GENERAL DEFINITION

This is managerial level computing work directing the design, installation, and ongoing maintenance of applications systems for the City's Central Computing Center. The employee in this class supervises, through at least six subordinate computing managers and supervisors, the activities of a group of subordinate programmer analysts, engaged in the development and maintenance of application programs for a city-wide network of users. Work includes citywide systems analysis and strategic data planning, evaluating new hardware and software, and overseeing completion of consultant projects, and delivery of contracted services. Reviewing user proposals and ensuring that information management projects are completed on schedule are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the general direction of the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Computing Center.

ALLOCATING FACTORS:
(The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)

1. Only one position can be allocated to this class.
2. This position must have responsibility for managing the entire application systems development division of the City's central computing agency.
3. This position must report to the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Computing Center.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Confers with department heads and other representatives of user agencies to discuss information resource planning, strategic data planning, application development and automated management information systems; performs business systems analysis for departments; devises studies to assess needs and feasibility; directs the preparation of resource estimates and cost/benefit analyses; reviews study results and makes appropriate recommendations to users concerning project viability.
• Establishes project priority; devises development plan; assesses personnel resources; sets project objectives and work standards for in-house projects or those shared with other City agencies; assigns personnel and organizes work to optimize individual subordinate capacities; assures that work steps interrelate, meet time frames, and satisfy standards of quality and utility.
• Prepares specifications and evaluates consultant proposals; works with contractors to assure compliance with user needs; ensures that consultant projects conform to bureau hardware configuration and systems requirements; ensures projects include means for testing, conversion, documentation, and user training.
• Monitors the delivery of services and the efficiency of existing management information systems; provides technical support to user agencies; sets City-wide conventions for the use of application languages such as, COBOL, NATURAL, CICS and CMS; ascertains need for, and develops and provides user training programs; identifies critical success factors for application development for business units; performs portfolio analysis to privatize applications development for strategic service units; provides computer manuals for users to improve City-wide information systems quality, efficiency, and uniformity.
• Establishes and implements a personnel management program for staff to ensure proper training and objective evaluation of performance; sends personnel to training centers and schools to develop skills and to learn state-of-the-art methods and procedures; participates in orientation sessions for representatives of user agencies to acquaint them with management information systems developments; performs strategic data planning which drives H/W, S/W & network choices; reviews new equipment and techniques to keep abreast of new developments for possible application to City systems.
• Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the principles, procedures, and methods used in systems analysis, information resource planning, citywide strategic data planning and design.
• theory and practice of organizational analysis.
• the methods and techniques used in the evaluation and analysis of hardware and software systems to achieve efficient system utilization, and project future program requirements.
• modern administrative principles, practices, and techniques with particular emphasis on the use of electronic data processing systems in a large scale public or private computing environment.
• documentation procedures.
database management systems and their integration into business application systems.
• the development and application of electronic data processing systems to such fields as forms control, records management, work measurement, work simplification, and a variety of other business processes.
• the methods of obtaining maximum utilization of computers and their peripheral equipment.
• the current developments in the management information systems field.
• principles, practices, and operation of an on-line computer information system and remote retrieval system.
• principles, practices, and methods used in the analysis and design of integrated data processing systems.
• supervisory methods & techniques.
• integrating a number of applications programs into a comprehensive system.
• management techniques used in project analysis and control.

SKILL IN:

• information resource management.
• strategic data planning.
• business systems analysis.

ABILITY TO:

• conduct information resource & strategic data planning for departments.
• evaluate and meet information management needs of departments.
• plan, organize, and direct, through subordinate managers and supervisory personnel, the work activities of teams of analysts & programmers engaged in developing and implementing a citywide data processing system.
• implement multi-departmental information systems projects.
• develop and implement standard information management systems, methods, and procedures.
• determine the feasibility and application of electronic data processing systems to existing city operations.
• analyze and resolve complex problems.
• advise management with respect to information management systems.
• present ideas effectively and clearly both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and departmental officials.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 10/92.)

1. EDUCATION
   Completion of a Bachelor's Degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in computer science, decision science, mathematics or a closely related field.

AND


2. GENERAL EXPERIENCE
   Five years of experience in the performance of mainframe computing applications activities, or systems programming for applications compatibility in a municipal computing environment that serves a large user network.

AND


3. SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
   Three years of experience supervising computing analysts engaged in the development and maintenance of diverse user applications for a city-wide network of users, and managing specific projects in a variety of areas related to requested business and administrative applications.

Or any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department that has included a bachelor's degree as an educational minimum and the specific experience described above.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

Pay Range: EP29
Class Established: Jun. 1978
Latest Spec. Revision:
  CSC: Oct. 1992 ; Ad Board: Dec. 1992.

PMcG/vp/mt