What are the responsibilities and job description for the Information Systems Specialist III position at City of Oakland, CA?
The Position
The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Why Join the City of Oakland’s Information Technology Department?
Join the dynamic team at the City of Oakland Information Technology Department (ITD)! Dive into an exhilarating, fast-paced setting where innovation drives digital transformation across the city. We foster a supportive, vibrant, and dedicated atmosphere, empowering you to contribute meaningfully to the community we serve!
The Information Technology Department (ITD) has multiple roles open in its Information Security and Systems Administration teams!
We are looking for individuals who have:
- Deep experience with Microsoft 365, including Defender, Azure, Entra ID, Office 365, CoPilot, Purview, and more.
- Experience with CrowdStrike Endpoint Protection & Remediation (and/or similar EDR tools).
- Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP800-53, etc.
- Customer-service orientation: You will be responsible for generating technical solutions with the best interests of City departments and stakeholders in mind.
- Adaptive problem-solving skills: You will need to develop creative and innovative solutions to challenging problems.
- Strong ethics: You will handle sensitive and confidential information, including passwords for high-level staff. Protecting privacy and data is paramount to this role.
- Strong communication skills: You will need to convey technical information to stakeholders in a clear, easily understandable manner.
What you will typically be responsible for:
- Responding to and analyzing cybersecurity and/or systems administration incidents and requests
- Implementing new projects and initiatives in security and infrastructure
- Using security and systems tools to perform analyses and remediation
- Managing disaster recovery tools and procedures to ensure systems are protected
- Identifying trends and threats to stay ahead of the curve
- Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
A few reasons you might love this job:
- You will be working in a fast-paced learning environment.
- You will be utilizing your technological skillset to fulfill various requirements.
- You will have the ability to cultivate a strong work-life balance.
A few challenges you might face in this job:
- You will need to balance your available capacity with fluctuating demand.
- You will need to manage your volume of work and be responsible for navigating competing priorities with challenging timelines.
- You will be responsible for providing effective responses and resolutions.
Competencies Required:
- Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
- Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
- Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
- Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
- Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
- Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
- Delegating: Sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability
- Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing things
- Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
- Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
- Professional Impact: Presenting oneself as a positive representative of the organization
- Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
- Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
- Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
- Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
Working for the City of Oakland
Minimum Requirements for Application
This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.
Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:
Education and Experience:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Information Management, or a related field, and three (3) years of hands-on professional experience in systems administration. Experience providing lead direction or supervision is highly desirable. Systems Administration experience in an enterprise environment is also highly desirable.
OR
Five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience in performing analysis, installation, and support of computer system hardware/software, mobile devices, and networks. Experience providing lead direction or supervision is highly desirable. Systems Administration experience in an enterprise environment is also highly desirable.
License or Certificate / Other Requirements:
Possession of a valid California Driver's License. Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.
Desirable Qualifications:
Relevant cybersecurity and IT systems certifications
Experience providing lead direction or supervision
Systems Administration experience in an enterprise environment
Supplemental Information
The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.
Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.
Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.
In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to take an online multiple-choice test (weighted 100%). This online multiple-choice test will be administered remotely during the week of July 13, 2026. All qualified applicants will receive notification of the exact test date and time approximately 5 business days before the test administration.
Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations for the examination process must request accommodations no later than one week before they are scheduled to take the exam; otherwise, it may not be possible to arrange accommodations for the selection process. Please complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Testing form by copying and pasting the link into your browser to open it:https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Request-for-Reasonable-Accommodation-in-Testing-2.9.22-Fillable.pdf Send the completed form and any supporting documentation to the exam analyst: Alanna Butler at abutler@oaklandca.gov.
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
What’s in it for you?
- Work/Life Balance: 37.5-hour work weeks
- 15 paid holidays
- Vacation – 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
- Retirement – CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
- Health – The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
- Dental – The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- Vision – The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- Sick leave – Employees accrue 12 days per year
- Deferred Compensation – 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
- Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & possible Telecommuting.
- Benefits described here do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Alanna Butler at abutler@oaklandca.gov.
- CalPERS Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Medical Waiver Plan – Cash-In-Lieu
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Benefits
- Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
- Pension Benefits
- Deferred Compensation
- Specific benefits may vary depending on the assigned specific bargaining unit.