Exam Bulletin - Information Technology Specialist III

State of California

Exam Code: EX-1752

Examination Plans Included:

  • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III: $8,961.00 - $12,009.00 per Month

View the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1752

For INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01752

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00101415 - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III

When using education to meet the general experience requirements listed in the minimum qualifications, education must include the specified information technology or closely related course work. Closely related course work refers to a course of study involving the study of computing, such as software engineering, computer engineering, Management Information Systems, Geographic Information System, and computing technology.

One year of experience as an Information Technology Specialist II; or

Six years of information technology experience, two years of which shall include performance of highly specialized work in a lead or expert capacity on highly complex or specialized information technology systems or services in one or more of the major six domains or a closely related or emerging information technology field.

A master's or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for four years of the required general information technology experience. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for three years of the required general information technology experience. An associate's degree from an accredited college may substitute for one year of the required general information technology experience. Only one degree may be used for substitution.

When using education to meet minimum qualifications, education must include 15 semester units (or 22.5 quarter units) of information technology or closely related course work.

Position Description

00101415 - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III

This is the expert advisor level. Under administrative direction, incumbents demonstrate strategic technical leadership, influence, and expertise that drive the organization's use of technology toward constant improvements. Incumbents represent the highest level of expertise available in state service within the Software Engineering, Information Security Engineering, Information Technology Project Management, or System Engineering domains. Incumbents develop the enterprise information technology architecture direction of the organization and advise management and executive level staff on governance and policy that support forward movement. Incumbents may have extensive decision-making authority and direct the most critical/complex projects where the consequence of error may have a serious detrimental effect on the operating efficiency of the organization.

Incumbents may: develop policies and procedures; develop multi-departmental systems; plan, develop, and document policies, requirements, and methodologies; enforce compliance with policies and requirements, and make recommendations; implement security and privacy controls across multiple information technology disciplines; direct or coordinate duties and responsibilities to project personnel; negotiate with project stakeholders or suppliers; conduct presentations or briefings to executive management; guide the development and elaboration of plans and artifacts; provide leadership, guidance, training, and support to project team members; determine the objectives and measures upon which the project will be evaluated; develop and analyze performance and capacity reports; develop and modify technical specifications; develop and implement standards and controls; contribute in the planning of the overall organizational information technology strategy; design, implement, and maintain system architecture across multiple platforms; and coordinate infrastructure system design, modification, upgrade, and implementation.

Preferred or Desirable Qualifications
For specific positions, departments may specify knowledge, experience, or specific training in one or more of the six identified domains.

All employees must have general qualifications as described by California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 172.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Emerging technologies and their applications to business processes 
  2. Business or systems process analysis, design, testing, and implementation techniques 
  3. Techniques for assessing skills and education needs to support training, planning and development 
  4. Business continuity and technology recovery principles and processes 
  5. Principles and practices related to the design and implementation of information technology systems 
  6. Information technology systems and data auditing 
  7. The department's security and risk management policies, requirements, and acceptable level of risk 
  8. Application and implementation of information systems to meet organizational requirements 
  9. Project management lifecycle including the State of California project management standards, methodologies, tools, and processes 
  10. Software quality assurance and quality control principles, methods, tools, and techniques 
  11. Research and information technology best practice methods and processes to identify current and emerging trends in technology and risk management processes 
  12. State and federal privacy laws, policies, and standards
  13. Development and application of technology in the current and future business environment 
  14. Emerging technologies and their applications to business processes 
  15. Policy development
  16. Applications and implementation of information systems to meet organizational requirements
Ability to:
  1. Recognize and apply technology trends and industry best practices 
  2. Assess training needs related to the application of technology 
  3. Interpret audit findings and results 
  4. Implement information assurance principles and organizational requirements to protect confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity, and non-repudiation of information and data 
  5. Apply principles and methods for planning or managing the implementation, update, or integration of information systems components 
  6. Apply the principles, methods, techniques, and tools for developing scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communications, and risk and procurement management 
  7. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the applied change management activities 
  8. Keep informed on technology trends and industry best practices and recommend appropriate solutions 
  9. Foster a team environment through leadership and conflict management 
  10. Effectively negotiate with project stakeholders, suppliers, or sponsors to achieve project objectives 
  11. Analyze the effectiveness of the backup and recovery of data, programs, and services
  12. Research and identify best practice methods and processes to identify current and emerging trends in technology and recommend appropriate courses of action

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST III Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Information Technology Specialist III Training and Experience Exam Preview

Section 1: Tasks

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

  1. Designing system architecture across multiple platforms to best align technology solutions with business strategies.
  2. Implementing system architecture across multiple platforms to best align technology solutions with business strategies.
  3. Performing software architecture oversight and reviews to ensure technical and strategic alignment.
  4. Performing technology infrastructure and platform design and oversight activities.
  5. Developing standards and controls that ensure the security, reliability, and availability of technology systems.
  6. Implementing standards and controls that ensure the security, reliability, and availability of technology systems.
  7. Performing information security engineering activities (e.g., security control design, security oversight, security operations, risk assessments).
  8. Managing all aspects of at least 5 Information Technology projects by applying industry project management methodologies and principles.
  9. Providing consultation and expertise in multiple information technology domains to ensure compliance with enterprise architecture and security policies, standards, regulations, and best practices.
  10. Formulating policies, procedures, guidelines and standards to provide a common framework for technology governance.
  11. Recommending policies, procedures, guidelines and standards to provide a common framework for technology governance.
  12. Communicating detailed, technical information through formal documentation.
  13. Communicating detailed, technical information in an understandable way to non-technical people.
  14. Analyzing complex information technology problems to develop options and implement solutions.
  15. Developing and implementing information technology solutions.
  16. Leading multi-discipline professional groups.
  17. Analyzing laws, rules, regulations, and policies to ensure that all work is compliant.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State 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.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)