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 / DSS Technology is recruiting for a Computer Specialist (SW) III, to function as a Project Specialist, who under general supervision with general direction from the senior technical lead of application development, will be responsible for developing and maintaining computer applications for New York City’s Check Staggering System, Public Assistance Eligibility Verification System, Daily Public Assistance Verification Match vs Composite Roll Extract System for City Hall and Landlord management system.

The Project Specialist will:

- Perform application development and support for Composite Roll System, Daily Special Single
Issue Payments System, Emergency Cash Payments, and Cyclic Benefits for Public
Assistance Clients.

- Maintain programs for electronic distribution of public assistance payments, including HEAP
energy assistance to clients, to NYC Housing Authority and Housing Preservation and
Development and individual landlords. These programs are mandated both federally and by
the state and prepared for use by the Office of Fiscal Management to claim reimbursements
from the New York State Department of Social Services for Public Assistance payments.
Also designed to make claims to the State and Federal Governments for monies owed to
New York City for various charges.

- 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.

- Prepare and implement detailed project plans for the development, maintenance, and enhancement
of information systems, by identifying milestones and scheduling tasks, activities and due dates.

- Troubleshoot software/hardware failures, by isolating, identifying, and rectifying programming and
equipment malfunctions, to ensure efficient operation of the system and lessen downtime.

- Usher applications through the entire systems development life cycle, from inception to production
deployment.

- Communicate with users and other stakeholders to specify objectives for the proper planning and
development of new systems.

- Provide technical consultation and expertise by presenting detailed technical recommendations.


Hours/Shift:

Normal Business Hours

(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.

- IBM mainframe programming experience. - Experience of writing JCL and COBOL code working in the TSO environment. - Experience in Mainframe modernization File Transfer Protocol. - Proficiency in the Microsoft Office, including EXCEL. - Proficiency in gathering and development of functional and technical specifications. - Excellent oral and written communication skills.

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City Residency is not required for this position

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.