Item 3.C-December 2, 2011
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/vpaf/hr/compensation/placement.html for complete instructions.
Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable):
Position #(s): 10737
Current Title: Senior Unix Administrator
Current Range: 3
Department: Information Technology
College/Division: Information Technology
/ Office of Provost
Account #(s): 1101-109-0902
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position: Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
( ) Title Change, Proposed Title:
( ) Proposed Reassignment from Range
to Range
( ) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
(X ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
Administrator, Assistant Unix (3J; CM5518;CC110;E-new #)
Administrator, Unix (3J;CM5518;CC110;E-new #)
Administrator, Senior Unix (3J;CM5518;CC110;E-10737)
Range:
1
2
3
JCC (Current
or new HR
assigned):
67154
76538
77596
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.
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature Tom Leathley, Manager of Critical Systems
Date
____________________________________________________________
Director/Chair/Dean
Bird Vilseck, Director of Information Technology
__________________
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Heather Hardy
Date
Executive Vice President and Provost
Action Approved by the President (Completed by Faculty HR):
Position #: Various
EEO Code: 3J
CUPA Code:
Job Class Code:
Exempt: Yes or No Census Code:
Range:
Effective Date:
Approved Title:
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Employee Signature
Date
(Employee signs and sends to HR for personnel file after PDQ has been “final” stamped for approval)
Rev: 12/1/2008
Position Description – UNIX Line of Progression
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.)
Unix Server Administrators in the Critical Systems group of Information Technology (IT) are
responsible for the planning, purchase, deployment, and operation of the university’s computer server
systems that use Unix based server operating systems. These systems provide a variety of services
to the institution and are of particular importance to academic computing. Unix Server Administrators
report to the Manager of Critical Systems.
Range 1 – Assistant Unix Server Administrator
The Assistant Unix Server Administrator is an entry level non-exempt position for individuals with
experience in an Enterprise or University computing environment but have not had significant
experience managing Unix server systems independently or have gained their Unix experience via
student employment. An Assistant Unix Server Administrator works under the guidance of a Unix
Server Administrator or the Critical Systems Manager with the goal of becoming experienced with
Unix server management best practices.
Range 2 – Unix Server Administrator
The Unix Server Administrator is responsible for configuring, ordering, deploying, and maintaining
Unix server systems residing in Information Technology server rooms. The Unix Server Administrator
works with customers and vendors to determine the requirements for a given application to be hosted
on a server; works with an approved vendor to develop an appropriate configuration for the server
system; works with purchasing to order the equipment; and deploys the system in an Information
Technology server room and maintains the system hardware and operating system over the life of the
system. The Unix Server Administrator may also direct the technical activities of Assistant Unix
Server Administrators.
Range 3 – Senior Unix Server Administrator
The Senior Unix Server Administrator has all the technical responsibilities of a Unix Server
Administrator but possesses a greater personal knowledgebase of server systems and their
underlying technologies. The Senior Unix Server Administrator acts as a technical resource for R1
and R2 Unix Server Administrators. The incumbent also researches and deploys new and emerging
technologies and trains R1 and R2 server administrators in the use of these new systems.
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).
Range 1 – Assistant Unix Server Administrator
80% Technical Support
 Provide routine technical administrative support for Unix server systems under the direction of
a Unix Server Administrator or the Critical Systems Manager:
o install software, updates and security patches
o provide backup administration and support to application support specialists
o monitor systems and log files to ensure appropriate server resource availability
o document problems, conduct research, and consult with senior staff to develop
solutions and/or refer issues to others when appropriate
 Through close interaction with and direction from senior staff, acquire knowledge and skill in
functional server operations
Position Description – UNIX Line of Progression
Page 3
20% - Best Practices and Quality Assurance
 Research Unix server management best practices and ensure that all server support
performed encompasses these best practices wherever possible
Range 2 – Unix Server Administrator
60% - Technical Support
 Provide routine technical administrative support for Unix server systems:
o install software, updates and security patches
o provide backup administration and support to application support specialists
o monitor systems and log files to ensure appropriate server resource availability
10% - Best Practices and Quality Assurance
 Stay current with Unix documentation and best practices
10% - Leadership
 Provide leadership, direction and serve as resource to Assistant Unix Server Administrators
10% - Customer Service
 Work with customers to ensure that appropriate systems are available to host required
services and applications
10% - Vendor Relationships
 Work with approved vendors to procure appropriate systems and be aware of future offerings
from approved vendors that may be appropriate for future deployment
Range 3 – Senior Unix Server Administrator (in addition to R2 duties)
50% - Technical Support and Leadership
 Provide advanced technical administrative support for Unix server systems
 Act as a technical resource for R1 and R2 Unix server administrators and assist these
individuals with problem identification and resolution consistent with Unix best practices
25% - Research and Planning
 Research new and emerging technologies that may provide benefits consistent with current
and future university computing plans
25% - Documentation
 Document and maintain server room configurations and infrastructures
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:
Range 1 – Assistant Unix Server Administrator
The incumbent receives direct technical supervision. Judgment is used in problem solving within
established procedures and guidelines.
Range 2 – Unix Server Administrator
The incumbent must work independently under limited technical supervision. Independent judgment
is used in problem solving but departures from established procedures and guidelines are brought to
the attention of the supervisor.
Position Description – UNIX Line of Progression
Page 4
Range 3 – Senior Unix Server Administrator
The incumbent must work independently under minimal technical supervision. Independent judgment
is used regularly in problem solving, developing recommendations and ensuring continuous system
operations. Ongoing problems or system performance issues are brought to the attention of the
supervisor.
Impact:
Unix server administrators provide essential computing services to the entire university community.
These services include, but are not limited to, third party applications, database systems, online
learning collaboration, and high performance research computing. An outage of any of these services
is at once both immediately noticed and immediately impacts the university’s ability to conduct
business and educate students. Thus, all Unix server administrators must be prepared to take
whatever initiative is appropriate to ensure high availability of all services Critical Systems provides to
the campus.
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).
Range 1 – Assistant Unix Server Administrator
Knowledge of:
 Unix desktop and server operating systems
 Basic TCP/IP network theory
 Enterprise or university computing environments
Skills:
 Problem solving
 Interpersonal and human relations
 Written and oral communication
 Organization and time management
Ability to:
 Take direction
 Identify problems
 Productively interact with faculty and staff
 Independently increase personal knowledgebase
Range 2 – Unix Server Administrator (in addition to R1 above)
Knowledge of:
 Unix server administration best practices
Skills:
 Unix server administration
Ability to:
 Provide technical direction to less experienced Unix server administrators
Range 3 – Senior Unix Server Administrator (in addition to R1 and R2 above)
Knowledge of:
 New and emerging server technologies appropriate for a university IT environment
Skills:
 Provide technical problem solving resources to less experienced Unix server administrators
Position Description – UNIX Line of Progression
Page 5
Ability to:
 Assess university computing infrastructure to identify areas needing improvement and develop
plans to improve these areas
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
R1-R3:
IT staff
University faculty and staff
Reason for Contact
External
R1-R3:
Vendors
Reason for Contact
To resolve system issues affecting other IT departments.
To resolve system issues affecting end users.
To quote new equipment and deal with service contract/warranty
repair issues on existing equipment
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.
Ranges 1 thru 3
Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Range 1 – Assistant Unix Server Administrator
Bachelor’s Degree and one year of IT experience in an enterprise or university
environment. Experience gained as a student administering systems for Information
Technology or other academic units may count towards this experience.
Range 2 – Unix Server Administrator
Bachelor’s Degree and two years of IT experience in an enterprise or university
environment.
Range 3 – Senior Unix Server Administrator
Bachelor’s Degree and four years of IT experience in an enterprise or university
environment.
Preferred Licenses or Certifications: None
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
None