services contracts; and performing related work as required.

The incumbent receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel, and may exercise technical and functional direction over and provide training to lower-level staff on a project basis.
 
This is a journey-level project management class responsible for oversight of complex, County-wide and/or interdepartmental technology services projects. The incumbent is required to conduct complex business requirements, needs, and other detailed review and analysis of various information technology strategies necessary to automate departmental processes and to resolve organizational issues.  Incumbents perform work within a broad framework of general policy requiring creativity and resourcefulness to accomplish goals and objectives, apply concepts, plans, and strategies which may deviate from established methods and practices, and regularly lead projects of critical importance and substantial consequence of success or failure to the County.

The ideal candidate will:

• Understand the 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.
• Have experience with contract administration principles and techniques.
• Have knowledge and recent experience of: 
  • Managing IT infrastructure applications development, network upgrade and employee relocation projects
    Current trends in applications technology, including web-based architecture, security, workflow and systems design; government enterprise business processes; project management and technology systems development and maintenance.
  • Architectural, civil, structural, and engineering design and specifications; financing, estimating and budgeting, calculating overhead, design and construction costs.
  • Legal requirements for City and County projects; regulations and commissions affecting planning, zoning, design and construction.

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.

• Manages complex, County-wide and/or interdepartmental technology services projects such as research, development, conversion, installation, upgrade, and maintenance projects.

• Provides coordination, guidance, and oversight for all phases of a project, including initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and close-out.

• Designs and recommends business processes and workflow strategies for various information technology systems and infrastructure.

• Plans, organizes, and defines project requirements, methods, and end objectives in consultation with end users; performs risk assessments; develops concept documents, impact analyses, stakeholder analyses, and draft process documentation; coordinates project activities with team members, other section staff, user representatives and outside vendors.

• Interviews, analyzes, and documents end user work processes and technology services requirements; conducts systems walk-throughs and technical reviews; develops or refines specifications, including evaluating and testing vendor packages for conformance with user requirements and priorities.
• Develops and tracks project budgets, contracts, and schedules; monitors project progress and ensures project goals and contract requirements are met.
• Develops consultant requests for proposals and qualifications for professional services; evaluate proposals and recommends project award.
• Designs and programs systems applications, conducts technical review and systems testing, and oversees implementation.
• Prepares feasibility studies, cost and benefits analyses, product evaluation, requirement specifications, designs, and other analyses and documentation.
• Maintains and regularly updates a project risk matrix with severity indicators and a plan to eliminate or mitigate impacts.
• Regularly tracks project expenditures, reviews invoices for accuracy and consistency with contractual obligations, and recommends appropriate dispersals of allocated funds.
• Tracks regularly project tasks, resources utilized, deliverables completed and upcoming.
• Reports regularly on project status based on Key Performance Indicators.
• Responds to and resolves software users' inquiries and complaints and escalates problems or issues to vendor representatives as needed.
• Plans, schedules, and conducts training classes and demonstrations; determines training objectives and requirements; prepares and designs training materials, reference guides, and user manuals.
• Develops and recommends comprehensive standards, policies, procedures, and technical documentation.
• Functions as a liaison between application support analysts, systems specialists, data specialists, communications specialists, and customer support specialists to ensure standards and protocols are maintained; assists in coordinating activities with other technology services staff.
• Provides recommendations to managers and supervisors on the development of long- and short-term system infrastructure plans.
• Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in technology related to County operations; recommends and evaluates vendor solutions and technologies; implements improvements; works with staff to maintain, revise, or improve operations and systems.
• Writes and maintains user and technical operating instructions and documentation; provides training to users and other technical staff and advises on best practices.
• Provides updates, status, and completion information to staff and/or users via voicemail, email, or in-person communication.
• Leads, coordinates, and plans applications development, enhancement, and maintenance projects.
• Manages multiple projects simultaneously.
• Organizes and prioritizes a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organizes own work, sets priorities, and meets critical deadlines.
• Be a liaison between County’s TSD (Technology Services Department) and other departments to improve communication, collaboration, partnership, and management of technology aspects included in various projects.
• Manages ambiguity that may surround some aspects of projects and recommends data-based optimal directions to stakeholders and steering committees.
• Applies critical thinking in managing projects to maintain consistent stakeholder communication in progress reporting.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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 four (4) 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 Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), or equivalent certification.

• Some positions may require possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License.
• Some positions may require possession of, or ability to obtain, industry-recognized information technology certifications.

Knowledge of:

• Managing Voice over IP telephony and IT infrastructure network and security projects

• 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.
• Advanced principles and practices of computer systems management, analysis, design, and maintenance.
• Advanced 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.
• Advanced 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, 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.

Skills/Ability to:

• Manage VoIP implementation, user deployment, and IT infrastructure network and security upgrade projects.

• Conduct complex 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.
• Manage multiple projects at the same time.
• 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.
• Identify, evaluate, and solve technology services problems; design and implement new or revised systems and procedures for the automation of information processing.
• 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 any 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.

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.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and/or supplemental questionnaire.

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%). 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 the County of San Mateo, 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.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department by 11:59 p.m. PST on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Monday, November 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Screening: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Combined Panel Interviews: Thursday, November 5, 2026

About the County
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, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity 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.



Talent Acquisition Analyst: Arlene Cahill (10192026) (IS Project Manager II)