State of Maryland

SKILLED SERVICE         BARGAINING UNIT: G   

A Department of Information Technology (DoIT) Network Administrator Lead/Advanced is the lead or advanced level of work planning, integrating and maintaining software or hardware for local area (both wired and wireless) or wide area computer networks to include operating systems software and network communications software. Employees in this classification either assign, review, approve the work and train lower-level DoIT Network Administrators, or serve as project leads or technical experts, performing duties of an exceptional nature requiring fully developed expertise in one or more areas of work planning, integrating and maintaining software or hardware for local area (both wired and wireless) or wide area computer networks including operating systems software and network communications software within the Department of Information Technology and other State Agencies.  Employees in this classification have extensive interaction with other network professionals and customers in doing needs assessments, system design, and system deployment. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Technology Platform Manager or a higher-level information technology administrator.  Employees perform work which is in support of IT systems which are complex in nature.  The work is performed in normal office settings and at users' work sites. When at user sites, the work may involve running cables through ceilings and floors resulting in exposure to moderate amounts of dust, dirt and insulation.  When performing these duties, employees in this classification should wear specialized safety equipment including hard hats, goggles and masks.  When at users' sites, the work may involve exposure to electrical wires and outlets, and safety procedures must be strictly followed.  The work may require moving computers, printers and other IT related equipment weighing up to 80 pounds.  Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays and may be subject to call-in.

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 Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification. 

The DoIT Network Administrator II and DoIT Network Administrator Lead/Advanced are differentiated in that the DoIT Network Administrator Lead/Advanced leads lower level DoIT Network Administrators, or services as project lead or technical expert and has Statewide technical and authoritative knowledge in network systems. 

When Functioning at the Lead level:

Assigns, reviews, and approves the work of lower-level DoIT Network Administrators;

Trains lower-level DoIT Network Administrators.

When Functioning at the Advanced Level:

Serves as project lead in designing, installing, configuring and troubleshooting network software or hardware for local area (both wired and wireless) or wide area computer networks within the Department of Information Technology and other State Agencies.  

Performs as a technical expert in designing, installing, configuring and troubleshooting network software or hardware for local area (both wired and wireless) or wide area computer networks within the Department of Information Technology and other State Agencies. 

When Functioning at Both Levels:

Consults with users to discuss local or wide area computer network software and hardware needs, to assess existing software and hardware and to survey the sites where networks will be located;

Designs the structure of local area (both wired and wireless) or wide area computer networks and prepares plans, reports and diagrams documenting the type and location of software and hardware;

Installs operating system software and network communications software for network infrastructure;

Configures network software and hardware to provide for efficient and effective network performance and data security;

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

Monitors the performance of the network software and hardware through network management and diagnostic programs and utilities, adjusts the network for maximum efficiency, maintains and analyzes records of network activity, and recommends and implements network software and hardware upgrades;

Diagnoses network software and hardware problems and makes repairs and adjustments or obtains service from software and hardware vendors and maintenance vendors;

Performs problem diagnosis utilizing common network tools (e.g. ping, traceroute, nslookup);

Responds to assigned Service Impacting Events, Incidents, Problems, and Requests consistent with established service level agreements and in support of the service lifecycle;

Runs backups of network data, archives data as required and develops and maintains disaster recovery plans;

Enters users and their network privileges onto the network and provides ongoing user support;

Installs network hardware at subscriber locations;

Reviews technical manuals and other technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to learn various network systems used by the agency and to keep abreast of the latest developments in computer network technology;

May install and maintain communications links to computer networks;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of local or wide area computer network protocols and network security methodologies;

Knowledge of communications methods, principles, and concepts that support network infrastructure;

Knowledge of network systems software, network communications software and applications software;

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of local or wide area computer network hardware, such as routers, switches, hubs, bridges, access points, wireless controllers, and network interfaces;

Knowledge of the principles and practices of data communications and IP networks including bandwidth management;

Knowledge of services delivered over wide and local area networks including Wi-Fi, Voice Over IP, and VPRN (Virtual Private Routed Networks);

Skill in planning, integrating and maintaining local or wide area computer network software and hardware;

Skill in configuring local or wide area computer network software and hardware for efficient and effective network performance;

Skill in adjusting local or wide area computer network components and in diagnosing and correcting network software and hardware problems;

Ability to communicate and establish and maintain effective working relationships with network users, vendor representatives and customer engineers.

Experience: Six years of experience, four years of experience planning, integrating and maintaining software and hardware for local or wide area computer networks supporting 1,000 or more users and an additional two years of experience planning, installing and maintaining data communications network lines and devices.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute completion of high school or a high school equivalency certificate and completion of a certification program in Network Administration, such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Juniper Networks Certification Program (JNCP) or equivalent certification program for the additional two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute experience on a year-for-year basis: in planning, installing and maintaining data communications network lines and devices for graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree in computer information technology, management information systems, or other information technology related field, to include course work in local or wide area computer networks, from an accredited college or university and four years of experience planning, integrating and maintaining software and hardware for local or wide area computer networks supporting 1,000 or more users for the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience in Network Analyst classifications or Network Integration and Management specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience. Candidates substituting military experience should be honorably discharged.

Employees in this classification may be subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, may be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where the employee can be reached. Employees may be furnished with a pager or cell phone.

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.

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.

July 1, 2021