County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Deputy Director, Network Services, assists in the determination and implementation of County PC network standards and determines strategic network architecture in the planning, design, configuration and installation of County PC local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), network systems and servers, including internet/intranet connections, County-wide electronic mail and related operating systems. Provides expert consultation to departmental management and staff on related hardware, LAN/WAN operating systems, network operating systems, system connectivity and standard PC application software.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This classification is located only in the Network Services Group of the Information Technology Department. Senior Network Services Analyst is the advanced journey-level class in the Network Services Analyst series and is responsible for performing the most complex activities related to the planning, development, design, maintenance and proper operation of data access and communication systems, including setting standards and communicating those standards to staff, vendors and agency personnel. Senior Network Services Analyst is distinguished from the next lower class of Network Services Analyst II by the former classification’s responsibility for determining strategic network architecture, management of vendor-assisted projects that require involvement of network-certified vendor staff, and the performance of lead responsibilities with respect to lower level Network Services Analysts and Network Services Technicians.

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 complex network and systems’ engineering duties in the design, test and support of firewall routers, network architecture and strategy, logical network design and network server capacity management.

2. Assists in the long-range strategic planning of LAN and WAN systems for the County. Participates in the development of policies and procedures; recommends programs, projects and work assignments to network services personnel.

3. Ensures network reliability, availability and security by selecting, implementing and establishing procedures for the use of proactive network, systems and applications’ management software.

4. Oversees and implements projects for Internet Access, installs and implements e-mail systems, problem solves data accessing for departments and oversees security functions.

5. Designs, plans and implements environmental standards; communicates standards to lower level staff, vendors and other agency personnel to ensure compliance.

6. Oversees the design, establishment and maintenance of appropriate security levels for all hardware and software on the system.

7. Researches, evaluates and makes recommendations on new software and hardware technologies such as access, security, protocol analysis tools, and network management software.

8. 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.

9. Oversees vendor activities and serves as the vendor liaison on assigned projects of a complex nature and requiring the involvement of network certified vendor staff.

10. Acts as technical project lead for the installation of the most complex LAN’s and WAN’s and the upgrade of hardware and software on existing networks.

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

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

13. Trains departmental LAN Administrators in basic and advanced LAN administration concepts, tools and techniques.

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

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

16. 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 Services Analyst II in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II

The equivalent of five years of increasingly responsible, full-time experience in network systems analysis, administration and management.

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.

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 in the “Examples 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, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI/FIBER), T1, digital microwave.
• Alternative building design and specifications.
• WAN-Wide Area Networking, such as System Network Architecture (SNA) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
• Directory services.
• Enterprise fault tolerance management and strategies.
• LAN-Local Area Networking, such as access and security technologies, firewall technology, token ring and Ethernet, Internet and electronic mail.
• Principles, methods and techniques in the design and operation of management information systems for NT Servers.
• Principles and practices of computer systems analysis and design, including database design and 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.

Ability to:

• Develop long-range systems and network strategies.
• Develop and communicate operating standards.
• 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, orally and in writing, with employees, data processing staff, user department management, and various vendors.
• Manage staff and multiple concurrent projects effectively.
• 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, and user procedures.
• Use standard office and computer equipment to prepare reports of work performed and other written materials.
• Build effective work teams.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software problems and make or recommend modifications.
• Make sound independent decisions within established guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with computer system users, vendors, employees and others encountered in the course of work.
• Operate a variety of computer hardware and peripheral equipment and related operating systems and software used within the County Departments.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

Old document: 1824h
JO:sw
3/22; 3/24/99; 4/7/99; 5/20/99; 5/21/99
New document: Jobspecs/1824
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