INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST II

California State Controller's Office; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 8,600 - 12,000; Full time

Job summary

California State Controller's Office is seeking a Business Lead (IT Specialist II) to drive complex IT analytics for the CSPS project. You will oversee design, configuration, testing, and implementation while coordinating with vendors and SCO stakeholders.

You will apply SDLC, agile methodologies, and project management principles to ensure successful delivery of personnel, payroll, and travel system modernization. Hybrid telework is available; strong collaboration is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience performing complex analytical and IT support activities for a large IT project.
• Expertise in SDLC, Agile Framework, PMF, Change Control.
• Ability to lead design sessions with stakeholders and vendors.
• Strong knowledge of personnel, payroll systems and HCM processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead design sessions with SCO management and external agencies (HR staff, control agencies).
• Conduct fit-gap analysis and propose alternative solutions.
• Coordinate test scenarios and scripts with expected outcomes using IBM EWM.
• Oversee internal and vendor BA resources to meet project standards and business needs.
• Develop and maintain project documentation throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Business analysis

SDLC

Agile

Project management

Vendor coordination

Requirements gathering

Tools

IBM Engineering Workflow Management

Job description

Work Location: Sacramento County

Job Code #: JC-531712

Position #(s): 051-221-1414-019

Working Title: Business Lead

Classification: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST II

$8,625.00 - $11,557.00 A

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 1

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Facility: California State Payroll System

The Office of the State Controller (SCO) is the destination employer within the State of California. As California’s chief fiscal officer, the Controller’s Office ensures accountability and transparency of California’s financial practices while promoting fairness and opportunity for all. Here, you’ll work in a collaborative and supportive environment with diverse opportunities for professional growth and development. A career with the SCO offers meaningful work that directly impacts the state’s future. The California State Payroll System (CSPS) Project at the State Controller's Office plays a vital role in modernizing the state's human resources and payroll infrastructure. This project leads the implementation of an innovative Human Capital Management system that will streamline services for 300,000 state employees. The team manages the development of essential functions including personnel administration, payroll processing, benefits management, and employee self-service capabilities. By joining CSPS, you'll be at the center of a historic transformation, contributing to solutions that will enhance government operations for decades to come. Visit our website to learn more about the State Controller’s Office.

Job Description And Duties

Under general direction provided by the Functional Manager (IT Manager I), the Business Lead (IT Specialist II) is responsible for performing a variety of complex analytical and IT support activities for the CSPS IT Project, a project to improve and replace the current personnel, payroll, and travel systems. CSPS is delivering an innovative and modern Human Capital Management (HCM) solution to streamline business processes for Position Control, Personnel Administration, Benefits Administration, Time Management, Travel and Expense Management, and Payroll. The incumbent will perform a wide variety of analytical activities in the areas of business process analysis, system design analysis, problem resolution, and legislative analysis. The IT Specialist II will combine complex analysis for business needs with project management tasks, which includes personnel and payroll systems design planning and implementation activities for a highly complex IT project.

The IT Specialist II has overall responsibility for the design, development, configuration, testing and implementation for the core functionality assigned and will oversee the work of internal and vendor business analyst resources to ensure project standards and business needs are met.

The incumbent must demonstrate the highest level of expertise in business systems analysis techniques and System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) practices, Agile Framework/Scaled Agile Framewrok, the Project Management Lifecycle (PMLC), CA-Project Management Framework (PMF), Change Control principles and practices, and an understanding of customer service concepts, and requirements development methodologies.

• Guide the development and elaboration of plans and artifacts. Exercise independence and provide leadership in the design, development, configuration, and implementation of the future solution.
• Provide expert advice on system functionality to vendors and make decisions on issues that arise. Act as lead with vendor staff to perform design, system configuration, development, and implementation activities to complete the necessary project documentation utilizing industry standards and methodologies; and maintain project documentation.
• Lead design sessions with various internal and external stakeholders such as project team members, SCO management, and external agencies (department HR staff, control agencies, etc.).
• Conduct fit gap analysis and provide alternative solutions. Conduct analysis to identify any impacts to requirements as a result of legislative change as well as unanticipated business needs exposed during design, development, configuration, testing, and implementation of the future solution. Utilize the project change control process to identify impacts and to obtain the necessary approvals.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews to ensure requirements are met and the future solution functions as expected. Provide recommendations regarding acceptance of contractor deliverables.
• Responsible for collaboration and identification, development, and documentation of test scenarios and test scripts with expected outcomes using the projects IBM Engineering Workflow Management tool. Participate in all test phases and identify and document defects found and work with the system integrator to resolve and re-test until the solution is working as required. Provide updates to management on the status of testing and system acceptance.
• Recommend, plan and assist in the development of statewide policies (for approval by control agencies), procedures and processes for the future solution.
• Work with other work streams, technical and non-technical team members (state and vendor) in interface specification development and testing; report specification development and testing; assist the Organizational Change Management (OCM) Team in garnering stakeholder acceptance; conversion mapping and testing; and provide input into development of training materials.
• Execute activities and tasks to ensure adherence to the project plans.
• Meet regularly with the project management office to provide status reports and to provide input on, or recommendations for, project plans, direction, staffing, priorities and sensitive policy and legal issues.
• Represent the SCO on various functional and technical focus groups, task forces comprised of departmental, control agency, and labor union representatives, to facilitate change and business improvements to support the state’s personnel and payroll project goals and objectives using information technology methods; and engage in business relationships requiring tact and perspective.
• Develop, attend meetings and make presentations to various internal and external stakeholders.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

A resume is required.

A Statement of Qualifications is required.

Take the required examination here: Information Technology Specialist II Examination

Final Filing Date: 9/24/2026

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.