State of Maryland

A Computer Operator Trainee is the entry level of work operating multipurpose, multi-tasking computer systems.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.   Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Computer Operator Supervisor.

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 Trainee, Computer Operator I and Computer Operator II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Computer Operator Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Computer Operator I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Computer Operator II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to power the computer system up or down by following operating procedures and entering commands on the control console;

Learns to read production schedules, job request forms and job documentation to determine what jobs to run, what procedures to follow and what input data to obtain;

Learns to adjust the production schedule and manipulate job streams to make the most efficient use of the computer and peripheral equipment and allow for the processing of special and emergency jobs;

Learns to enter commands on the control console to open and close files as required to process specific jobs and to activate batch, backup and test jobs;

Learns to load paper and forms in printers, activate printers in response to computer messages and remove printouts from printers;

Learns to hang and load tapes and activate tape drives and disk drives in response to computer messages;

Learns to monitor the processing of jobs by observing the control console and correcting processing errors according to operating policies, procedures and job documentation;

Learns to verify that complete and correct output has been produced for each job and maintain control counts of numbered forms, checks and other negotiable documents;

Learns to enter commands on the control console to bring up and take down on-line systems;

Learns to observe the control console and respond to on-line system messages to keep the system up;

Learns to respond to calls from on-line system users regarding system problems and follow procedures in systems and device manuals to restore system access;

Learns to monitor on-line systems by entering simulated data, determining if valid responses are received and maintaining a record of response times;

Learns to notify programmers, technical support staff and users of program and system problems;

Learns to maintain records of computer and system downtime;

Learns to clean, adjust and make minor repairs to computer equipment;

May learn to place service calls to vendors to explain the nature of equipment and line malfunctions;

May learn to perform production control duties such as scheduling, input and output control and tape library management;

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

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

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.