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Systems Integration Specialist

Department: Information Systems and Technology Effective Date: November, 2013
Grade:

USG 9-14

35 hr/wk

Reports to: IST Director or designate

General Accountability

Infrastructure support units in IST, divided by technology area, are responsible for the evolution and support of an effective and sustainable technical infrastructure for the University's information-technology and information-systems assets. The Systems Integration Specialist is accountable to the Manager of the respective unit, as determined from time to time by the Director. The Specialist maintains familiarity with, complies with, and at all times promotes the University's policies and its directives related to information systems and technology.

 

The relevant IST units are:

Nature and Scope

The Systems Integration Specialist participates in on-going activities that investigate, acquire, develop, deploy, and maintain new network switching and routing, network server, computer operating-system, data/network security, and database system facilities and functions. These activities have campus-wide results that enhance the usability of the campus network, the client and server computing systems within it, and the institutional information systems that depend on them.

The Specialist also participates in activities with other groups internal and external to IST. These projects build on the above technical-infrastructure layer, to enhance the functional services those groups provide to the University. The Specialist provides direction and assistance in selecting technologies, setting configuration specifications for facilities, and implementing, testing, deploying, and maintaining software.

These activities require collaboration with other IST groups and with campus-constituency management and support staff to assess and define requirements, evaluate alternatives, and pursue solutions to meet those requirements.

The information-technology knowledge that the Specialist requires in this environment is transforming itself with increasingly shorter frequencies. Major vendors make significant

architectural changes that enhance or re-invent their products. In many areas, total transformations now happen in less than three years. The Specialist must develop and maintain expertise with emerging, current, and evolving technologies, products, and practices. The Specialist must understand and communicate how and where they can be applied to fulfill University responsibilities better or more cost-effectively. The knowledge areas span a wide range of specializations that currently include:

Job Responsibilities

Core Competencies

Statistical Data

Specific Accountabilities

Career Path

The career-path competencies table is the base from which the following descriptions are derived. Each level of the Specialist position builds on the prior levels. Details at each level will evolve in response to changes in technology and the needs of the University. Progression is in recognition of substantial increases in depth and breadth of expertise with technologies, products, and techniques, complemented by increases in task/project organization and planning, leadership, and accountability. The Specialist is expected to develop competencies to at least the USG 11 level.

 

Systems Integration Specialists at this level are acknowledged as the most senior and experienced members in this career path. They are highly skilled professionals, widely recognized for their project leadership skills, technological architecture skills, and several areas of technical specialization. These individuals take a major leadership role in the University's most strategic and largest technology initiatives.

They guide the evolution of campus technical infrastructure and services. The impact of their work is campus-wide. As such, they must carefully consider all aspects of change management. Individuals at this level will have a demonstrated track record of successes with expert knowledge in a number of technology areas and use of these systems campus wide.

They are expected to work with a large degree of independence. They work directly with vendors in negotiations, implementations and support. They may have direct responsibility for assigning tasks and monitoring progress of junior, intermediate and even senior level staff. They are expected to serve as both guide and mentor by sharing their knowledge and experience and by seeking appropriate opportunities for training and related upgrades in skill sets. They will have broader participation in issues related to budgets, the RFP process and hardware/software acquisition.

Staff at this level demonstrate an expert level of accountability, knowledge, skills and broad experience in leadership, project management, technology architecture, and institutionally recognized expert level knowledge of several technical areas, as well as expert level knowledge and skills in all of the following:

Hours

Normally, carries out all responsibilities during University office hours. However, is required from time to time by the Manager to work some alternate hours to facilitate the testing of new technology or its deployment into the production environment. There may also be a requirement for the Systems Integration Specialist to participate in on-call rotations for problem-response support outside of UW business hours

Working Conditions