COMPUTER OPERATIONS TECHNICIAN SENIOR 15072

4/1/91 C

This is the second class in a series that is responsible for coordinating, scheduling, and monitoring the execution of production job streams, and/or operating equipment to control production processing by a mainframe or minicomputer. Positions in this class either have lead worker responsibilities, or are required to work more independently because a higher level data processing position is not usually on site during the assigned shift. This class is distinguished from the Computer Operations Technician by its responsibility to lead and guide others or to work independently as the single charge position at a remote site. It is distinguished from the Computer Operations Supervisor by the absence of supervisory responsibility.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of moderate difficulty to oversee the operations of a defined area, shift, or remote site in a computer operations and/or production control unit. Confers with the supervisor to plan major production events and to review problems encountered in order to avoid recurrence. Independently performs a variety of activities, such as using job control language to schedule and control the flow of jobs; reviewing and implementing program run documentation; creating calling job control language and catalogued procedures; maintaining records and cross references; maintaining automated source and object libraries to make program modules available for modification and testing and to ensure the correct version is used in production processing; creating security backup tapes; and assisting programmers by explaining documentation procedures and abnormal end-of-job codes. Positions analyze and correct job control language errors; analyze and correct data errors; enter system commands that release or execute the scheduled production, adjust priorities, start or shut down the system, control printers, display job status, re-queue jobs, purge, and route jobs; perform initial program loads; operate tape drives, disk drives, and printers; load special forms, align print paper, and operate peripheral equipment; log requests for services, activities performed, problems encountered, and hardware or software malfunctions; clean and make routine adjustments of equipment; report extreme temperature, humidity, and fire and electrical hazards; and perform input/output (I/O) duties, such as tracking, bursting, decollating, and delivering output. May develop and update written procedures. May receive calls after hours requesting assistance in resolving production problems.

Supervision Given: Supervision is not a factor. May lead Computer Operations Technicians and associated staff.

Supervision Received: Receives direction from a higher level data processing position. Positions which do not have lead work responsibilities must work more independently, since the supervisor is not usually on site during the assigned shift.

Scope: Work affects the accuracy and timeliness of computer output, and thereby affects the work of other units.

Impact of Actions: Effective performance facilitates timely and accurate production output for users. Failure to perform duties satisfactorily may result in significant costs resulting from inaccurate data, delayed receipt of output by users, or the need to re-execute jobs.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal contact with agency data processing personnel, users, and the Department of Information Technology for production planning and problem resolution. Occasional external contact with vendors to obtain repair and maintenance services.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of automated data processing, computer operations concepts, the computer control languages used in the work environment, and the systems, policies and procedures of the agency. Some knowledge of data communications systems.

Skills: Working skill in keyboarding.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to operate computer equipment; to analyze and solve operations problems; to prioritize processing jobs; to understand and apply written directions, to include technical manuals and procedural guides; to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical personnel, and to lead and guide the work of others.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from high school and some training in data processing.

Level and Type of Experience: Experience in the operation of data processing mainframes or minicomputers and peripherals or in production control.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledges and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class combines the former Computer Lead Operator and Production Control Lead Technician classes as a result of the Classification Review/Specification Update Project.