• Identifies, investigates, evaluates, and becomes proficient in new technologies and technical disciplines that are of strategic significance to the business organization and/or represent business market differentiators.
• Provides creative and innovative ideas and approaches that will improve the performance of department, IS, as well as the business goals and strategies of the company.
• Installs and configures hardware and software products on support systems, including vendor supplied communication software products (terminal emulators, proxies, firewalls, etc.).
• Configures standard communications products such as modems, line sharing devices, line drivers, etc., and complex equipment, e.g., multiplexors, protocol converters, and security equipment.
• Uses statistical tools to monitor system performance and resource utilization of installed systems, and project impact of future system.  Uses system-monitoring tools to optimize system performance and perform degradation analysis.
• Adapts and quickly assimilates new system and network architectures as they are introduced within the company.
• Develops and documents operational procedures for supported systems, including development of dialogs and user interfaces appropriate to the end user of the systems developed.
• Provides 24/7 on-call support for supported systems.  Troubleshoots, coordinates, assists and advises in recovery from component failures of supported systems.  Performs diagnosis of complex communication problems.
• Provides administrative support for development systems, including requirements for maintaining the environment for program development, user account maintenance, and the logistics of software turnover and release distribution.
• Installs, configures, and provides ongoing administrative and technical support for various local area networking products such as Novell NetWare and Windows NT.
• Develops formal RFPs for external vendor solutions.  Performs technology evaluations.  Develops technical drawings that illustrate abstract technical concepts, architectures, infrastructures, and strategies.
• Codes and tests programs on a variety of systems using one or more of the following programming languages:  C++, Visual C, Visual Basic, Visual J++, JAVA, various scripting languages.
• Develops and administers detailed formal project plans, including required financial analysis/ROI, outlining deliverables, timelines, and resource allocations.  Tracks and supervises the progress of staff activities to achieve budget and business goals.  Manages major IS projects (greater than $500,000).
• Develops techniques and procedures for performing various benchmarks as needed.  Develops written articles concerning major projects, important technology directions and shifts, evolving industry trends, etc., for in-house publications.  Prepares and conducts formal presentations concerning major projects and new technology directions for management.
• Develops curriculum and conducts training for less experienced staff.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Broad technical knowledge of multiple IS disciplines.  May require in-depth knowledge of multiple technical support areas.
• In-depth understanding of abstract operating system and networking concepts, including the use of interrupts, device control, program loading, task dispatching, reentrancy, and storage management.
• Have a working knowledge of network operating systems in general.
• Working knowledge of system dialogue and scripting languages for developing macros, scripts, etc. on a variety of systems.
• May require knowledge of systems specifically in use within company.
• Ability to interact effectively with other IS departments and management.
• Understanding of MAC layer protocols, Ethernet and Token Ring, use of routers, bridges, hubs and various types of switching involved in LAN/WAN network topologies.
• Working knowledge of Intra/Internet concepts, tolls and techniques related to web services, e-commerce.

• Bachelor's degree preferred.