INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST II

Job Description and Duties

Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable Californians? The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) strengthens and preserves families, encourages personal responsibility, and fosters independencies for children and adults through its programs to enable and elevate communities in California.

The California Department of Social Services’ (CDSS) Information Security & Privacy Officer (ISPO) has an amazing opportunity for an Information Technology Specialist II (ITSII) to join a dynamic team and make a difference in the lives of many Californians. Under the general direction of IT Manager II, the ITSII functions as a lead in the Information Security & Privacy Office. Individual contributor on the most complex IT projects, systems designs, and cybersecurity challenges facing CDSS. The incumbent develops technical documentation, prepares reports, organizes and assists with response and investigation of information security and privacy incidents. Support of the mission of the department through continuous improvement of the department’s information security program.

The primary duties of the ITSII are within the Information Security Engineering Domain. The following includes the essential duties and/or responsibilities of the Sr. Cybersecurity Operations Specialist:

1. Administer and optimize SIEM and intrusion detection/prevention systems for comprehensive security event monitoring.
2. Continuously monitor and analyze security event data to detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats.
3. Coordinate and execute the full incident response lifecycle, including containment and post-incident analysis, following CDSS protocols.
4. Gather and evaluate threat intelligence from multiple sources to improve detection and defensive strategies.
5. Perform technical root cause analysis of incidents and provide actionable recommendations to mitigate vulnerabilities.
6. Collaborate with internal teams, external partners, and the CDT Security Operations Center to coordinate incident response and maintain effective operations.
7. Regularly enhance monitoring rules, alert configurations, and operational procedures in response to evolving threats.
8. Conduct proactive threat hunting, anomaly detection, and forensic log analysis across all IT environments.
9. Maintain thorough documentation, including incident records and response playbooks, to support standardized practices and training.
10. Provide Tier 2 technical support and advanced guidance for complex security issues and escalated events.
11. Mentor and advise peers and junior analysts in threat identification, incident handling, and operational processes.
12. Deliver clear, actionable reports and trend dashboards on security events and incidents to leadership.
13. Evaluate, test, and integrate new detection tools and automation technologies to improve operational efficiency.
14. Represent Cybersecurity Operations in department meetings and cross-functional committees to advise on operational security needs.
15. Stay current on cyber threat trends and best practices to ensure effective security operations and continuous improvement.
16. Mentor and coach others in information security risk management, cybersecurity frameworks, control standards, secure coding principles, and security technologies.
    

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.

Please Note: A Statement of Qualifications or Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted along with your application to be considered for this position.

Do not include any confidential information in any documents (i.e., application, resume, or transcripts) you submit for this job vacancy. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents include but is not limited to: Social Security Number (SSN), birthday and/or age, photos , student/other ID number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, exam results, LEAP status, and marital status. Confidential information submitted via a CalCareer Account (electronic application) is automatically redacted upon submission.

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is a narrative discussion of how your education, training, and experience meet the essential functions as noted in the position duty statement and how they qualify you for the position.

The SOQ's are read and serves as a documentation of your ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

When responding to the Supplemental Application questions, please follow these guidelines:

A. Your responses must be typewritten or generated by a computer on 8 ½” x 11” paper.

B. Identify each page with your full name.

C. Make sure your responses are complete, specific, and concise.

D. Please limit your responses to two pages.

You are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD 678). You may be disqualified from the hiring and selection process if the employment history is inaccurate or incomplete. Resumes will not take the place of employment history.

If you are meeting minimum qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts for verification. If selected, you may be required to provide official transcripts at the time of hire.

Training and Development assignments may be considered based on the availability of eligible candidates and are subject to approval by the Hiring Authority prior to the appointment. Training and Development assignments are temporary in nature and shall not exceed twenty-four (24) months.

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview, but they must provide proof of residence in California prior to being eligible for appointment.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 8/18/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Social Services

N/A

Attn: Classification & Certification Unit

P.O.Box 944243, MS 8-15-58

Sacramento , CA 94244-2430

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Social Services

California Department of Social Services

Classification & Pay Unit

744 P Street, MS 8-15-58

Sacramento , CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications - SOQ IS REQUIRED (SOQ) Please see the Special Requirements section of this job advertisement for detailed instructions for the SOQ submission.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

There are many benefits to joining our team! The State of California has a generous benefits package that includes medical coverage, CalPERS pension upon retirement, two weeks paid vacation per year, two weeks paid sick leave per year, two paid Professional Development Days, one paid Personal Holiday, pre-tax parking fee program.

TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT

• Public transit (mass transit) passes.
  • 100 percent discount on public transit passes sold by state agencies, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
  • 100 percent reimbursement on public transit passes purchased by state employees, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS.
• Vanpool drivers and riders
  • 100 percent reimbursement on the monthly fee, up to the monthly exclusion amount provided by the IRS.

Benefit information can be found on the website and the website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Gregory Nelson
(916) 651-5558
[email protected]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(916) 657-2326
[email protected]

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.

Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025

Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025 - Salaries do not reflect reductions from the Personal Leave Program, please see the applicable for additional information on the length and percentage of reductions.