TeleCom Clinic's Definitive Guide to Job Descriptions
www.GuideToJobDescriptions.com

JOB TITLE: Programmer/Analyst - Lead

Alternate Titles: Programmer/Analyst

Project Leader

LAST UPDATE: August 30, 2001

DESC. NO.: PA-0030

DEPARTMENT: Department of Information Technology

EXEMPTION STATUS: Exempt / Non-Exempt

GRADE/SALARY: Management - Grade 7

GENERAL:

The TeleCom Clinic College is a dynamic, exciting, technologically advanced, growing college located in the heart of New Jersey. There are many active and diverse technological challenges. In the past year, hundreds of Pentium computers have been added to faculty, staff, administrators and student labs; the campus-wide wiring project has been completed that has expanded new voice, video and data network capability. The college has installed a new electronics network and has implemented several new LANs and WANs. The college has also embarked on a major web based software upgrade project.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Primary responsibility is to provide Lead level technical leadership for administrative functions in projects that employ Datatel’s Colleague software and the related relational database and interface systems. Responsibility includes leadership in effectiveness and efficiency for administrative offices for projects that require computer applications to support or improve the college operations. This function requires Lead level technical and administrative skills in systems analysis, programming and database management. Includes involvement in each phase of system life cycle, need analysis; acquisition or development; implementation; and maintenance. A Lead level programmer/analyst functions with minimal supervision and assumes substantial project and management responsibility.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Interface with user departments, providing leadership and technical expertise, to assess feasibility and establish requirements for a broad range of computer applications.

2. Defines and prepares specifications for new projects or changes to existing systems and applications, performing the indicated analysis of the impact upon other modules or applications.

3. Develops and implements new programs and/or makes modifications to existing systems to comply with user specifications, requiring senior level programming expertise in various programming languages and operating systems.

4. Develops and maintains the institutions administrative data dictionary for internal or external reporting; and arranges for the transfer of data to other internal or external systems.

5. Performs the leadership role for assisting and training users in utilization of structured applications and in the utilization of generalized applications (such as query language, ad hoc report tools, data transfer tools, interface systems, etc).

6. Performs the various functions associated with database management and administration, for the complex, centralized, integrated databases of the institution.

7. Works with various teams to integrate web based access technologies.

8. Instructs and trains Programmer/Analyst in technical aspects of the functions of application programming and database management.

9. Interacts with external software vendors as required to support acquired complex computer application systems, providing for the definition and resolution of technical and procedural problems, and the adaptation and maintenance of the applications and systems.

10. Pursues and develops professional skills in ever-changing technology as it relates to the impact on computer applications.

11. Interfaces with Information Technologies departmental professionals for implementation or problem resolution in projects that require multiple technical disciplines.

12. Prepares instruction and support documentation for the Department of Information Technology, administrative users, computer operations, and assists administrative users in the development of their procedures and training.

13. May fill in for the Director of Administrative Computing in her/his absence.

14. Performs other related duties and assignments as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Receives general supervision from the Director of Administrative Computing. Functions largely with minimal supervision and assumes substantial project responsibility. The job function is considered technically correct and efficient; and informatively accurate without constant and direct supervisory intervention. Position is expected to exercise substantial independent judgment and seek out appropriate direction and information from Director of Administrative Computing. Performs duties with professional expectations of team interaction among the Applications Programming group, other IT members, the institutions administrative staff and external contacts. Attends internal and external training sessions and meetings as directed and necessary for job performance.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Trains and supervises lower level members of the Administrative Computing Group. This position has substantial impact on the institutions administrative departments for effective and efficient use of the Colleague software and the related databases. Trains and mentors IT support staff that help in the maintenance and support of the information technology department.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must possess a minimum of a BS or BA (Masters preferred) degree, ideally in either Computer Science, Information Systems, or a degree in a related field; minimum seven years of information systems work experience (preferably in a higher education environment and a minimum of four years of experience using Datatel’s Colleague software and knowledge of Unidata, Unibasic and Uniquery; or equivalent combination of education and work experience as determined by the Department of Information Technology.

Work experience must include advanced knowledge and use of Unibasic, Uniquery, Unidata, Pick-based RDMS, Datatel’s Envision Tool Kit, EPOS's Telephone Registration, UNIX and web based integrated data systems.

Work experience should demonstrate exceptional problem solving and debugging skills, ability to work with interdisciplinary teams, quality communication skills.

Excellent working knowledge of PC’s; Windows 9X or NT; Microsoft Office suite of products; either Netscape or Microsoft Explorer, and experience with at least one high-end email system such as Microsoft Exchange

Experience in higher education preferred but not required. Ability to interface and communicate effectively with non-technical personnel, administrative users, staff, faculty and students, as well as professional Information Technology staff. Must possess excellent analytical skills, excellent oral and written communicative skills, be a quick learner, self-motivated, patient, and be able to work in stressful situations, and at times, be available to work flexible hours. Initiative, creativity and decision-making are required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

There are minimum physical demands for this position. Using and reading from a PC for extended periods of time, moving around a crowded Network Operation Centers, carrying output for review, and the need to go to end users locations are amongst the demands of this position.

NON-PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

There will be the occasional need to work non-traditional hours and long ours of continuous concentration.

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

This is considered the highest-level technical position in a family of positions. Promotions to other management level positions are not necessarily expected from this position, but may take place with proper training and experience.

SHAREWARE NOTICE: If you find any of the job descriptions useful for your purposes, 
please remember to send $9.95 for each one you use to the address below for the many hours, days or weeks of time we have saved you:

TeleCom Clinic c/o Neil Sachnoff
4402 Stonehedge Road
Edison, NJ 08820

Copyright © 1991-2001by Neil S. Sachnoff, First Printing 1991, Printed in the United States of America