Job Description APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE COMPUTER SPECIALIST (SOFTWARE) CIVIL SERVICE TITLE. The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. Information Technology Services (ITS) is DSS’s technology services organization. ITS mission is to support the daily, emergent, and long-term needs of both agencies. ITS creates and enhances the technology infrastructure and computer applications that support HRA and DHS and develops applications, including a variety of client eligibility and recertification systems, case management systems, housing systems, employment/work engagement services, revenue producing computer matches, claiming systems, and personnel systems. Information Technology Services (ITS)/Business Solutions, Data Integration Services/Payment Processing Systems is recruiting for a Computer Specialist (Software) Level IV, to function as a Project Director, who will: - Under minimum supervision perform application development as well as oversee other team members for Composite Roll System, Daily Special Single Issue Payments System, Emergency Cash Payments, Cyclic Benefits for Public Assistance Clients, and Rental payments. Maintain programs for electronic distribution of public assistance payments, including HEAP energy assistance to clients, to NYC Housing Authority and Housing Preservation & Development and individual landlords. - Design and develop procedures for accessing data on mainframe legacy systems that can be incorporated into distributed applications; coordinate systems testing for new applications and enhancements. - Manage staff member that oversees approximately 16 HRA Mainframe jobs that impact Agency clients. Will provide oversight, direction and support to the staff members as well as perform the additional administrative responsibilities that come with managing staff and provide coverage for director of the unit. - Troubleshoot software/hardware failures, by isolating, identifying, and rectifying programming and equipment malfunctions, to ensure efficient operation of the system and lessen downtime. - Manage and lead special projects for the HRA Mainframe team, these projects will require coordinating with NYS or an outside Agency or projects that impact more than one Agency Program Area. Perform highly complex, difficult work as an individual on major systems development projects, in a fast-paced environment. - Provide technical consultation and expertise by presenting detailed technical recommendations. Qualifications (1) A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by twenty-four (24) semester credits in computer science or a related computer field and two (2) years of satisfactory full-time software experience in designing, programming, debugging, maintaining, implementing, and enhancing computer software applications, systems programming, systems analysis and design, data communication software, or database design and programming, including one year in a project leader capacity or as a major contributor on a complex project; or (2) A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and six (6) years of full-time satisfactory software experience as described in “1" above, including one year in a project leader capacity or as a major contributor on a complex project; or (3) A satisfactory combination of education and experience that is equivalent to (1) or (2) above. College education may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience in (2) above on the basis that sixty (60) semester credits from an accredited college is equated to one year of experience. A masters degree in computer science or a related computer field may be substituted for one year of the required experience in (1) or (2) above. However, all candidates must have a four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, plus at least one (1) year of satisfactory full-time software experience in a project leader capacity or as a major contributor on a complex project. NOTE: In order to have your experience accepted as Project Leader or Major Contributor experience, you must explain in detail how your experience qualifies you as a project leader or as a major contributor. Experience in computer operations, technical support, quality assurance (QA), hardware installation, help desk, or as an end user will not be accepted for meeting the minimum qualification requirements. Special Note To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level IV, in addition to the Qualification Requirements stated above, individuals must have one year of satisfactory experience in a project leader capacity or as a major contributor on a complex project in data administration, database management systems, operating systems, data communications systems, capacity planning, and/or on-line applications programming. Additional Information The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.