Technical Operations Specialist

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The core functions of the Operations Specialist are:
Technical operations
Operations support
Operations analysis

These core functions represent major categories of work within the Operations.


Technical Operations

Multi-System Operation: Ensure effective operation of assigned systems and equipment.

Examples of typical work activities include:
Operate multiple systems (e.g., servers, peripheral equipment, telecommunication devices, network devices), and/or operate and monitor network devices (e.g., multiplexers and router, file and, port selectors, and other communication devices);
Verify systems and network availability and respond to error messages;
Calibrate, adjust, and align equipment;
Perform backup/recovery procedures;
Ensure that operations documentation and procedures are accurate and current, and maintain event logs.

System Maintenance and Administration: Ensure that all equipment or system components are adequately maintained. Examples of typical work activities include:
Conduct preventative maintenance and cleaning of equipment and facilities;
Perform minor or simple repairs;
Analyze system or equipment problems and request repair service as required;
Determine points of equipment and/or program failure and work with analyst or vendors to resolve problems;

Security: Ensure that physical equipment systems and data or products are secured and undamaged. Examples of typical work activities include:
Monitor authorization levels for system access and/or equipment usage;
Develop or recommend department security policies and procedures;
Monitor environmental conditions;
Enforce physical security of equipment and materials;

Operations Support

Scheduling: Ensure that scheduling of jobs are prioritized to best meet department requests. Examples of typical work activities include:
Schedule access to system environments and virtual images;
Provide for network access and timesharing;
Prioritize or rearrange job/work order sequence;
Communicate with users on scheduling requirements and environment status;
Determine work flow of equipment or systems installation requests;

Production/Quality Control: Ensure quality control of system or equipment output. Examples of typical work activities include:
Ensure integrity of lab systems;
Modify lab procedures as needed;
Ensure integrity of on-line systems

Material Maintenance: Ensure materials, inventory, records, storage, and systems are properly maintained. Examples of typical work activities include:
Plan and implement methods for storage, retrieval, and image cataloging
Initialize and prepare storage media (e.g., distribute images around the globe);
maintain library and archival storage for virtual images;
Initiate orders(hardware & software);
Ensure inventory records are up to date and accurate;
Issue equipment loans to staff;

Operations Analysis

Performance Analysis: Analyze systems and operations and recommend changes to maximize efficiency. Examples of typical work activities include:
Monitor overall system or operation performance, utilization, and response time;
Conduct remote diagnostics;
Determine overall lab turnaround time to optimize resources;
Evaluate events logs to identify potential problems;
Prepare troubleshooting checklists and procedures for use in resolving or corrective operating problems;

Applications/Database Support: Optimize system and equipment features fully utilizing programmatic and database functions. Examples of typical work activities include:
Assist Knowledge engineer in the support of the KMS solution
Assist Director?s of support with program management of large application projects.
Select programmatic parameters (e.g., define system options most suitable to operations);
Recommend or program new features, systems, or procedures;
Develop command level applications and program formats;
Install single utilities;
Monitor application software;

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Employees in this class have regular contact in person, or by telephone, with worldwide support staff and colleagues in the Information Systems Department.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None. 

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE

 

Soft Skills

?  Strong verbal, written and inter-personal communication skills are essential:

 

o Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.

o Ability to write reports and business correspondence.

o Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

 

?  Good analytical skills:

 

o Ability to understand, isolate, and resolve technical problems that lie within the diverse realms of networking, network security, applications, operating systems and the often complicated nature of the customer relationship.

o Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

o Ability to analyze a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

 

?  Strong organizational skills.

?  Strong Project Management skills

 

 

Technical Skills

?  Proficiency with HTML

?  Basic JavaScript experience

?  Three to five years of network support or systems administration experience working in a network environment that includes UNIX and Windows (2003/2000/XP/98) systems.

?  One to three years practical experience with third-party LDAP based servers such as Microsoft Active Directory, Novell eDirectory, and Sun Java System Directory Server.

?  Able to use basic debugging techniques including analysis of dump files, tracing, and performance tuning and monitoring.

?  Strong working knowledge of TCP/IP; hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting network services such as DNS, NIS or WINS.

?  Basic hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting routers and firewalls

?  Basic hands-on experience using ping, netstat, nslookup, dig, route, traceroute, snoop, tcpdump, strobe, etc. to isolate basic networking problems.

?  Basic hands-on experience using a network analyzer, or packet sniffer program to verify the presence or absence of traffic.

?  Familiar with VMWare Workstation and GSX Server.

 

Certifications

?  MCSE Certification is a plus.