County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, plans, configures, recommends, installs, troubleshoots and supports County PC local area network (LAN) connections to the wide area network (WAN), network systems and servers, including all internet and intranet connections, county-wide E-Mail, routers, switches, bridges, hubs and related operating systems. Provides expert consultation to departmental support staff and management on related hardware, LAN/WAN operating systems, network operating systems, system connectivity, and standard sever hardware and software; and performs related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Network Services Analyst I is the professional entry-level position within the Network Systems Analyst class series. Incumbents work under supervision to learn all aspects of the County networking systems and to design, troubleshoot and coordinate their assigned duties within the Network Services Division of the Information Technology Department (ITD). In addition, incumbents are expected to learn County standard hardware and software specifications, LAN/WAN administration and management, multiple operating systems, new and existing hardware and software and provide information and training to departments on a variety of WAN and LAN systems County-wide. Incumbents of the class of Network Services Analyst I are expected to promote to the next higher level class of Network Services Analyst II after one year of experience and demonstrated knowledge and the necessary competence.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Performs network engineering duties in the design, test and support of network architecture and strategy, network standards, logical network design, firewalls, servers, and network server capacity management.

2. Oversees and implements projects for Internet/Intranet/Extranet, installs and implements e-mail systems, troubleshoots data access problems for departments and oversees security functions.

3. Develops and introduces network standards and participates in network design.

4. Provides technical support and training in the planning and implementation of LAN/WAN/VPN’s, and distributed systems.

5. Identifies and implements opportunities to improve processing and maintenance efficiency; educates County Departments about network applications; represents ITD in technical support design groups; participates in and makes recommendations regarding new systems, vendor services and contracting.

6. Prepares large, complex, technical PC LAN/WAN/VPN configuration recommendations for County Departments, ensuring that all components operate successfully.

7. Acts as technical project lead for the installation of WAN connections, and the upgrade of hardware and software on existing networks.

8. Provides technical troubleshooting, problem isolation and assistance with problem resolution for the more complex problems with standard PC LAN/WAN/VPN hardware and software recommended by ITD.

9. Assists in evaluating new PC LAN/WAN/VPN hardware and software, and determining the standard product set to be recommended and support by ITD.

10. Acts as County Department’s liaison for an assigned group of County LAN’s, ensuring reliability, performance and customer satisfaction.

11. Confers with departments to determine hardware and networking requirements, develops a network plan for new and existing site and applications; initiates and participates in the project to completion.

12. Trains departmental LAN Administrators in basic and advanced LAN/WAN/VPN administration concepts, tools and techniques.

13. Analyzes user requests and makes recommendations regarding current and future needs, hardware and software needs and technological trends and ideas; implements new Frame Relay, SMDS, ISDN, and other networking technology.

14. Troubleshoots networking problems related to County-wide Backbone network, Multi-protocol Routers, servers, LAN’s, mainframe, and PC based connectivity; serves as primary contact for all needs and problems and also in specialized areas within the network.

15. Provides hardware and software technical assistance to co-workers and users; works with vendors; i.e., Cisco, Pac Bell, Cohesive, Inacom, CSI, Lucent, Vanstar, IBM, etc., to resolve problems and assure quality control.

16. Analyzes systems specifications and participates in the analysis and design of network enhancements or the evaluation of network software packages appropriate to meet user needs.

17. Evaluates, implements and maintains new network software applications;
implements new network applications purchased from third-party vendors; compiles, integrates, and analyzes information gathered from users to select or upgrade networks.

18. Establishes and maintains appropriate security levels for all hardware and
software on the system.

19. Evaluates and recommends appropriate disaster preparedness plans and procedures; evaluates needs regarding the back-up and off-site storage of data and software to ensure security and retrieval.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of two years of full-time experience in the class of Network Support Technician in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II

The equivalent of three years of full-time increasingly responsible experience in the field of LAN/WAN/VPN systems support administration and management or related Alameda County computer technology experience.

License/Certificate:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license is an ongoing requirement.

Special Requirements

The Network Services Division operates on a 24 hour-per-day, 7 day-per-week, 365 day-per-year basis. In order to provide these services, all Network Services Division employees may be required to work grave, swing and day shifts, as well as weekends and holidays as necessary.

The satisfactory completion of the Network Services Division Training Requirement may be required for placement at the Network Services Analyst II level.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Example of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

· Computer networking software for various hardware platforms.
· Current data communications techniques and technologies, such as PC’s, bridges, routers, switches, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI), T1, digital microwave, alternative data network design and specifications.
· WAN-Wide Area Networking, such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), SNA, SPX/IPX, and NETBIOS.
· LAN-Local Area Networking, such as token ring, Ethernet, switched Ethernet, 100 Base T, Internet, VLAN’s, VPN’s, and electronic mail.
· Principles, methods and techniques in the design and operation of networks.
· Principles and practices of computer systems analysis and design, including management and methods of ensuring efficient systems operation and maintenance.
· Functions, capacity, characteristics, and limitations of standard computers and related equipment.
· Project planning, prioritizing and scheduling techniques; systems troubleshooting principles and practices.
· Basic accounting, statistical, business and office procedures commonly found in administrative systems applications.
· Principles and practices of supervision.

Ability to:

· Design and install large bandwidth solutions in a reliable, manageable and standard vendor supported configuration at the lowest possible cost.
· Develop and write Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) and Requests for Quotations (RFQ’s).
· Communicate effectively with employees, information technology staff, user department management, and various vendors.
· Manage staff and multiple concurrent projects effectively.
· Plan and organize; make decisions.
· Analyze and problem solve.
· Be flexible and adaptable to continually changing demands or situations.
· Analyze and define user problems and requirements and develop efficient, cost-effective computer applications solutions.
· Conduct information systems and procedures’ analysis and feasibility studies.
· Analyze complex problems.
· Evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations.
· Plan and conduct effective user training courses.
· Prepare clear, concise and accurate program documentation, user procedures.
· Prepare reports of work performed, and other written materials using standard office and computer equipment.
· Troubleshoot hardware and software problems and make or recommend modifications.
· Make sound independent decisions within established guidelines.
· Communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing.
· Establish and maintain effective working relationships with computer system users, vendors, employees and others encountered in the course of work.
· Operate Personal Computer hardware and peripheral equipment and related operating systems and software used within the County Departments.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

Old document: JO:jc/1817h
6/98
1817h
New document: Jobspecs/1817-1818
ys/1/01