<Information Technology Specialist>

Department:	Chemical Engineering	Effective Date:	May 2010
Grade:	USG 10	Reports to:	Manager IT Services

General Accountability

The Information Technology Specialist (ITS) is a member of a team of IT personnel responsible for the management, operation and security of the department’s computing and information infrastructure and systems. This specialist is responsible for the daily operation and system administration of all computer and information systems and provides some consulting services related to this operation and administration. This specialist is expected to comply with and promote the University’s policies and directives related to information technology. This position reports to Manager of Information Technology services.

Nature and Scope

The department chair and associate chairs provide the operational management of all administrative, teaching and research activities of the Department of Chemical Engineering and components of the Nanotechnology Engineering program. The Information Technology Specialist is a member of a team that provides computer and information technology services to support these activities. This specialist is responsible for the daily operation and systems administration of all computer systems and information systems used to support these activities. This specialist is also responsible for providing consulting services related to this operation and administration for all departmental personnel including faculty, staff, and students and visiting scholars. This specialist is required to collaborate with other departmental personnel including faculty staff, students and visiting scholars to provide advice, assistance and expertise for departmentally sanctioned projects. This specialist reports to and is expected to work closely with the manager of IT services.

Statistical Data

Departmental personnel = approximately 1000 faculty, staff, students (including nanotech program) and visiting scholars.

Computer workstations = 400+

Computer servers = 30+

Major funding sources outside of the faculty of Engineering and include CFI (Canada Foundation for Innovation), CRC (Canada Research Chair), NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), OIT (Ontario Innovation Trust), ORDCF (Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund), PREA (The Premier's Research Excellence Awards Program), and numerous national and international companies. The Department has a significant amount of contract funding.

Specific Accountabilities

Daily operation and administration of all department computer and information systems including:

Computer network infrastructure and network security systems
Computer workstation procurement, commissioning, software deployment, desktop management, hardware and operating system diagnosis and repair, maintenance and decommissioning.
Computer server commissioning, software deployment, administration, hardware and operating system diagnosis and repair, maintenance and decommissioning.
Specialized computer subsystems procurement, commissioning, software deployment, administration, maintenance and decommissioning.
Data acquisition/control, computer presentation systems, computer imaging systems etc.
Computer and network services including Microsoft active directory management, authentication, firewall, anti malware, file, print, backup, web, SharePoint, mail, data storage etc.
User support services including account administration, application software diagnosis and repair, system and application software consulting etc.
Providing support for Electronics and Electrical problems, guiding for best service options.
Advise faculty members and graduate students on the arrangement of their experiments (electrical, electronic and data acquisition systems).
Supervise and advise graduate students working in Electronic Shop.
Make electrical safety checks on electrical equipment and electrical outlets in laboratories.
Responsible for operation and maintenance of Electronic & Computer Shop.
Instruct graduate students on how to handle sophisticated electrical and electronics equipment.

The IT specialist is expected to collaborate with all departmental personnel including faculty, staff , students and visiting scholars when his/her services are requested for departmental projects and activities. This specialist is also required to work closely with the Manager of IT services to ensure close adherence to departmental IT policies, timely completion of tasks and well managed IT services that satisfy the needs and requests of the department. Undertake other duties as assigned by the manager of IT services.

Working Conditions

The IT specialist works in a variety of office, laboratory and utility closet environments. The majority of time is spent in a well lit, well ventilated office seated at an ergonomically designed desk equipped with one or more computer systems and displays. Occasionally time will be required seated at a laboratory bench for equipment diagnosis or in network wiring closets to manage, diagnose, and maintain network infrastructure components. Some lifting of large computer servers and computer subsystem equipment maybe required with the assistance of other technical personnel.

This specialist frequently interacts with several departmental personnel simultaneously via verbal, written and electronic communications and is expected to manage a queue of requests. Multitasking, multiple deadlines and multiple simultaneous requests occur frequently.