INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST I

State of California•Sacramento, CA

41d•Hybrid

About The Position

If you're a detail-driven IT professional who thrives at the intersection of planning, analysis and delivery, this is the opportunity to shape how technology solutions are designed, released and maintained at the Franchise Tax Board. The Analysis Bureau, Web & CCP Applications Analysis Section (WCAAS) is Seeking an IT Specialist I (IT Release & Systems Solution Coordinator) to serve as a critical link between business analysis, system design and release/deployment management (multiple positions may be filled under this recruitment). This role combines the analytical expertise of a Systems Analyst with the coordination and execution skills of a Release/Deployment Manager to provide end-to-end ownership of change, ensuring that solutions are well-planned, fully understood and successfully implemented. About the Team and Vision The Analysis Bureau, WCAAS supports FTB's mission through innovative, reliable, and well-integrated IT systems that serve millions of Californians. As our systems and processes evolve, we're redefining how releases and business solutions come together. This position was created to bridge the gap between analysis and deployment, establishing a model where one role coordinates both what needs to change and how that change is delivered. We're looking for a systems-minded analyst who can elevate how we plan, deliver, and sustain change across our application portfolio. This role is pivotal in shaping a more connected, proactive and predictable SDLC environment. Key areas of focus include: Bridging systems analysis and release planning to ensure all changes are seamlessly integrated into delivery cycles Standardizing SDLC processes to improve predictability, reduce last-minute conflicts, and support smoother hand-offs across teams Strengthening ownership of Maintenance & Operations activities, ensuring "keep-the-lights-on" work is clearly defined, prioritized and aligned with available capacity Enhancing cross-team planning and communication, balancing workloads and ensuring readiness for each release cycle Providing early insight into technical and resource impacts, enabling better costing, prioritization, and stakeholder decision-making Fostering a system-level understanding of supported applications, helping us anticipate dependencies, mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement

Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within the Software Development Lifecycle including requirements analysis, design or release management
Experience planning, coordinating and managing releases or technical changes
Experience as a business or systems analyst gathering and documenting requirements, evaluating impacts and developing technical or functional specification
Experience developing and maintaining release documentation including schedules, deployment plans, capacity plans and communication materials.
Experience facilitating cross-functional meetings such as Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions, solution assessment meetings, release/deployment planning meetings and post-implementation lessons learned discussions
Experience analyzing issues/business problems and identifying appropriate solutions
Knowledge of Franchise Tax Board Applications, programs and procedures is desirable
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact with business and technical partners to identify system dependencies, constraints or requirements
Excellent analytical skills with demonstrated ability to think logically, creatively and make recommendations
Ability to use tact and good judgment while working cooperatively with others
Ability to work independently and in a team environment
Ability to interpret laws and legislations and understand potential impacts to our applications
Ability to work on multiple projects and/or assignments simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage the planning, analysis and deployment of system releases and maintenance work across all SDLC phases
Serve as a liaison between business and technical teams to ensure clarity of requirements, impact analysis and release readiness
Use tools such as Azure DevOps (ADOS) FTB's capacity planning tools to plan and track release progress, dependencies and approvals
Facilitate cross-team meetings, including release readiness, JADS and lessons-learned sessions
Identify risks, issues and resource constraints; develop mitigation plans and communicate impacts to leadership
Develop and maintain release/deployment related documentation including release calendars, deployment plans/schedules
Support post-implementation validation and continuous improvement by analyzing outcomes and incorporating lessons learned
Participate in enterprise initiatives aimed at improving release, change and planning processes