IS Manager I - Business Systems and Automation Support (Open and Promotional)

Full Job Description

The County of San Mateo's Technology Services Department (TSD) is seeking a well-qualified IS Manager I to serve on its Business and Finance Administration Division Leadership Team.

Under supervision of the Division Manager of Business and Finance Administration Division, the selected candidate will lead and manage processes and enhancements to TSD’s business intelligence and data analytics, enterprise technology asset management, and information technology financial management system administration, robotic process automation technology, and implementation of innovative technologies to improve daily operations of TSD’s business and financial operations.

This role requires building strong working relationships with all levels of personnel within TSD, other cross-departmental stakeholders and partners, including County executives, management, line staff, and their support teams to achieve progress and success.

This is a first-level management classification that manages assigned technology services activities within an assigned division.

Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Five (5) years of experience in a lead/management role.
• Business process transformation, systems implementation, and change management experience.
• Deep knowledge of project management techniques and tools.
• Adequate business and political acumen to successfully execute on objectives.
• Ability to manage the intricacies of all phases of a project lifecycle with finesse, passion, confidence, self-motivation and an entrepreneur spirit.
• A strong understanding of a technology services organization, its functions, systems used to provide support services.
• A proven track record managing multiple priorities and deadlines, teams, and projects.
• Experience in cross-functional project teams.
• Ability to establish strong working relationships.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Requirements

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform high quality work as an individual contributor, in addition to management duties.
• Partner with technology divisions and develop analytical frameworks, maintain roadmaps, pipelines, and metrics that align with the broader organization's goals.
• Collaborate with technical resources and professional services vendors for making enhancements to Enterprise Asset Management business processes.
• Manage the implementation activities, project schedule, task completion and milestones.
• Manage and track project risks.
• Acts as the project management interface to the vendor project team.
• Support TSD’s information technology financial management system and its integration with existing systems (such as OFAS, Sherpa, ServiceNow, Workday, and others).
• Analyze, design and implement system-based process improvements.
• Partner with Finance, and Accounting, Project Management Office, and TSD Program teams to develop and manage robust reporting.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operational teams including Controller's Office, County Executive’s Office, Human Resources, and other departments to scale and drive efficiencies in our system interfaces.
• Manage and participate in the administration and maintenance of department specific business applications and platforms; evaluate, participate in, and manage information technology and business process redesign; evaluate, select, and recommend departmental applications; establish support processes to ensure availability of application and database services.
• Plan, manage, and oversee the daily functions, operations, and activities of assigned technology services programs.
• Participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs.
• Make recommendations for updates to processes, procedures, system use, service design, service offerings, and staffing plans to attain goals, objectives, and priorities for the assigned programs.
• Participate in the development, administration, and oversight of assigned budgets.
• Develop and standardize procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, service delivery methods, and procedures; assess and monitor workload, administrative, and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations as needed.
• Manage complete responsibility for personnel matters including selection, training, mentoring, and evaluating performance of assigned personnel.
• Oversee special projects as assigned.
• Lead development of scope of work within requests for proposals and qualifications for professional services; evaluate proposals and recommend project award; develop, negotiate, and review contract terms and amendments; ensure contractor compliance with County and department standards and specifications.
• Provides highly complex staff assistance to TSD Management.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices of program management, including planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Advanced principles and practices of computer systems management, analysis, design, and maintenance.
• Advanced data management theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Job planning and prioritizing techniques.
• Information management platforms and systems.
• Principles of personnel training, supervision and evaluation.
• Current technologies for systems design and delivery.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with vendors and County staff.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, organize and coordinate programs and services on a comprehensive, Countywide level to meet customer needs.
• Coordinate program area activities with other County departments, programs and/or outside agencies.
• Integrate a variety of activities and services to achieve program goals, objectives and priorities.
• Work cooperatively with other County departments and public and private organizations.
• Analyze problems accurately, develop recommendations and take appropriate action to resolve them.
• Prepare complex and detailed written reports, procedures, grant applications and contracts.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgement within established procedural guidelines.
• Maintain accurate records and file.
• Organize work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Utilize appropriate interpersonal style and methods of communication to gain acceptance, cooperation, or agreement of a plan, activity, and/or program idea.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Analyze complex operational, programming and systems problems, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions.
• Plan, schedule and manage large-scale projects.
• Identify critical paths and jeopardies.
• Negotiate agreement between differing individuals and groups of individuals.
• Supervise, evaluate and train assigned personnel.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provided the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.

A typical way to qualify is three years of experience in developing, administering, and implementing information services programs, including one year of supervisory responsibility.

Additional Information

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before 11:59 p.m. on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Deadline for Applications: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Application Screening (Tentative): Monday, February 2, 2026
Combined Civil Service and Departmental Panel Interviews (Tentative): Wednesday, February 18, 2026

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.