Career Opportunity

Strategy, Innovation & Change (SIC) Principal Analyst - SFPUC (1824) - (127370)

Recruitment: RTF0127369-01062766

Published: December 23, 2022

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Application Opening: 12/23/2022
Application Filing Deadline: 1/23/2023
Annual Salary:  $128,050 - $155,662 
Recruitment ID: PBT-1824-127370

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

WHO ARE WE?

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.org/.

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality.

To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at https://www.sfpuc.org/about-us/careers-sfpuc

About Strategy Innovation and Change (SIC)

Strategy, Innovation and Change (SIC) was created in 2019 to provide support to all SFPUC Business Services Bureaus in their pursuit of the following goals: 1) deliver excellent customer service, 2) ensure impeccable stewardship of resources, 3) promote long-term financial sustainability, and 4) cultivate a culture of excellence. SIC also provides leadership and support for initiatives that have a widespread impact on SFPUC operations.

The division’s programs include:

• Project leadership and change management for complex transformation projects across SFPUC functions (system, policy or process changes)
• Strategy and business planning 
• Performance management 
• Risk management  
• Identifying opportunities for efficiencies and innovation 

The majority of SIC projects span the agency and require the participation of teams from multiple divisions. Based on a commitment to fostering a positive, engaged and inspired work culture,  SIC works with care to build productive, committed and motivated teams aligned around SFPUC objectives. 

Role description

The SIC Principal Analyst leads and drives highly complex and sensitive professional level projects. This includes strategic planning, business planning and performance management for Business Services; as well as direction and oversight of large agency-wide transformation programs to implement innovative solutions, improve levels of service and enable business continuity during times of crisis. They will also support agency-wide risk management and emergency management initiatives, as needed.  

The ideal candidate has  skills/experiences in: strategic planning (including workshop facilitation), project management (including defining project scope, goals and objectives, building project plans and timelines, and interpreting analytical findings), change management and communications, coordinating stakeholder participation, applying principles of continuous improvement, and conducting performance and program evaluations.  

Additionally, they have the capacity to lead and motivate teams working on highly sensitive and complex projects to achieve objectives and champion new ideas, tolerate ambiguity and be persuasive while being collaborative. They are resourceful and have creative latitude, and able to work effectively and efficiently in high stress situations without negatively impacting others. They possess high-level analytical, planning, organizational and presentation skills and abilities; and able to make sound, practical decisions on complex issues.

Essential Duties:

1. Facilitate highly complex strategic and business planning and performance management efforts throughout Business Services.
2. Maintain knowledge of business management trends, analyze applications to SIC and Business Services, and develop recommendations. 
3. Manage application of business planning tools to support organizational alignment and goal realization.
4. Direct, oversee and implement difficult, sensitive, highly visible and complex cross-functional process and system change programs (including technology projects).
5. Identify, analyze and implement areas for process improvement and task automation.
6. Coordinate with staff across the SFPUC to identify customer needs and develop service-level standards.
7. Coordinate and direct activities and programs related to emergency management and business continuity; evaluate and define necessary policy and process changes to ensure the health and safety of staff during emergencies.
8. Prepare and present sensitive and highly complex written communications for management and the Commission; lead discussions with management to seek alignment for process and policy changes including real-time emergency-related measures and processes.
9. Analyze and evaluate the effect of highly complex and sensitive existing, newly enacted and proposed legislation or regulations on Business Services; determine impact and drive related change efforts.
10. Lead, supervise and provide guidance to the SIC Risk & Project Analyst (1822) and cross-functional project teams.
11. Represent SIC in internal SFPUC presentations to various stakeholders.
12. Review, process and monitor professional and service contracts; and the SIC budget.
13. Other related duties as required. 

How to qualify

1. Possession of a graduate degree (Master's degree or higher) from an accredited college or university, and five (5) years full-time equivalent experience performing professional-level analytical work as described in Note A (see details on 'notes' below); OR

2. Possession of a graduate degree (Master's degree or higher) from an accredited college or university with major college coursework as described in Note B, and four (4) years full-time equivalent experience performing professional-level analytical work as described in Note A; OR

3. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and six (6) years full-time equivalent experience performing professional-level analytical work as described in Note A; OR

4. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with major college coursework as described in Note B, and five (5) years full-time-equivalent experience performing professional-level analytical work as described in Note A;

SUBSTITUTION: Applicants may substitute up to 2 years of the required education with additional qualifying experience in budget analysis, financial analysis and reporting, legislative/policy analysis, or contract/grant administration. One year (2000 hours) of additional qualifying experience will be considered equivalent to 30 semester units/45 quarter units.

Notes on Qualifying Experience and Education:

A. Qualifying professional-level analytical experience must be in one or more of the following functional areas: complex budget analysis, development and administration; complex financial/fiscal analysis and reporting; development of complex contracting systems and administration of competitive bid processes and complex contractual agreements; development and evaluation of complex management/administrative policy; complex grant administration and monitoring; complex program evaluation and planning; complex legislative analysis; complex economic analysis; or other functional areas related to the duties of positions in Class 1824, where the primary focus of the job is complex professional-level analysis for evaluation, recommendation, development and implementation of major programs and functions of department/organization. Analytical experience equivalent to the duties of Class 1823 is considered qualifying.

B. Coursework applicable to a baccalaureate or higher degree in specialized subject matter areas such as public or business administration, management, business law, contract law, public policy, urban studies, economics, statistical analysis, finance, accounting or other fields of study closely related to the essential functions of positions in Class 1824.

SPECIAL CONDITION: Six (6) months business process improvement methodology experience

The above minimum qualifications reflect special conditions associated with the position(s) to be filled. They may differ from the standard minimum qualifications associated with this class code.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• Experience in project management
• Experience conducting difficult analytical studies involving complex administrative systems and procedures
• Experience working with authority to identify and define problems, determine methodology, evaluate data, make recommendations with appropriate justification and developing/implementing a plan of action
• Experience conducting interviews, observations and other procedures to understand, document and validate processes
• Experience managing project teams and/or supervising staff
• Experience in conducting negotiations

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ): Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Written Multiple-Choice Examination (weight: 40%): Candidates will be invited to participate in a written multiple-choice examination, designed to measure their relative knowledge, skills and abilities in job-related areas. The "core" multiple-choice examination component may include but not be limited to:

• Ability to evaluate/analyze information/data and to exercise good judgment relative to that evaluation or analysis
• Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial/fiscal principles (including the ability to use mathematical and statistical formulas)
• Ability to use various computer software programs.

Online Supplemental Questionnaire (weight: 60%): The purpose of the Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) is to evaluate the experience, knowledge, skills and abilities that candidates possess in job-related areas, which have been identified as critical for this position and include, but are not limited to: Ability to effectively organize and assign work and project tasks; relationship management; communication skills; project coordination and management.

Qualified candidates will be sent email notices to complete the MQSQ and SQ exam. Failure to complete these steps by the established deadlines will result in disqualification.

A passing score must be achieved on the exams to be placed on the eligible list and continue in the selection process. Additional selection processes, like interviews, may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2021-22.pdf.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ .

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

What else should I know?

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

·       Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst Janina Villanueva at jvillanueva@sfwater.org.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.