Principal Applications Analyst - Utilities

CLASS SUMMARY:   

The Principal Applications Analyst - Utilities is responsible for providing direction and expertise in developing, maintaining, and enhancing technology applications and systems utilized by the Town of Queen Creek Utilities Department.

The primary function of the Principal Applications Analyst - Utilities is to provide leadership in the analysis, design, development, implementation and maintenance of critical functions for the Utilities Department's applications in adherence to Town of Queen Creek Technology Standards, Policy and Procedures.  The incumbent will serve as a liaison between the department and customers external to the department, such as IT, Finance, or other stakeholders. The position will also analyze data, provide expert analysis, determine strategic business priorities, and provide support to Utilities department staff.

Specific duties include: configuring applications to support the business processes; providing system analysis to design and assist in the development and implementation of needed data reports from application software; assist in the developing and documenting business processes for the department’s work groups by creating procedures, training manuals, and training modules for end users; analyzing system data to design and develop solutions to system problems with technical personnel in the Town’s Information & Technology Division and applicable vendors or consultants.

Incumbent will report to the Utilities Deputy Director.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Work as a liaison between the Utilities Department and other supporting departments, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Understand and process data. Use data to make decisions and provide recommendations. 
• Collaborate with Utility staff on a variety of technical applications and find creative solutions to issues. 
• Ability to manage large data sets into functional and easily understandable tools for staff to improve processes. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The following are intended to describe core work functions of this classification.  While the level and broad nature of essential duties may not change, specific work tasks will vary over time depending on the Town’s needs.

• Serves as a liaison between business users and technical team members; coordinates with vendors and partners with the Town’s Information Technology Department (IT) to resolve technical issues, maintain applications, and ensure proper cybersecurity;
• Effectively communicate and cultivate relationships with a diverse group of customers and stakeholders, including users, managers, vendors, and other departments to address software and hardware concerns and recommend alternatives.

• Works closely with business users and IT staff for system requirements and implementing enhancements, security measures, and new features.
• Experience with, but not limited to, Cartegraph, Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition systems (SCADA), Sensus FlexNet, and utility billing systems.
• Provides data analysis and analytical tools to assist the department with management and interpretation of various data. Assists in creating reports and dashboards.
• Makes recommendations to supervisor and other department staff based on data-driven analysis.
• Serves as the departmental project lead for data systems, hardware and software used within the Town’s Utilities Department; this includes water information management systems, asset management software, automatic meter reading software and utility modeling software.
• Participates in various phases of application implementation, including requirements, user training, program documentation, data conversion, testing and maintenance;
• Coordinates QA testing on patches, updates or custom development prior to release; creates documentation for business processes and system changes;
• Works with cross-departmental personnel on the coordination of projects; assists with scheduling and managing system and software upgrades.  
• Monitors technology trends and plans; recommends enhancements or modifications to existing technology, or new technologies as necessary;
• Supervises, directs and evaluates assigned staff, addresses employee concerns and problems, mentors, counsels, disciplines and completes performance appraisals; conducts interviews and makes hiring decisions;
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Training and Experience (positions in this class typically require): 

Bachelor’s Degree in information technology, business/data analytics, organizational development, business administration, public administration, or related field and five years of related experience in the support of business application and systems, including training; three years of supervisory experience in a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. Knowledge and experience with utility billing, service order, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), SCADA, or other Utility systems a plus.

Licensing Requirements (positions in this class typically require):

• Driver’s License;
• Maintain all certifications/licenses required at job entry.

Knowledge (position requirements at entry):

• Advanced end-user knowledge of various business applications;
• Data systems and software as they relate to information systems;
• Database management systems and applications;
• Research techniques, methods and procedures;
• Statistical analysis principles and practices;
• Diagnostic methods for computer hardware and software;
• Computer systems analysis, operations, data flow and data structures;
• Municipal administration principles, practices, and procedures;
• Supervisory principles and practices.

 

Skills (position requirements at entry):

• Interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, customers inside and outside of the department, the general public, etc.;
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment;
• Analyzing data and issues and making sound recommendations to management regarding business processes;
• Working in an environment with minimal oversight;  
• Time management/ability to multitask;
• Customer service principles and practices;
• Analysis and problem solving;
• Communication and presentation skills, both oral and written.

OVERALL PHYSICAL STRENGTH DEMANDS:

Physical Strength for this classification is indicated below with an “X”
X	Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 lbs. occasionally or negligible weights frequently; sitting most of the time.
	Light: Exerting up to 20 lbs. occasionally, 10 lbs. frequently, or negligible amounts constantly OR requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
	Medium: Exerting 20-50 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly.
	Heavy: Exerting 50-100 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10-20 lbs. constantly.
	Very Heavy: Exerting over 100 lbs. occasionally, 50-100 lbs. frequently, or up to 20-50 lbs. constantly.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

C	F	O	R	N
Continuously	Frequently	Occasionally	Rarely	Never
2/3 or more time	1/3 to 2/3 of time	Up to 1/3 time	< 1 hour per week	Never occurs

Note: This is intended as a description of the way the job is currently performed. It does not address the potential for accommodation.

Physical Demand	Brief Description	C	F	O	R	N
Standing	Communicating with co-workers, observing work site, observing work duties			X
Sitting	Desk work	X
Walking	To other departments/offices/office equipment			X
Lifting	Supplies, files				X
Carrying	Supplies, files				X
Pushing/Pulling	File draws, tables and chairs				X
Reaching	For supplies, for files		X
Handling	Paperwork		X
Fine Dexterity	Computer keyboard, telephone pad, calculator, calibrating equipment	X
Kneeling	Filing in lower drawers, retrieving items from lower shelves/ground				X
Crouching	Filing in lower drawers, retrieving items from lower shelves/ground				X
Crawling	Under equipment					X
Bending	Filing in lower drawers, retrieving items from lower shelves/ground				X
Twisting	From computer to telephone, getting inside vehicles				X
Climbing	Stairs, step stool				X
Balancing	On step stool					X
Vision	Reading, computer screen, driving	X
Hearing	Communicating with co-workers and public and on telephone, listening to equipment	X
Talking	Communicating with co-workers and public and on telephone	X
Foot Controls	Driving				X
Other (Specify)

MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE:
Standard office equipment; vehicle

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

D	W	M	S	N
Daily	Several Times Per Week	Several Times Per Month	Seasonally	Never
Health & Safety Factors	D	W	M	S	N	Health & Safety Factors	D	W	M	S	N
Mechanical Hazards					X	Respiratory Hazards					X
Chemical Hazards					X	Extreme Temperatures					X
Electrical Hazards					X	Noise and Vibration					X
Fire Hazards					X	Wetness/Humidity					X
Explosives					X	Physical Hazards					X
Communicable Diseases				X
Physical Danger or Abuse					X
Other (Specify Below

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
None

NON-PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

C	F	O	R	N
Continuously	Frequently	Occasionally	Rarely	Never
2/3 or more time	1/3 to 2/3 of time	Up to 1/3 time	< 1 hour per week	Never occurs
Description of Non-Physical Demands	C	F	O	R	N
Time Pressure		X
Emergency Situation				X
Frequent Change of Tasks			X
Irregular Work Schedule/Overtime			X
Performing Multiple Tasks Simultaneously		X
Working Closely with Others as Part of a Team		X
Tedious or Exacting Work		X
Noisy/Distracting Environment				X
Other (Specify Below)

PRIMARY WORK LOCATION:

X	Office Environment
	Warehouse
	Shop
	Recreation/Neighborhood Center
	Vehicle
	Outdoors
	Combination of Office, Vehicle and Field
	Other (Specify Below)

Salary : $93,912 - $136,172