Department of Human Resources
OPSEU Job Description
Job Title:
Job Number:
NOC:
Band:
Department:
Supervisor Title:
Network Systems Specialist
C-049
2281
11
Information Technology
Manager, Digital Service Delivery and Administration
Last Reviewed:
April 7, 2006
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Manager, Digital Service Delivery, the incumbent occupies a senior level
technical position as a subject matter expert, operates with minimal supervision, wide latitude
for independent judgment, and is responsible for a broad range of duties.
Key Activities
1. Network, server, and network operating system integration, analysis, optimization, and
problem resolution within an enterprise-wide network services context where faults or
errors can have very large impact to users throughout the University.
2. Maintain network devices including software configuration of servers, switches, routers,
firewalls, printers, wireless access points, virtual private network equipment and
associated data centre support equipment.
3. Plan, develop, maintain and operate server and network-based monitoring systems,
automate network monitoring through scripts or software routines, and develop
schemes for notification of faults for after-hours operational requirements.
4. Plan, design, maintain and evolve corporate e-mail systems, file and print-sharing
systems and intranet services.
5. Design, maintain and evolve enterprise LDAP directory, and associated security
authentication, identity management, group management and access control
databases.
6. Design, maintain and evolve corporate data backup infrastructure, services and storage
management processes.
7. Plan, maintain and evolve corporate security architecture, analyze threats, and design
solutions to minimize risk.
8. Prepare and maintain design documents, specifications, work plans, and records of
system configuration.
9. Coordinate change control on network systems, analyze change risk, and develop
methods of procedure following industry best practices to minimize risk.
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10. Maintain an awareness of industry best practices, liaise with vendors, access support
systems and other third party providers to stay abreast of technology evolution,
software revisions, bug fixes, and to obtain product information.
11. Communicate, collaborate and mentor others, coordinate plans and share knowledge of
systems operations and technology with all members of the IT team.
12. Participate in an on-call rotation for after-hours/weekend IT operational support. (24x7
coverage) While on call, the incumbent will operate independently, and assumes
primary operational responsibility for the Trent Data Centre and services. The
incumbent will self-direct their activities, respond to critical network-down
emergencies, determine the appropriate response, and execute the repair with limited
assistance of others and with occasional escalation to manager for large impact events.
13. Receive, have access to, and control access to confidential, personal, and proprietary
information using sound judgment to remain in compliance with all university policies
and privacy legislation applicable to the situation.
Specific Technical Competencies:
Note that this is a multiple incumbent position working in a team of three. The competencies have been
arranged into two groups in order to best complement the existing skill sets on the team.
Advanced level technical skill and practical hands-on experience in implementation,
maintenance, and problem resolution in the following core competencies;
1) Linux and UNIX Specific Competencies:
a. Red Hat and/or SUSE Enterprise Linux (A Red Hat or SUSE certification is desirable)
b. Solaris experience a definite asset
c. DNS and DHCP management
d. Email routing with Postfix
e. PHP programming for internal support applications
f. Supporting Apache and Tomcat based web applications
g. Scripting in Perl, Expect, and Bash
h. Performance tuning and capacity planning
i. System monitoring and alerting with SNMP based system management tools
j. Database administration with UniData, Postgres, and/or MySQL
2) Internetworking Specific Competencies:
a. In depth understanding of TCP/IP and related protocols, and of related application
and security services.
b. Good knowledge of IP routing, multicast, access controls, and VLANs, preferably as
implemented in a Cisco network.
c. Practical experience deploying applications in a large switched network
environment with many wireless users.
d. Demonstrated experience in the use of network protocol and traffic analysis to
establish network baselines and troubleshoot IP connectivity.
A keen interest and commitment to developing skills to a moderate level through on-the-job
training, formal training, and self-learning in:
3) Novell Netware and associated products, such as:
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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Open Enterprise Server
eDirectory and LDAP
Identity Manager, including integration experience with Active Directory
Access Manager and Extend web portal
Zenworks
Groupwise
Netmail
4) Microsoft Windows Server and associated products, such as:
a.
Internet Information Services
b.
Active Directory
c.
Terminal Services
d.
MS SQL server
e.
VBscript
5) Supporting IT infrastructure, such as:
a. Server virtualization with VMWare and/or XEN
b. iSCSI storage networking
Analytical Reasoning
Indicate degree of complexity or difficulty of thinking and reasoning required by the job. Provide a
relevant work example that is typical of roles and responsibilities of the job (i.e. not an occasional duty).
Decision Making
Indicate the degree of freedom to exercise initiative or act independently in making day- to-day decisions.
Provide a relevant work example that is typical of roles and responsibilities of the job (i.e. not an
occasional duty).
Impact
Indicate the impact or consequence to the department or University of typical actions or decisions taken by
the job incumbent. Provide a relevant work example that is typical of roles and responsibilities of the job
(i.e. not an occasional duty).
Education
Honours University Degree (4 year) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or similar field of
technological study.
Experience Required

A minimum of 3, but ideally 5 or more years of direct system and network operations
experience in an enterprise network services environment with prior experience being
on-call and operating in a self-directed mode.
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Ability to work independently within a dynamic team, organize time among multiple
tasks and to work on complex problems where analysis requires in-depth evaluation of
various factors: to determine methods and procedures on new assignments, modify
established guides, apply existing criteria in new manners, devise new approaches and
draw conclusions from comparative situations.
Ability to work from assigned objectives, relative priorities and critical areas that
impinge on work of other units, to plan work around a schedule, and to self-direct their
activities with minimal direct supervision.
Strong analytical ability in translating technology capabilities to meet stated service
requirements.
Proven track record of optimizing technological designs to meet the business and
economical requirements.
Excellent organizational skills and an effective communicator both verbally and in
writing, with the ability to frame technology issues in business terms and vice versa, and
to effectively manage and confront conflicts and issues.
Highly adaptive and flexible to changing environments and priorities.
Well-versed in the latest technology offering, capabilities and trends.
Able to routinely work outside of normal business hours, and to accommodate other
flexible scheduling to allow for extended shift coverage.
Demonstrated skills in, and commitment to, customer service and continuous
improvement.
Responsibility for the Work of Others
Indicate whether the incumbent is directly or indirectly responsible for the work of others. Provide the title
of the position(s) as well as an example of how the incumbent is responsible for the work of others on a
daily basis. Specifically, indicate whether the position has responsibility for hiring and supervision of
student workers.
Direct Responsibility
N/A
Indirect Responsibility
N/A
Communication
Indicate the title(s) of individuals internal and external to the University that the incumbent communicates
with on a regular basis. Provide a brief description of the purpose for communicating with these
individuals.
Internal
External
Motor/ Sensory Skills
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Indicate the level of proficiency or precision in motor or sensory skills required by the job. Examples
include but are not limited to: small/large movement to operate machinery; coordinated movement;
equilibrium to maintain balance; dexterity to grasp, move, assemble objects or operate equipment;
hearing, sight, touch, smell, taste. Provide a brief description of tasks performed that require
motor/sensory skills.
Effort
Indicate the physical and/or mental demands of the position in the ordinary course of performing the role.
Examples include but are not limited to: lifting, moving, carrying, pushing/pulling, reaching, kneeling,
remaining motionless, sustained concentration or focus. Provide a brief description of the tasks
performed that are physically and/or mentally demanding.
Mental
Physical
Working Conditions
Indicate any physical and psychological conditions of the position that make the job unpleasant,
disagreeable and/or hazardous to health and well-being. Describe the nature, frequency and duration of
exposure.
Physical
Psychological
Job Description Approved by Human Resources (as per Article 17.1):
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Signatures - indicating that the job description has been read and understood:
Incumbent
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Immediate Supervisor:
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Department Head/ Dean:
Job Number: C-049
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Name (print):
Signature:
Job Number: C-049
Date:
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Last updated: July 21, 2009