State of Maryland

SKILLED SERVICE         BARGAINING UNIT: G               NCP

A Department of Information Technology (DoIT) End User Support Specialist I is the intermediate level of work performing client-side assistance for personal computers (PC’s) and software. Employees in this class do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a DoIT End User Support Specialist Supervisor, an information technology administrator, or other administrator.

The work is performed in normal office settings and at users' work sites in offices. These user sites are spread across multiple locations. When at users' sites, crawling under user desks may be required resulting in exposure to moderate amounts of dust, dirt and insulation.  The work may involve exposure to electrical wires and outlets, and safety procedures must be strictly followed. When performing these duties, employees in this class wear specialized safety equipment including hard hats, goggles and masks.  The work may require moving computers and printers weighing up to 80 pounds.

Positions in this classification are evaluated 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 DoIT End User Support Specialist I and DoIT End User Support Specialist II, are differentiated on the basis of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The DoIT End User Support Specialist I performs a limited range of duties under moderate supervision and the DoIT End User Support Specialist II performs the full range of duties under general supervision.

Responds to inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems;

Sets up equipment for employees use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software;

Refers major hardware or software problems or defective products to vendors or technicians for service;

Enters commands and observes system functioning to verify correct operations and detect errors;

Maintains records of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial actions taken, or installation activities;

Reviews user needs and requests for automation, evaluates personal computer hardware and software to provide solutions to user needs and recommends acquisition of appropriate personal computer hardware, software and services;

Plans, coordinates and conducts formal and informal training programs for personal computer users;

Provides client-side computer and software resources and assistance for supported end users, who may be located at remote sites;

Provides technical guidance and assistance for end users during problem diagnosis and resolution;

Coordinates configurations, installations, and general troubleshooting of PC hardware and software;

Installs operating system software and network communications software for computer networks;

Responds to situations where standard procedures have failed in isolating or fixing problem equipment or software installations, relocations, and configuration changes;

Diagnoses and repairs PCs, printers, scanners or other networked devices;

Troubleshoots mobile device issues;

Performs basic network troubleshooting;

Installs applications software;

Prepares and assembles technical documentation and user documentation for computer software and hardware;

Reviews technical manuals and other technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to keep abreast of the latest developments in information technology;

May install and maintain software to link to mainframe computers;

May direct support staff responsible for user support, hardware installation, data entry and other support functions;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of PC hardware and operating systems software;

Knowledge of the structure of local or wide area computer networks;

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of local or wide area computer network hardware, such as cables and other transmission media, connectors, communications devices, multi-station access units, file servers, printers, disk drives, network cards, and emulators;

Knowledge of client-server architecture;

Knowledge of basic Active Directory functions and architecture;

Knowledge of mobile devices for basic troubleshooting;

Knowledge of networks for basic troubleshooting (name resolution, IP, ping, tracert);

Skill in using remote desktop applications to troubleshoot and resolve issues;

Skill in diagnosing product inter-operability issues, typically between different vendor’s products;

Skill in reviewing and interpreting event logs;

Skill in deployment of standardized images on PCs;

Skill in detecting and remediating malware and adware;

Ability to recognize and resolve conflicting product requirements on PCs;

Ability to communicate effectively and to establish working relationships with users, vendors, installers, consultants, network specialists, computer operators, vendor representatives, and customer engineers.

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

Experience:  One year of experience providing client-side computer hardware and software assistance to supported end users.  This includes providing technical guidance to users and diagnosing and resolving issues, coordinating configurations and installations, installing system software and hardware and general troubleshooting of PC hardware and software.

Notes:

1. A Vocational Certificate, a Microsoft Certified Product Specialist certification, or an equivalent certification and one additional year of experience providing client-side computer hardware and software assistance for supported end users may be substituted for the required education. 

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Computer User classifications Management specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

1. Applicants for this classification may handle sensitive data. This will require a full scope background investigation prior to appointment.  A criminal conviction may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.

2. Employees may occasionally be required to travel to field locations and must have access to an automobile in the event a state vehicle cannot be provided. Standard mileage allowance will be paid for use of a privately owned vehicle.

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 assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes. As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

July 1, 2021

Director, Division of Classification and Salary