State of Maryland

An Information Technology (IT) Systems Technical Specialist is the full performance level of work planning, designing and developing improvements and new or advanced systems or applications across an entire area of specialization in application, communication, database, or operating systems software technology.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an IT Systems Technical Specialist Supervisor or other information technology administrator.

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 IT Systems Technical Specialist is differentiated from the IT Systems Technical Specialist Supervisor in that the IT Systems Technical Specialist performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the IT Systems Technical Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for IT Systems Technical Specialists.

Plans, designs and develops improvements and new or advanced systems or applications across an entire area of specialization in application, communication, database or operating systems software technology;

Performs in-depth analysis of various information technology alternatives to include consideration of technical matters, costs and compatibility with existing hardware or software, and prepares related narrative reports and technical documents;

Develops the structure, methodology and use for major elements of an information technology discipline for use across hardware and software such as data element dictionary, operating system customization user screen definition and use, program development tools and program generators;

Monitors the use of the particular information technology discipline in order to determine advances and changes necessary to achieve desired goals;

Provides expert technical advice and guidance to information technology staff such as IT Programmers, Systems Analysts, Operators, Technical Support Specialists, Network Specialists, Database Specialists, vendors and supervisory personnel and to departmental management regarding future directions, customization, software or hardware enhancements and software or hardware purchase recommendations in designated area of specialization;

Advises management in matters related to designated area of specialization to maintain efficient and effective information support functions by recommending solutions or alternatives to problems, new projects and changes in objectives in consideration of factors such as availability of resources, cost effectiveness and overall program policies and objectives;

Analyzes, designs and models broad projects and studies requiring critical resolution of difficult information technology issues in designated area of specialization;

Performs special assignments such as feasibility studies which involve long-range planning and an understanding and evaluation of diverse technical options in designated area of specialization to determine the course of current and future information technology solutions, methods and standards;

Keeps abreast of the state-of-the-art in the specific information technology discipline by reviewing technical journals, attending technical classes, conferences and user groups and maintaining regular communication with hardware and software vendors;

Performs other related duties.

Class Descriptions 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.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

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 from excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.