ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS OPERATIONS MANAGER

For more than a half-century, the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) has provided retirement, health insurance and long term disability benefits to employees of the state, counties, municipalities, universities, community colleges, school districts and other political entities. We are a top performing benefit plan administrator with a solid reputation and sustainable plan design. Our organizational culture is based on the following principles; Professionalism, Results, Improvement, Diversity and Excellence. We believe in delivering service with PRIDE. Check out our webpage, www.azasrs.gov, to learn more about the ASRS.

ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS OPERATIONS MANAGER

Job Location:

Address: 3300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012

Posting Details

Anticipated pay range: $110,000 - $120,000

Hybrid work environment

Posting is open until filled

Grade 29

Job Summary

ASRS’ Enterprise Applications and Operations Manager role leads a highly-technical team of six system administrators and engineers, primarily responsible for managing the ASRS’ software and applications through industry standards and best practices. This individual will apply proven leadership, communication and technical skills to guide and assist on efforts related to the design, development, and deployment of mission-critical information systems.

Job Duties

Strategy & Planning

• Ensure that applications meet business requirements and systems goals, fulfill end-user requirements, and identify and resolve systems issues.
• Review and analyze existing applications' effectiveness and efficiency, and then develop strategies for improving or leveraging these systems.
• Cultivate and disseminate knowledge of application-usage best practices.
  
  

Acquisition & Deployment

• Research and make recommendations on software products and services in support of procurement and development efforts.
• Evaluate, install, configure, and deploy new applications, systems software, products, and/or enhancements to existing applications throughout the enterprise.
• Collaborate with other IT teams, including Information Security, Service Desk, Quality Assurance, internal business areas, and external service providers to plan, design, test, deploy, and sustain a stable, secure, well-performing, and available infrastructure and applications environment.
• Analyze documentation and technical specifications of any new application under deployment or consideration to determine its intended functionality.
• Ensure that any new software integration into company systems meets functional requirements, system compliance, and interface specifications.
• Design, develop, and install application enhancements and upgrades.
• Coordinate feasibility studies for software and system products under consideration for purchase, and give advice based on findings.
• Contribute to pre-testing phase of development by evaluating proposals in order to identify potential problem areas, and make the appropriate recommendations.
• Negotiate contracts with software and service providers.
• Liaise with company’s software suppliers for prompt rectification of any problems or emergencies.
  
  

Operational Management

• Lead, coach, and mentor to motivate staff and produce expected results.
• Manage and provide direction for the application team in support of business operations.
• Liaise with network administrators, security engineers, and software developers to assist with quality assurance, program logic, and data processing.
• Compile and maintain inventory of company software and systems assets and their corresponding contracts/agreements.
• Develop and communicate training and documentation for end users, hold clinics as necessary, and other user-related activities.
• Develop, distribute, and coordinate in-depth end-user reviews for modified and new systems or applications.
• Monitor, identify, and resolve complex infrastructure and application problems.
• Manage and remediate security vulnerabilities.
• Adhere to Incident, Problem, Configuration and Change Management processes and agreed-upon service levels.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven experience in overseeing the direction, development, and implementation of software solutions.
• Direct, hands-on experience with automated software management tools.
• Strong knowledge of multi-tiered applications, software quality assurance best practices, and methodologies, including automated SDLC pipelines.
• Extensive experience with administering and maintaining core infrastructure and software applications. The following products are used within ASRS’ technology environment. Experience with these specific systems is not required; however, candidates must be familiar working in and managing similar environments.
• IBM FileNet
• Kofax (Tungsten Automation)
• Atlassian Jira, Jira Service Management, Confluence
• Fortra GoAnywhere Managed File Transfer (MFT)
• Public Key Infrastructure
• Microsoft Windows Server and client operating systems, Active Directory, Group Policy and other related technologies
• Linux Server operating systems
• Docker Containers and Kubernetes
• SolarWinds Network Monitoring and Alerting product suite
• Must have: Experience with AWS Public Cloud Infrastructure including infrastructure as code (CloudFormation, CodeCommit, CodePipeline).
• Technically fluent in scripting languages, including Powershell to automate operational tasks and routines for efficiency and accuracy.
• Working knowledge of network and computer operating systems, including Windows and Linux.
• Strong project management skills and/or substantial exposure to project-based work structures.
• Excellent understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Knowledge of applicable data security/privacy practices and laws.
• Ability to support a 24x7x365 mission-critical enterprise public cloud and on-premises IT ecosystem.
  

Personal Attributes

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills.
• Strong customer-service orientation.
• Ability to communicate ideas in both technical and user-friendly language.
• Ability to conduct research into application issues and products.
• Highly self-motivated and directed.
• Demonstrated problem-resolution and analytical/critical thinking skills and abilities.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to practice servant leadership.
  
  

Benefits

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Robust and affordable insurance plans (medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability options)
• Tuition/Professional Certification monetary assistance
• A top-ranked retirement program
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Accrued vacation and sick days
• An incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program
• Work-life balance supported by flexible work hours, telework, and Monday thru Friday work weeks
• The opportunity to participate in deferred compensation, credit union membership, and a wellness program
• Rewarding work that benefits the people of Arizona
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible employer
• Opportunity for variable pay incentives
• Free covered parking
  
  

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement

Candidates selected for hire will be expected to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) pension plan.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Candidates selected for hire will be subject to a background investigation to include criminal history.
• All newly hired employees are subject to the E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification Program.
  
  

Contact Us

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 602.677.2902. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.