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Senior Programmer Analyst Job Description Template

Senior programmer analysts wear two hats in a way, as their jobs combine the functions of a systems analyst and a computer programmer. Like systems analysts, programmer analysts create software programs and computer systems, and like computer programmers, they write computer programs and perform maintenance on the programs. These programmer analysts work in a wide range of industries such as academia, health care and software. Regardless of industry type, one thing always remains true; you must have a compelling job description to recruit qualified candidates. A compelling description is one that is accurate, engaging and insightful. It discusses job responsibilities in a concise manner and explains what is unique about the company and why someone would want to work there. To help you get an idea of what you could write, we have provided a senior programmer analyst job description sample below.

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Senior Programmer Analyst Job Summary

You will work full time for a top-10 university with minimal supervision to carry out responsibilities related to the analyses, programming and support of packaged applications software. Your main focuses will be design/creation, development, maintenance, testing, debugging, upgrading and support. You work with system users to pinpoint and develop systems or software features that improve the user experience.

Senior Programmer Analyst Job Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Supervise, coach and train analysts and programmers
  • Assess system capabilities and undertake feasibility studies that include financial considerations and time lines
  • Create workflow diagrams, explore alternative solutions, write programs
  • Comply with university standards for production, quality and productivity
  • Train system users, serve as an information resource, develop resource materials, provide ongoing support
  • Write documentation for system references
  • Stay on top of new technology trends, join organizations, attend seminars, conferences and ongoing opportunities for education

Senior Programmer Analyst Skills and Qualifications

  • Four years’ experience in business applications programming
  • Two years’ experience in SQL or PL/SQL
  • Two years’ experience in systems analysis
  • Four years’ experience with complex relational database structures
  • Exceptional written communications, technical writing skills
  • Excellent organizational and time-management skills
  • Friendly and collaborative interpersonal skills
  • BS or MIS in computer science or business administration preferred
  • Two years’ experience in Ellucian Banner ERP system preferred
  • One year of experience with Oracle database preferred

Company Profile

John F. Doe University was founded in 1959 and calls beautiful Ellensburg, Washington, home. The university often lands in lists for top-10 research universities, thanks to a commitment to excellent and diverse faculty and staff. We are always looking for folks who are dedicated to quality teaching and research, with large doses of creativity and a whole-body focus on well-being. We value giving back to the community, which is why we emphasize volunteer service for both our students and faculty/staff.

Here’s what our faculty and staff have to say about Ellensburg:

• It offers small-town charm with lots of big-city amenities.
• Everyone on campus is like a family. When you come here, you’re home.
• Seattle is only an hour and half away (and Yakima 30 minutes off)!
• Opportunities for outdoor recreation are staggering.

As a senior programmer analyst at this school, you’ll be surrounded by one of the best-landscaped campuses in the U.S., a historic downtown and an extremely walkable city.

Could you be John F. Doe University’s next awesome senior programmer analyst? Click on this link today to start applying.

Writing a Job Description Best Practices

  • The senior programmer analyst job description sample above is a great starting point as you begin to gather ideas and tools for your job description. Of course, you must tailor your description to the unique needs of your company or organization. Check your description drafts against the following list of dos and don’ts.

    • Do polish the job description title so it is as engaging as possible. For instance, you could include the job location, perhaps something like “Senior Programmer Analyst – Ellensburg WA.” However, keep the title to no more than five words.
    • Don’t forget the call to action. Tell folks how they can apply, and include any deadlines.
    • Do hook qualified applicants with information on what makes your company stand out. Include any perks of the job, and remember that the description should convey why someone would want to work for your organization.
    • Do differentiate between required skills and those that are preferred. For a senior programmer analyst, preferred skills (but not required) often include breadth and depth of experience as well as degree type and degree level (a BS or a MIS, for example).
    • Don’t forget to include soft skills such as organizational and communications skills.

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Senior Programmer Analyst Job Responsibilities

When written well, the job responsibilities section of a senior programmer analyst job description can help the hiring process by discouraging unqualified jobseekers and encouraging candidates who will do well in the position. Your ideal candidate will have the necessary skills and also be happy in his or her new job; this means you want to give potential new hires a clear and concise picture of what the senior programmer analyst job responsibilities will be.

Job responsibilities can differ for this type of position, so it’s best to tailor this section to your company’s needs. If it includes supervision of junior programmer analysts or team lead responsibilities, be sure to specify that. You’ll also want to let potential hires know which programming language or languages your company typically uses. You may want to use the following examples to help write your own senior programmer analyst job description.

  • Develop and implement data collection and analysis protocols that will help identify bugs, difficult-to-use aspects in the user interface and future needs for new applications or functions
  • Help train entry-level members of the team, including writing training materials and SOPs as needed
  • Collaborate with other team members, discuss software needs with various department heads and keep upper management informed of current projects
  • Debug current programs when problems are found
  • Monitor system usage and suggest improvements or upgrades as needed
  • Write regular reports documenting current department activities and measurable results of department-implemented updates and programs
Senior Programmer Analyst Job Specifications

A senior programmer analyst job description will typically include lists of required and preferred skills and experience. This is a great opportunity to narrow the field of candidates. For example, would you prefer to attract candidates familiar with a variety of coding languages, or ones with deep knowledge of the specific 1-3 languages used within your company? Do you need someone with customer service skills, or will sales representatives be relaying customer needs to the development team? Will the position involve developing and testing new software, or will it consist mostly of maintaining current programs and developing new functionality within those programs?

Make sure you have a clear understanding of departmental needs before writing your senior programmer analyst job specifications. If you’re not the team manager, this may mean conferring and collaborating with whoever will be directly supervising the new hire. Here are some examples to help you get started composing your own senior programmer analyst job description:

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in software engineering or development
  • Preferred 1-2 years’ experience in project management
  • Expertise in SQL, Oracle, C++, JAVA and Tuxedo required
  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
  • Experience following software through its full life cycle, including data collection and analysis to identify software needs, project proposals, development, testing, release and maintenance of programs

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Writing Your Senior Programmer Analyst Job Description: Dos and Don’ts

It’s important for you and for others to proofread your job description. First impressions count, and typos and misspellings make your company come across as less than stellar. Before you proofread and post, though, glance over your description for several dos and don’ts.

• Do include salary information if human resources policy allows it. This information is a viable way to attract the candidates who want to work for you, and there are no bad surprises later if a salary seems too low for a candidate or if a candidate proposes a too-high salary for the business.
• Don’t neglect talking about the job location. Talk about the city and even the neighborhood. Use landmarks to make the job come to life even more; for example, you could write, “The Roanoke River Greenway is only a five minutes’ walk away—perfect for work breaks and lunch breaks.”
• Do be precise about the job type. Discuss the industry the company is in, any travel requirements and any unusual aspects of the position.
• Don’t skimp on submission guidelines. Outline which application materials are required, how interested folks should apply and by when. It may be useful for you to add a contact name and email address for people who have questions.