APS IT Liaison

Performs highly complex (senior-level) business analysis work involving gathering, developing, and documenting user requirements; reviewing, assessing, and developing business processes; creating and validating user acceptance testing; performing post-implementation support of systems; and providing support for the systems development life cycle. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment., * Coordinate the analysis of program policies and procedures to determine their effect on automated systems and system functional areas.

• Coordinates and analyzes program policies and business practices to provide recommendations and ideas for addressing program and project technology requests, needs, and solutions.
• Develops, edits, and maintains technical documentation for current and future applications e.g., technical reference manuals and production control manuals.
• Coordinate with outside vendors and contractors to complete projects and service requests; and define, assign, and evaluate their work.
• Coordinates and leads staff and contractor Business Analyst work to ensure quality standards are consistently met and that both internal and external stakeholder needs are effectively addressed, while promoting alignment with program objectives and project requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve business processes through automation and help prepare proposals to develop new systems.
• Coordinates and confers with stakeholders to understand their technology needs and issues in performing their day-to-day work to assist in the preparation and development of new system enhancements.
• Identifies gaps and areas for improving business and program processes to recommend technology solutions.
• Consult on the analysis of an application, troubleshoot system problems, and implement solutions.
• Performs systems analysis activities, as requested, such as, conducting studies of current computer systems, recommending design solutions by understanding business needs and improving efficiency of systems.
• Provide complex quality assurance consultation to, or oversight of, projects, assignments, or special initiatives.
• Coordinates and leads quality assurance initiatives for program and agency-wide projects, including providing consultation to stakeholders and project teams to ensure quality standards are met, processes are followed, and deliverables align with business requirements and organizational goals.
• Review complex project deliverables such as charters, design documentation, test plans, and risk assessment plans; and provide comments and suggestions to document owners.
• Reviews and provides feedback to stakeholders and project teams on complex project deliverables, such as project charters, quality management and risk assessment plans, workflow diagrams, and business rules.
• Develops project related presentations and provides reports on metrics gathered to Application Development leadership.
• Develop training curricula and conduct formal training sessions covering assigned systems modules.
• Leads, participates, and trains users within programs and project teams on user acceptance testing (UAT) activities, including developing and delivering training materials and guidance to ensure users understand testing processes, system functionality, and their roles in validating business requirements prior to implementation.
• Develop the design and/or review of test cases; process change requests; and manage a project's scope, acceptance, installation, and deployment.
• Develops Use Case documentation and provides guidance to Business Analysts in creating documentation that clearly defines business requirements, including the design and review of test cases, processing of change requests, and management of project scope, acceptance criteria, installation, and deployment activities.
• Coordinates with developers to review, interpret, and provide clarification on Use Cases and related documentation to ensure accurate translation of business requirements into technical solutions, while supporting test case validation, scope management, and successful implementation and deployment.
• Facilitate the service request life cycle through customer-related service request responses, business requirements coordination, technical specifications and related artifacts review; and monitor system integration and user acceptance testing prior to implementation.
• Leads, coordinates, and participates in release activities and application development implementation activities.
• Leads, organizes, edits, and communicates release notes for distribution to the agency at large.
• Coordinates and schedules go-live activities for Business Analysts and assigned projects, including monitoring system integration and overseeing user acceptance testing (UAT) prior to implementation to ensure systems function as intended and meet business requirements.
• Tracks project deadlines, production maintenance deadlines, and deliverables that are assigned to Business Analyst team.
• Identify a project's potential risks and difficulties and design strategies to mitigate or avoid them.
• Performs reviews of project deliverables and assists project managers with identifying risks and issues throughout project lifecycle, including developing and recommending strategies to mitigate risks, resolve issues, and minimize impact to project timelines and outcomes.
• Gathers, analyzes, and documents user requirements, business processes, and problems to automate or improve existing systems; elicits and documents business needs for new systems.
• Conducts work sessions with users and project team members to document requirements, develop use cases, and technology solutions.
• Performs and assists project team members with analysis and interpretation of user requirements.
• Analyzes program policies and procedures to determine their effect on automated systems and system functional areas.
• Coordinates and analyzes program policies and business practices to provide recommendations and ideas for addressing program and project technology requests, needs, and solutions.
• Develops, edits, and maintains technical documentation to support the analysis of program policies and procedures by clearly defining system functionality, documenting impacts to automated systems, and ensuring consistency between policy requirements and system operations.
• Serves as a liaison by providing consultation, documentation, and direction to other areas regarding analysis, design, configuration, testing, and policy implementation within all systems.
• Leads, coordinates, and participates in release activities and application development implementation activities.
• Leads, organizes, edits, and communicates release notes for distribution to the program and/or agency at large.
• Coordinates and schedules go-live activities for assigned projects.
• Tracks project deadlines, production maintenance deadlines, and deliverables that are assigned to the team.
• Coordinates and leads staff and contractor Business Analyst work to ensure quality standards and internal and external stakeholder needs are being met.
• Develops and/or reviews complex system documents to convey business requirements and support efficient system design.
• Develops Use Case documentation and provides guidance to Business Analysts in developing documentation.
• Coordinates with developers to review and interpret Use Cases and related documentation, providing clarification as needed to ensure accurate understanding and conveyance of business requirements. Ensures that documented requirements are clearly communicated, aligned with program needs, and properly translated for technical implementation.
• Develops, documents, and revises system design procedures, test procedures, and quality standards.
• Performs systems analysis activities, as requested, conducting studies of current IT systems, recommending design solutions by understanding business needs and improving efficiency of systems.
• Provides complex quality assurance consultations and oversight of projects, assignments, or special initiatives, documenting updated procedures to maintain departmental standards.
• Monitors the maintenance and enhancement of routine computer systems to ensure proper functionality.
• Acts as liaison between program and IT to identify, monitor, and escalate critical equipment or software issues, ensuring timely resolution and continued system functionality.
• Leads program initiatives related to software or hardware replacements, enhancements, and updates including monitoring implementation to ensure systems are maintained, enhanced, and functioning efficiently to meet program needs.
• Participates in user acceptance testing and testing of new system functionality.
• Coordinates and leads program user acceptance testing for new applications or application enhancements and defect fixes.
• Participates in Information Technology user acceptance testing to ensure compliance with program needs.
• Performs related work as assigned., As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

• Knowledge of software development and systems development life cycle concepts.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply appropriate leadership styles to a variety of different situations.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply project management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply business analysis methodologies.

Skill in:

• Skill in managing and prioritizing people and limited resources.
• Skill in analyzing and evaluating complex information technology applications, policies, and issues.
• Skill in developing creative program specific and workable solutions to complex problems and issues.

Ability to:

• Ability to maintain the security and integrity of the infrastructure per Governor Abbott Executive Order GA-48.
• Ability to analyze and interpret technical information, including regulations, policies, and automation system documentation/specifications to different levels of technical understanding.
• Ability to communicate technical instructions verbally and in writing to system users and to translate user/business needs into technical language.
• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and integrate business rules into system requirements.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions and to communicate changes effectively to technical and non-technical staff.
• Ability to oversee and/or supervise the work of others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: Project Management (PMI and/or Scrum Alliance) or Business Analysis certification preferred. Applicants for position must have a reliable motor vehicle, and acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance, and license., Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis. At least five (5) years of experience with project management. At least three (3) years of experience with Information Technology projects. At least three (3) years of experience analyzing business processes.

Pulled from the full job description

• Loan forgiveness

• 401(k)

• Employee discount

• Vision insurance

• Dental insurance

• Flexible spending account

• Gym membership, The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals. What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don't match-often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save. Here's what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members-saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs

• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans

• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that's time off you're actually paid for)

• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance-at rates much lower than most private plans

• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care

• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster. You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure, Other Locations: Abilene; Alamo; Alice; Alpine; Alvin; Amarillo; Anahuac; Andrews; Angleton; Anson; Aransas Pass; Archer City; Arlington; Athens; Atlanta; Austin; Bacliff; Ballinger; Bandera; Bastrop; Bay City; Baytown; Beaumont; Bedford; Beeville; Bellville; Big Spring; Boerne; Bonham; Borger; Bowie; Brady; Breckenridge; Brenham; Brownfield; Brownsville; Brownwood; Bryan; Burnet; Caldwell; Cameron; Canton; Canutillo; Carlsbad; Carrizo Springs; Carrollton; Carthage; Center; Centerville; Childress; Clarksville; Cleburne; Cleveland; Coldspring; Columbus; Conroe; Copperas Cove; Corpus Christi; Corsicana; Crockett; Crosby; Crystal City; Cuero; Cypress; Daingerfield; Dallas; Decatur; Del Rio; Denton; Dickinson; Dumas; Duncanville; Eagle Pass; Eastland; Edinburg; El Paso; Elgin; Elsa; Ennis; Fabens; Falfurrias; Floresville; Fort Stockton; Fort Worth; Fredericksburg; Gainesville; Galveston; Garland; Gatesville; Georgetown; Giddings; Gilmer; Goliad; Gonzales; Graham; Granbury; Grand Prairie; Grapevine; Greenville; Hallettsville; Hamilton; Harlingen; Haskell; Hearne; Hemphill; Hempstead; Henderson; Hereford; Hillsboro; Hondo; Houston; Humble; Huntsville; Hurst; Irving; Jacksonville; Jasper; Johnson City; Jourdanton; Karnes City; Katy; Kaufman; Kerrville; Killeen; Kingsville; Kingwood; Kirbyville; La Grange; Lake Jackson; Lake Worth; Lamesa; Lampasas; Lancaster; Laredo; Levelland; Lewisville; Liberty; Linden; Littlefield; Livingston; Llano; Lockhart; Longview; Lubbock; Lufkin; Lumberton; Madisonville; Marble Falls; Marfa; Marlin; Marshall; Mcallen; Mckinney; Mercedes; Meridian; Mesquite; Mexia; Midland; Mineola; Mineral Wells; Mission; Monahans; Mount Pleasant; Mount Vernon; Nacogdoches; Navasota; New Boston; New Braunfels; Odessa; Orange; Palestine; Pampa; Paris; Pasadena; Pearland; Pearsall; Pecos; Perryton; Pharr; Pittsburg; Plainview; Plano; Pollok; Port Arthur; Port Lavaca; Presidio; Quitman; Raymondville; Refugio; Richardson; Richmond; Rio Grande City; Robstown; Rockwall; Rosenberg; Round Rock; Rowlett; Rusk; San Angelo; San Antonio; San Benito; San Juan; San Marcos; San Saba; Schertz; Seguin; Seminole; Seymour; Sherman; Silsbee; Sinton; Snyder; Socorro; Sonora; South Houston; Stephenville; Sugar Land; Sulphur Springs; Sweetwater; Taylor; Temple; Terrell; Texarkana; Texas City; The Woodlands; Tomball; Trinity; Tyler; Uvalde; Van Horn; Vernon; Victoria; Waco; Washington; Watauga; Waxahachie; Weatherford; Webster; Weslaco; Wharton; Wichita Falls; Woodville; Zapata MOS Codes: 8846,8848,8858,14NX,15AX,16KX,181X,182X,1D7X1,255A,25B,26B,62E,681X,682X,781X,782X,CYB10,CYB11,ISM IT,Z Prefix