Item 4.A-August 9, 2013
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart electronically to
marshag@unr.edu for discussion and for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR Faculty HR at 682-6114
INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/hr/compensation-and-evaluation for complete instructions.
Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable): Vidya Nalajala
Position #(s): CL 41655
Current Title: Development Technician IV (JCC:06.966)
Current Range: GR36/8
Department: Physics Department –
College/Division: College of Science
Nevada Terawatt Facilities (NTF)
Account #(s): 1320-114-26BI; -26EM; -26EN
Action Proposed: (check all that apply) Classified to Administrative Faculty Conversion
(X) New position: Proposed Range: 2
Proposed Title: Coordinator, Electrical Engineering (NTF)
( ) Title Change, Proposed Title:
( ) Proposed Reassignment from Range
to Range
( ) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
JCC (Current
( ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
or new HR
Range:
assigned):
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
____________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature
__________________
Date
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
____________________________________________________________
Aaron Covington, Research Asst Prof/ Director, NTF (Interim)
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature
__________________
Date
___________________________/_________________________________
David Bennum, Chair, Physics / Jeffrey Thompson, Dean, Science
Director/Chair/Dean
__________________
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Stacy Burton, Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs Date
Action Approved by the Provost/President (Completed by Faculty HR):
67431 Range:
2
Pos #(s):
JCC:
EEO: 3B
Eff: 8/1/2013
Approved Title: Coordinator, NTF Electrical Engineering
Employee signs on “final” stamped approved PDQ and sends to HR for personnel file.
Employee Signature:_______________________________________________ __________________
Date
Printed Name: ____________________________________________________
Rev: 10/1/2012
Position Description – Coordinator, Electrical Engineering (NTF)
Page 2
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the
university. Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division
which reflects the position in it as well as those supervised in the department. (This section is
used for advertisement of the position.)
The Coordinator, Electrical Engineering, directs, coordinates, and oversees the technical development
and fabrication of experimental equipment, diagnostics, and systems associated with the Nevada
Terawatt Facility (NTF) research program. The individual liaises with Experimenters/Principal
Investigators (PI) to determine technical and engineering requirements and components (including
organizational and logistical aspects) for scientific and engineering projects at the NTF. The
Coordinator reports status of technical tasks and projects to the NTF Director.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job (percentage
first with heading and then bulleted information).
35% - Electrical Engineering
 Direct and coordinate the development of engineering projects around a two-terawatt z-pinch
generator and the 100-terawatt laser project
 Provide advice on the viability of proposed experiments
 Provide direction to the engineers, technicians, and other technical staff of the NTF
 Resolve problems among technical staff and researchers involving task assignments and
engineering resources
 Diagnose and preemptively resolve critical equipment and outage problems
 Establish and communicate technical assignments and priorities for engineering staff
30% - Student Development and Management
 Manage, organize, train, motivate and develop the technical skills of graduate and
undergraduate students
 Promote a safe work environment and ensure regulatory compliance
20% - Experimental Development
 Coordinate with and assist NTF researchers in experiment design, diagnostic development,
and integration with the z-pinch and laser systems, including synchronization and timing,
diagnostics setup, data acquisition
 Design and develop major systems-related operations and experiment support
15% - Administrative Operations
 Maintain current inventory of NTF electrical engineering research resources and equipment,
computers, and sensitive equipment
 Contact vendors and research costs of needed equipment and recommend purchases to
Director
3. Describe the level of freedom to take action and make decisions with or without
supervision and how the results of the work performed impact the department, division and/or
the university as a whole.
Level of Freedom:
The NTF is a research facility sponsored through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department
of Energy. Research is conducted in collaboration with University researchers, U.S. National
Position Description – Coordinator, Electrical Engineering (NTF)
Page 3
Laboratories, and international research institutions. The Coordinator has a high degree of freedom in
directing the design of diagnostics and related systems as well as systems integration. The position
reports day-to-day technical progress and collaborates on decisions of feasibility of new tests and
experimental designs with the Director.
Impact:
The life-cycle management of facility research machines and infrastructure, experimental systems
and diagnostics, and the execution of the technical tasks is highly visible throughout the national and
the international High Energy Density research community. The work performed has a direct and
critical impact on the scientific success of the NTF and reflects on the academic reputation of the
University.
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity and
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Electrical engineering for scientific research
 Life-cycle management of facility research machines and infrastructure, experimental systems
and diagnostics, and the execution of the technical tasks
 Project management
 High voltage capacitors
 Electrical safety regulations for unique research
Skills:
 Strong verbal and written communication
 Managing, mentoring, and training graduate and undergraduate students in use of equipment
and testing protocol
Ability to:
 Direct the development of projects and diagnostics related to the operations and experiments
 Laise with experimenters to understand requirements, translate those requirements into
specific tasks, and coordinate efforts of the technical staff for implementation of experiments
and diagnostics on research machines to achieve specific outcomes
 Actively listen, commit to a clear understanding, and evaluate problem situations
 Proactively contribute to management for problem resolution
5. Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job.
Explain the nature and purpose of these contacts: i.e., to provide services, to resolve
problems, to negotiate.
Internal
NTF and University Researchers
and Staff
Environmental Health and Safety
Reason for Contact
To provide direction to the engineers, technicians, and other
technical staff of the NTF; resolve problems among technical staff
and researchers involving task assignments and engineering
resources; establish and communicate technical assignments and
priorities for engineering staff; advise on feasibility of new testing
experiments
To discuss and ensure compliance with safety regulations and
resolve safety problems at the NTF
Position Description – Coordinator, Electrical Engineering (NTF)
External
Vendors
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Reason for Contact
To acquire quotes and best solutions for technical purchases
6. Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position should it
become vacant. Please keep in mind the duties/responsibilities of the position rather than the
qualifications of the incumbent.
a.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution with major or emphasis in
Electrical Engineering
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Bachelor’s Degree and two years, or a Master’s and one year, of experience working in
a research laboratory to include developing projects and diagnostics involving highenergy lasers and pulsed-power devices, and participating in research experiments
Preferred Licenses and Certifications: None
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
None