Washington State

Description

The Office of Secretary of State (OSOS) offers some of the most unique and diverse job opportunities in state government. Its critical responsibilities include: ensuring a fair and accurate elections process; connecting Washingtonians through the power of libraries; protecting our important government records; and registering corporations and charities. The Secretary of State also administers vital community programs that inspire giving, document our history, and assist crime survivors in avoiding further abuse. This independent office under the state Constitution operates from facilities in the Olympia area and statewide.

The OSOS is looking for top-performing employees who embody its core values of integrity, service excellence, visionary leadership, collaboration and teamwork. It is committed to both employee growth and work-life balance. The benefits of working in state government also include potential eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Visit our website at: www.sos.wa.gov.

The Division of Information Technology (IT) is a support arm of the entire organization--touching every program, every division, all staff members, and most stakeholders. IT is a division comprised of several teams that drive the OSOS IT operations. These teams include Applications Development, ServiceDesk Support, IT Project Management, System Administration and Architecture.

IT Application Development - Sr/Spec (Application Supervisor)

Permanent, Full-Time

This is position description is for an applications development / webmaster position that reports to the Application Development Manager within the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS). This position is responsible for the design, maintenance, and upgrade of Combined Fund Drive (CFD), and OSOS internal and External website office web-based applications, both internal and external including the design, modification, and management of multiple custom databases and their user interfaces, as well as the development of custom-built mobile applications. The incumbent ensures that all deployed code meets the WCAG 2.0 standards for accessibility and all web-based applications are secured using industry best practices for secure web development. These duties touch every division and mission of the Office. Further duties include the management, upgrade, and maintenance of the CFD application and other mission-critical programs and applications.

Note: This is a supervisory position. The incumbent for this role will be responsible for managing and overseeing a minimum of two employees.

This position is located in Tumwater, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a reasonable commuting distance from this duty location.

Duties

Implements Azure environments and serves as the technical lead for day-to-day operations, issues and outages related to the CFD (Combined Fund Drive)

Tasks include:

• Uses best practices and advanced Azure networking knowledge to ensure Azure virtual networks and endpoints are secure and accessed only by intended services and consumers.
• Uses advanced understanding of Azure PaaS offerings such as App Services, Blob Storage, Table Storage, Cosmos DB. Front Door, Azure SQL, etc and knows how to size, scale, and configure each PaaS solution for optimal access needs and cost savings.
• Implements and maintains Azure CI/CD pipelines ensuring confidence with deployments and feature rollouts.
• Diagnoses and troubleshoots internal and external Azure connectivity and system issues.
• Forward migrates applications to new PaaS offerings and/or Kubernetes to reduce operating expenses and improve overall system performance, stability, and operational requirements.

Implements professional level software architectural design patterns, practices, and processes that ultimately provide the foundation for efficient, scalable, and durable software applications for primarily the CFD and OSOS internal and external websites

Tasks include:

• Uses Microsoft Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and other appropriate integrated development environments to develop, unit test, analyze, debug, and optimize application and database code.
• Develops new and supports existing applications written in a variety of languages and implemented on various platforms.
• Uses advanced knowledge of design patterns such as but not limited to: dependency injection, repository-service, and redux to ensure application code can be tested and remains adaptable to future business needs and technological advances.
• Implements easy to consume and understand RESTful services following REST principles.
• Remains current and up to date on web technologies including but not limited to Angular 12 and reactive forms, typescript, CSS/CSS extensions, and ASP.NET.
• Writes, modifies, and tunes new and existing T-SQL stored procedures and queries ensuring applications perform optimally and creates/modifies tables to improve database queries.
• Applies advanced knowledge of the rxjs library to reduce code complexity, improve code supportability and improve application performance by solving trivial to very complex problems with a declarative approach.
• Ensures all new and current applications under this positions scope comply with WCAG 2.1 or later and meet or exceed all state and federal accessibility laws.
• Designs all user interface with a mobile first responsive approach.
• Ensures all web static content can be cached and served from a CDN to reduce bandwidth constraints and boost user experience and productivity.
• Uses advanced knowledge of the OSI model’s Layer 7 and how to optimize, route and load balance network traffic based off its contents.
• Employs industry standard application development tools to develop, code, test and implement changes related to the legacy Corporations/Charities applications, Agency Revenue System, and Payment Services or the enhancement of these mission critical business systems
• Provides consultation to management and stakeholders by translating complex technical issues in a non-­ technical and understandable manner and provides quick and effective remedial solution options.
• Supports small- and large-scale applications such as websites, windows services, web services, databases, and reports
• Reviews and approves code ensuring it follows industry best practices, uses appropriate coding conventions and styles, and adheres to OWASP secure coding practices.
• Identifies repetitive simple & complex processes and implements ways to automate them.

Applications Management

Tasks include:

• Leads emergency issues and/or outages for the web team by identifying and managing them to resolution and ensuring stake holders are kept up to date with latest developments.
• Creates/maintains/tests disaster recovery plans for all applications supported by this position including but not limited to: CFD & Internal and external OSOS websites
• Ensures all supported applications meet or exceed applicable OCIO policies.
• Configures and maintains databases to ensure the consistent performance of agency applications

Collaborates with the communications team on web content

Tasks Include:

• Ensures that website information is current and written using industry standard web development tools and procedures and meets the business needs of the office
• Works closely with the office communications team to ensure that all office web pages have consistent “look and feel”
• Formats content and graphics to function in multiple web browsers and mobile devices.

Miscellaneous

Tasks include:

• Manages web development quality assurance (QA) and development environments.
• Processes complex web tasks from that cannot be resolved by lower-level staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Eight years of information technology experience in applications development, including experience in designing, developing, and maintaining applications using industry standard tools and development languages, developing, designing, and maintaining databases using MS SQL or related relational database tools and software.
  • (At least four years' experience must be independently working on a complex or multi-functional computing system that impacts organization-wide; particularly in the development of large-scale applications. Including independent problem solving and complex issue resolution.)
• One year supervisory experience performing: interviewing, hiring, training, assigning, and/or directing work and evaluating staff.
• Ability to read and write the English language.
• Ability to efficiently use a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experiencing developing in the following languages
  • Experience in graphic design or web design
  • Typescript
  • Angular (often called Angular 2+)
  • Visual Basic (VB.Net)
  • Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP)
  • Java Server Pages JSP
• One year experience working with Microsoft Azure administration.
• Experience managing and maintaining Content Management (CM) systems (i.e. WordPress, Drupal)
• Experience communicating with non-technical staff regarding technical issues

PLEASE READ: If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again. Studies have shown that members of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, specifically women and people of color, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they clearly meet every single qualification.

At the Office of the Secretary of State, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic work force with a foundation of belonging. If you are excited about this role and have relevant experience and skills, but question whether your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply regardless. You may just be the ideal candidate this office needs.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

The role necessitates an individual who can function effectively both independently and as part of a team. It demands the ability to excel under pressure in order to meet stringent deadlines. The candidate must demonstrate adaptability within the rapidly evolving realm of web development, particularly with regards to website security. Thoroughness and precision in task execution are paramount, as is the capability to manage multiple tasks concurrently. Proficiency in interpersonal and communication skills, directed towards both internal and external stakeholders, is a fundamental requirement. The standard work hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm. However, there is an expectation of availability beyond these hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, particularly during unforeseen emergencies. The role includes the physical ability to handle objects weighing up to 50 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation. Additionally, readiness to travel to different office locations within the state on short notice is essential. The work environment is predominantly office-based, involving prolonged periods of sitting and extensive utilization of the keyboard. This position is eligible for flexible schedule options, but we require fulltime in-person during the probationary/trial service period. Once probationary/trial service period is complete this position may telework, but only fifty percent of the time. Schedules are based on position needs and are subject to change.

Special Requirements

• This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, The Office of the Secretary of State, and the WFSE
• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Must have current Washington state driver's license or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.

How to Apply:

• To be considered for this position you must attach the following:
  • Letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the duties and qualifications of the position.
  • Current Resume
  • Three Professional references. Personal references will not be considered.
• You must complete the supplemental questions at the end of this application. Incomplete responses such as "see resume" will not be considered.
• All veterans must include a copy of your DD214 to receive preference in the hiring process. You must redact your social security number before attaching it to your application.

The Office of the Secretary of State is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We do not

discriminate on the basis of religion, age, sex, marital status, color, creed, national origin, political affiliation, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any real or perceived sensory, mental or physical ability. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing the announcement in alternative format, should call (360) 999-9483.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, are entitled to three (3) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 12-31-2022

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