POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY
ALL INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED. INCOMPLETE FORMS WILL BE RETURNED TO DEPARTMENT.
QUESTIONS? CALL UNR Faculty Human Resources at 784-6082.
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INSTRUCTIONS: PDQ and Org Chart must be sent to marshag@unr.edu for initial review BEFORE routing.
1. Complete form, sign, and submit to immediate supervisor;
2. Supervisor (chair/director/dean)– review, approve, sign, forward to vice president or vice provost;
3. Pres/Vice Pres/Vice Prov - approve, sign, forward to Placement Committee (c/o UNR HR, M/S 238);
4. Placement Committee recommends administrative salary range and title & forwards to Provost.
5. Approval letters are then sent from HR with final stamped PDQ to Vice President, Dean or Director and
supervisor for PAF/Terms preparation.
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Incumbents’ Name (if applicable): David Slater
Position #: 16534
Current Title: Programmer/Analyst, Seismic
Current Range: 2
Department: Seismology
College/Division: College of Science
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position : Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
( √ ) Title Change, Proposed Title: Senior Seismic Systems Analyst
( √ ) Proposed Reassignment from Range 2
to Range 3
( √ ) Revised PDQ
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
Employee’s Signature
David Slater
Date
Senior Seismic Systems Analyst
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature
John Louie
Professor, Seismology
Director/Chair/Dean John Anderson, Director, Seismology Lab
David Westfall, Dean, College of Science
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
Date
Date
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Jannet Vreeland
Date
Vice Provost
Action Approved by the President (Completed by Faculty HR):
Position #:
EEO Code:
CUPA Code:
Job Class Code:
Exempt: Yes or No
Range:
Effective Date:
Title Approved:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature (Sign & send to HR for personnel file)
Revised: 2 / 1 / 2006
Date
Position Description - Senior Seismic Systems Analyst, Position # 16534
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 Senior Seismic Systems Analyst is responsible for the analysis and design for the computer
hardware, software and networking required for the seismic data acquisition at the Nevada
Seismological Laboratory (NSL). Individual provides computer systems analysis and design as well
as network and security analysis. Individual engages in seismic system software programming.
Individual will provide mentoring and training for technicians, support staff and junior system/network
administrators.
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).
50% - Seismic Systems Software Programming and Maintenance
 Analysis, design, programming and maintenance for various seismic systems custom
applications
 Maintenance for various in-house and third party seismic applications
25% - NSL Computer Systems Analysis and Design
 Computer systems analysis and design for the seismic network data center including
requirements analysis, design, specification of hardware and software solutions
 Solve advanced computer system administration tasks and act as backup for the Seismic
Systems Administrator on computer system related tasks
15% - Mentoring
 Mentoring of technicians, support staff and junior system/network administrators on a wide
variety of topic related to the NSL computer and network systems
10% - Network Analysis and Security:
 Network systems analysis and design for the seismic Wide-Area-Network including
requirements analysis, design and specification of network hardware such as routers, switches
and firewall devices
 Solve advanced network administration tasks and act as backup for the Seismic Systems
Administrator on network related tasks
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.
This job encompasses a diverse range of skills, knowledge and decisions about computers, networks,
software and their interactions. Individual must have flexibility and ability to work without supervision
with complete latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Day-to-day decisions ordinarily would
impact NSL personnel. Systems analyst decisions impact computer system efficiencies, network
reliability, completeness of the seismic data acquired and impact research performance. These
decisions could also affect preparedness of computing systems for public inquiries after significant
earthquakes. Errors may only be revealed in near-crisis situations. Changes impacting seismic
network operations will be coordinated with the Seismic Network Manager. This position provides
computer, network and software expertise by which to recommend and implement changes. The
development of facilities for the public and other seismological customers to acquire seismological lab
Position Description - Senior Seismic Systems Analyst, Position # 16534
Page 3
products may negatively impact the public visibility and prestige of the NSL if responsibilities and job
duties are not completed correctly and efficiently.
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity &
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Unix systems design. Solaris systems administration skills, including O/S configuration,
maintenance, and optimization, NFS and NIS management, and system security. Performance
analysis. Global file system design layout. Developing specifications for new hardware and
software purchases. Software and hardware RAID/mirroring
 LAN and WAN network design. Advanced Cisco router administration skills. Knowledge of
various routing protocols such as static, RIP and OSPF routing. Encrypted VPN tunneling and
NATS. Security access lists. In depth knowledge of a multitude of network protocols: TCP/IP,
UDP/IP, ICMP, SNMP, DNS, DHCP, RIP, OSPF, TFTP, FTP, Telnet, SSH, NATS, Encrypted
VPN, Sync/Async Serial, PPP, MLPPP, SLIP, T1, Ethernet, CAT5, SONET, 802.11b/g.
Client/Server network model. Ability to solve advanced network problems using network packet
sniffers such as CommView and Tcpdump. Specifying purchase of new network hardware.
Familiar with WAN radios such as Breezecom, FreewaveIP, Canopy and Harris
.
Skills:
 Site-customize, compile, and install large software packages
 Application administration and maintenance
 Programming capability in several major Unix scripting languages such as PERL. CSH, Bourne
Shell, TCL and PHP
 Software design skills
 Ability to break down larger projects into smaller tasks
 Install, design and configure Legato backup systems
 Configure network routers and switches
Ability to:
 Multi-task, i.e., manage multiple projects/tasks
 Be flexible and work under no supervision with complete latitude for initiative and independent
judgment
 Mentor effectively and communicate and teach technical skills
 Work outside normal business hours to fix network and system failures
 “Fire-fight” network and computer system problems under the stress of a major failure in a 24x7
real-time operation
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.
Work with seismologists and their students and staff to provide computer hardware, software, and
network support.
Collaborate with Nevada Educational Campus IT (UNR, UNLV, Cheyenne College), Nevada Test Site
personnel and other external IT staff to facilitate new computing and network services required by the
Nevada seismological lab.
Position Description - Senior Seismic Systems Analyst, Position # 16534
Page 4
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 in computer science,
software engineering, or closely related field
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 six years of experience to include five years with multicomputer Unix systems administration; network systems administration including
network design and router configuration with LAN and WAN experience;
programming/scripting experience.
c. Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
None