State of Maryland

A Computer Operator Supervisor is the supervisory level of work operating multipurpose, multi-tasking computers.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Computer Operators.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Computer Operator Manager I.  Employees in this classification may be required to work on evenings, weekends and holidays.  Work is normally performed in a computer room and involves exposure to moderate levels of noise and to a climate controlled environment necessary to keep the computer from overheating.  The work requires careful observance of safety procedures related to fire extinguishing systems for computers.  The work requires moving boxes of paper weighing up to forty pounds.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Computer Operator Supervisor is differentiated from the Computer Operator, Lead in that the Computer Operator Supervisor has full supervisory responsibility for lower-level Computer Operators while the Computer Operator, Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains Computer Operators.  The Computer Operator Supervisor is differentiated from the Computer Operator Manager I in that Computer Operator Manager I has supervisory responsibility for Computer Operator Supervisors.

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of lower-level Computer Operators and related support staff;

Maintains and updates job documentation procedures and operating policy and procedure manuals;

Instructs staff in operating policies and procedures;

Meets with other supervisory personnel to exchange information about shift activities to assure that computer operations are carried out efficiently and in accordance with user requests and operational policies and procedures;

Observes test runs of new programs and systems and recommends whether they should be placed on production status;

Determines the nature of problems encountered by lower-level Computer Operators and users such as terminal malfunctions, difficulty with on-line transactions, programming errors, poor print quality or malfunctioning hardware and follows operational policies and procedures to resolve if possible;

Keeps manual or automated logs of special requests, computer malfunctions and other unusual events that occur during a shift;

Notifies users, programming staff, technical support staff and vendors of problems;

Maintains an adequate stock of paper, forms and other supplies and keeps control counts of numbered forms, checks and other negotiable documents;

May supervise production control functions such as production scheduling, input and output control and tape library management;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of multipurpose, multi-tasking computers and peripheral equipment;

Knowledge of computer operating systems and the commands necessary to operate multipurpose, multi-tasking computers;

Knowledge of job streaming and multi-tasking concepts;

Skill in following directions in technical documents such as computer operating manuals, equipment manuals and job documentation;

Skill in following emergency, disaster recovery and security procedures related to computer operations;

Skill in interpreting computer messages to identify the cause of computer malfunctions;

Skill in adjusting production schedules and manipulating job streams to make the most efficient use of computer systems;

Skill in assigning, reviewing and approving the work of lower-level Computer Operators;

Skill in training subordinates in the principles and practices of computer operations work;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with and communicate technical information to users, vendors, programmers and technical support staff;

Ability to prepare statistical and narrative reports of computer downtime, shift activities and user concerns;

Ability to plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of lower-level Computer Operators.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Four years of experience operating multipurpose, multi-tasking computer systems.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience operating computer equipment for the purpose of data entry, word processing or maintaining information on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute fifteen credit hours in computer operation at an accredited college or university for one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Computer System Operations classifications or Computer System Operations specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.