Department of Human Resources
OPSEU Job Description
Job Title: Applications Systems Administrator
Job Number: C-034
NOC: 2172
Band: 11
Department: Information Technology
Supervisor Title: Manager, Information Systems
Last Reviewed: September 25, 2012
Job Purpose
Manages University administrative data, including student, financial and HR records. Implementation of new systems, interfacing and data conversions. Analyzes, develops, maintains and/or modifies new or existing applications. Assists other CSD staff as well as the Trent Community in developing interfaces to and using admin systems.
Key Activities
1. Assist University administrators and departments with task of info retrieval by the writing of and/or assisting in the writing of reports and complex queries. Analyze end-user requirements for applications and help to develop an implementation strategy. Recommend solutions to University users.
2. Data Management - Write, test and execute data conversion and/or interface programs using Datatel software, in-house programming languages and/or third party software.
3. Develop new applications and/or modify existing administrative applications to meet client needs (this includes correcting existing errors and/or setting up/modifying end-user documents and forms)
4. Act as a technical resource to other members of the department, administrative users.
5. Troubleshooting - Assist users in locating causes of and solutions to ad-hoc systems problems.
Education
Honours University Degree (4 year) in Computer Science or Information Science.
Experience Required
1. Five years of directly-related progressively responsible experience, three of which are recent experience in administration of a production administrative application in a secure Unix environment, including two years of experience in systems programming and management of a major relational database, preferably Oracle or Unidata, and use of the associated tools (e.g. CASE, WEB publishing tools, ODBC, datamarts and warehouses, DSS). Three of the above five years must also include experience operating in a Project Management environment.
2. Demonstrated problem solving skills, consultation and analysis skills and collaboration skills. Knowledge of internal consulting models applicable to the public sector.
3. Ability to handle parallel projects and priorities. Experience in producing policies and procedures that may be interpreted by both the technical and non-technical end user.
4. Programming experience in major systems implementation languages, preferably C and BASIC.
5. Practical experience in the use of Datatel (Colleague, Benefactor), Unix and OpenVMS are desirable.
6. Excellent interpersonal, time management and communication skill.
7. Demonstrated ability to both apply policy and take direction.
8. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
9. An open-minded proactive approach to problem solving.
Communication
Internal:
- Administrative clients - Discuss and investigate systems problems
- Datatel tech team - Discuss implementation and administration of Datatel applications
- Information Services Colleagues - Daily interaction concerning Administration of software and data
- Operations - Discuss systems management issues
External:
- Datatel Solution Centre - Discuss application problems, queries and solutions
- Info-Datatel - An e-mail connected group of people across North America who manage/use Datatel Software
- Tri-University consortium - Discuss policies, procedures and progress regarding Datatel implementation
Motor/ Sensory Skills
- Dexterity - Typing
- Visual - Reading documents, viewing VDT
Effort
Mental:
- Sustained Concentration - Required in verification and testing of lines of code. Occasional interruptions from clients
Physical:
- Keyboarding and mousing - Operating PC
- Sitting - Dependency on PC requires prolonged periods of sitting, resulting in back strain and joint stiffness.
Working Conditions
Physical:
- Keyboarding can result in carpal tunnel syndrome
- Long periods of sitting result in joint stiffness and back strain.
Psychological:
- Conflicting work priorities.
- Client priorities often change.
- Multiple competing demands from clients.
- Deadline/time pressures
Job Number: C-034 Page 2 of 3 Last updated: February 7, 1999