GENERAL DEFINITION

This is computer programming and analysis work at the project leader level. Employees in this class perform the most advanced work and direct the activities of a team which would usually consists of three or less lower level programmer analysts during a series of projects. Employees are assigned permanent systems responsibilities and satisfy computer requirements of users. Employees work in the City's centralized computing agency or in an agency characterized by two multiple central processing units, mainframe computers, a network of telecommunication lines and provision of computing services by both mainframes to other city departments. Employees specialize in a designated computer language. Employees work under the direction of a technical supervisor.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Receives project assignments from supervisor; confers with supervisor to determine objectives of the project, user requirements, time frames for project completion and the number and type of personnel needed to complete the project; collects information necessary to develop preliminary functional and/or systems specifications for user approval and to plan the work and make subordinate assignments; assists supervisor in the selection of appropriate personnel for specific projects; assigns parts of projects to programmer analysts for the duration of the projects; assists other project members in completion of assignments; reviews analysis and programming prepared by other project members to insure that work is complete and correct; presents preliminary results of projects to supervisor; develops preliminary designs for supervisor to present to users; participate sin presentations to users.
• Performs systems analysis for new or existing user application requests; meets with users to discuss requests and user objectives; analyzes user requirements; determines how the system that is to be computerized works manually or reviews the system specification and documentation of an existing system to determine the current design; confers with system users and managers and supervisors; prepares a needs or cost benefit analysis; develops systems logic and a flow chart; determines what modules to include; designs the data base data, file and screen layout, and determines record number and size; designs user access parameters to provide file security; writes back-up and recovery procedure to protect against loss of data; evaluates paper flow, task time, human resources and other external and interrelationship factors that will impact upon the proposed or modified system; develops a preliminary program specifications, taking all the collected data and information into consideration.
• Designs program logic to meet specifications and conformance to standards; codes program in appropriate language; prepares program flow chart; determines the size and number of files and records; tests programs; creates test data; checks input for accuracy and completeness; troubleshoots existing programs to identify problems; periodically meets with users to identify problems; writes narrative explanations of programs; prepares forms and documentation.
• May instruct lower level programmer analysts in new analysis and programming techniques and methods.
• Meets with other city agencies and computer consultants and vendors regarding new systems; assists other systematizing non-computer projects; trains operating departmental personnel in the use of computer applications.
• Attends educational training sessions whenever appropriate.
• Performs the above in an environment using at least one of the specified computer languages.
• Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the theory and practice of systems analysis.
• the theory and practice of systems design.
• the applications and techniques of programming for the appropriate computer language.
• the principles, methods and techniques used in systems and program flow chart preparation.
• the theory and practice of organizational analysis.
• the theory and practice of procedures analysis.
• documentation procedures.
• the uses, capabilities and configurations of electronic data processing equipment, such as multi-central processing units, telecommunications networks and such supporting devices as disk drives, controllers, printers and card readers.
• the methods and techniques used in the evaluation and analysis of software, hardware and application systems to achieve efficient system utilization.
• the methods and techniques used in protecting systems security.
• management techniques used in project control and analysis.
• source code language programming and appropriate control languages.
• at least one data base management system, such as DL/1, ADABAS, RAMIS DATABASE, ORACLE, IMS, TOTAL, IMAGE, or SQL.
• data base theory.
• either VSAM and KSAM file access methods.

ABILITY TO:

• learn the applications of new software packages.
• interpret technical manuals and apply the information garnered from them.
• think logically and sequentially.
• present ideas clearly, both orally and in writing.
• direct a team of data processing personnel in completing a project within accepted time limits.
• communicate data processing concept to non-technical personnel.
• analyze complex organizational and procedural problems.
• formulate systems recommendations to improve efficiency.
• prepare systems specifications for submission to programmer analysts.
• complete work within the confines of a time schedule.
• establish effective working relationships with associates, departmental and administrative officials, supervisors, and other data processing personnel.

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 3/89.)

• Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university, with major course work in computer science, decision science, information science, or a closely related field.
• Four years of experience performing computer programming and analysis work in the area of specialization, one year of which shall have been at the full performance level.

Any combination of education and experience which has included completion of a bachelor's degree program which has included or has been supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hours of course work in computer science, decision science or information science and which has been determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

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

NOTE:
Employees with permanent status in the classes listed below as of 8/23/89 can substitute extra experience as specified above for the required education.

• Programmer Analyst Trainee
• Programmer Analyst I
• Programmer Analyst II
• Programmer Analyst III
• Programmer Analyst Project Leader
• Programmer Analyst Supervisor
• Departmental Computer Services Supervisor I
• Departmental Computer Services Supervisor II
• Systems Analyst IV

PAY RANGE: EP23
Class Established: 6/1983
Latest Spec. Revision: 11/1989

PMcG/sr/ps