Occ. Code 0815420
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST 3 (DATABASE), GRADE 23 |
0815420 |
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST 4 (DATABASE), GRADE 25 |
0815510 |
New York State Department of Civil Service
Classification Standard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS
Positions in this series are responsible for all activities associated with the design, development, installation and performance of agency databases. In this regard incumbents design or assist in the design and maintenance of databases, install and maintain database software, monitor the operation and performance of database software, identify and resolve malfunctions of database software, and lead and/or participate in the definition and adherence to database security.
CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA
Information Technology Specialists 3 (Database) perform entrance-level database programming and associated work. Incumbents assist Information Technology Specialists 4 (Database) in writing, installing and modifying database software and in training other Information Resources Management (IRM) staff in the effective and efficient use of database software.
Information Technology Specialists 4 (Database) act as lead programmer analysts and supervise and train Information Technology Specialists 3 (Database). Incumbents perform advanced database programming and implement, maintain and manage an agency's database environment, or major parts of it. They write, install and modify all types of database software, evaluate new software releases by vendors and act as liaison with other of the agency's data processing professionals, vendors and users.
RELATED CLASSES
Positions in the Information Technology Specialist (Programming) Series perform computer systems analysis and application programming.
Positions in the Information Technology Specialist (Data Communications) Series perform data communications network analysis, design, installation, monitoring, performance evaluation, tuning, and maintenance functions.
Positions in the Information Technology Specialist (Systems Programming) Series perform systems programming and implement, maintain and manage an agency's systems software environment or major components of it.
ILLUSTRATIVE ACTIVITIES AND TASKS
Designs or assists in design and maintenance of databases.
· Develops or assists in the development of logical data models, defining data entities, data attributes and logical data groups and relationships.
· Defines data dictionary needs and develops appropriate system.
· Develops or assists in the development of physical database design, addressing performance criteria and standards.
· Coordinates database change controls to interact with application change management.
· Assists in the training of application programmer analysts and operations personnel in the efficient use of database software.
· Participates in development of disaster recovery planning for database.
· Designs, develops and maintains specialized data access modules and other programs required to make data available to program and end-users.
Installs and maintains database software products and specialized data access programs.
· Installs, customizes and maintains complex database software components.
· Tests and implements new and updated versions of database, data dictionary and other files handling software from vendors.
· Acts as vendor liaison for the diagnosis and resolution of database-related software problems.
· Establishes and maintains catalogs, libraries, files, etc. as needed to provide efficient and economical environment for database(s).
· Participates in development of database standards such as naming conventions, up date protocols, performance standards and internal controls.
· Converts existing databases to new or updated software releases from vendors.
Monitors the operation and performance of the database software, taking whatever corrective action is necessary to obtain the most effective use of it.
· Monitors and tunes such variables as space, buffers, logs and journals.
· Identifies and resolves malfunctions and complex problems related to database use, maintenance and management.
· Maintains a log of database problems and resolutions for future reference.
· Assists application programmer analysts by determining the causes of and solutions to database and system performance problems.
Participates in the analysis of database needs and in the selection and acquisition of database software related products.
· Analyzes proposed applications to determine whether they would require new hardware and/or database software products.
· Compares specifications and descriptions of new database software products to existing ones to determine their effect on the existing software environment.
· Performs database capacity planning.
· Develops and/or assists in the preparation of RFP's.
· Assists in the evaluation of RFP responses.
· Makes recommendations on acquisition of new hardware, database software products and maintenance service.
Defines or participates in the definition of database security related standards.
· Defines and/or assists in the definition of security requirements for databases, data entities and data elements.
· May participate in selection, installation and maintenance of computer security software.
In addition, as an Information Technology Specialist 4 (Database):
Acts as lead specialist responsible for the design, implementation and management of an agency's databases or for major portions of them.
Provides expert database design assistance for complex applications.
Conducts design reviews and addresses deficiencies.
Writes and tests database utility programs required for database maintenance, recovery and performance management.
Identifies and resolves complex problems related to database use, maintenance and management.
Acts as lead programmer analyst responsible for the installation and maintenance of database software.
Analyzes new and updated software releases from vendors to determine their effects upon the existing software environment.
Installs, customizes and maintains complex database software components.
Acts as primary vendor liaison for the diagnosis and resolution of complex database-related software problems.
Maintains a high level of expertise in conventional and specialized database areas and provides related training to application programmer analysts, operations personnel and Information Technology Specialists 3 (Database).
INDEPENDENCE OF OPERATION
Information Technology Specialists 3 (Database) work under administrative and technical supervision from an Information Technology Specialist 4 (Database). Positions in the latter class act as lead programmers and are responsible for the more complex database programming projects for an agency.
Incumbents work with considerable independence within the scope of their assignments. Their work must conform to policy and technical standards set by agency and IRM top management. Information Technology Specialists 3 (Database) have access to Information Technology Specialists 4 (Database) for technical advice and assistance. Direction is also available in the form of policy directives, professional standards, and agency and vendor technical manuals and procedural guides.
Information Technology Specialists 4 (Database) usually work under supervision from a Manager Information Technology Services 1 (Database) or a Manager Information Technology Services 1 (Technical). In some organizations, they work under supervision from a Manager, M-3 level position.
Incumbents work with a great deal of independence. Their work must conform to policy and technical standards set by agency and IRM top management. Information Technology Specialists 4 (Database) may obtain technical advice from their supervisors, but usually rely for direction on policy directives, agency and vendor technical manuals, procedural guides and professional standards. Often, they are an agency's database technical expert.
Information Technology Specialists 3 and 4 (Database) are expected to be available during off-shift hours to ensure the continuous operation of computer services.
COMPLEXITY
The work of Information Technology Specialists 3 and 4 (Database) is complex and requires specialized training and experience. Since their work directly affects the way in which application systems are designed in their agencies, database programmers must have a good knowledge of application programming and operations. Designing, implementing and reorganizing databases is complicated by the necessity of considering the effects of the databases upon application programming and operations.
The consequences of error or neglect on the part of Information Technology Specialists 3 and 4 (Database) are great, their work being directly related to the efficiency with which data is stored and accessed. This directly affects the work of application programmer analysts and operations personnel.
COMMUNICATION
Information Technology Specialists 3 and 4 (Database) communicate verbally and in writing with a variety of individuals including their supervisors, users, vendors and other IRM staff. They communicate with IRM personnel verbally and in writing during database design, implementation and maintenance in order to produce effective and efficient systems.
The purposes of their communications are to receive and give assignments, to receive and convey technical information, and ultimately, to meet user needs. Their communications must be complete, accurate and concise.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Information Technology Specialist 3 (Database) positions are typically non‑supervisory.
Information Technology Specialists 4 (Database) usually exercise both technical and administrative supervision over one to three Information Technology Specialists 3 (Database). If a position is the only database programming position in an agency, it may be classified at the Information Technology Specialist 4 (Database) level with no subordinates. Technical supervision exercised includes training. Administrative supervision exercised includes the full range of such supervision, including performance evaluations.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
For Information Technology Specialist 3 and 4 (Database):
· Knowledge of the hardware, software and their working relationships within a computer installation.
· Knowledge of database structure and database design.
· Knowledge of database programming.
· Knowledge of system analysis and systems design.
· Knowledge of programming and programming standards.
· Knowledge of computer terminology.
· Knowledge of operating systems/standards/utilities.
· Knowledge of security methods and procedures in data processing environment.
· Knowledge of testing and debugging techniques.
· Ability to install, test and maintain database products.
· Ability to read and understand technical literature.
· Ability to conduct post-implementation review and problem resolution.
· Ability to communicate technical information both orally and in writing.
· Ability to think logically.
· Ability to understand and act upon technical instructions.
For Information Technology Specialist 4 (Database):
· Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices and the ability to implement them.
· Ability to plan, coordinate and direct.
· Ability to prepare technical training material.
· Ability to conduct technical training.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
For Information Technology Specialist 3 (Database):
One year of permanent competitive service as an Information Technology Specialist 2 or an Information Technology Specialist 2 (Programming).
For Information Technology Specialist 4 (Database):
One year of permanent competitive service as an Information Technology Specialist 3 (Database), Grade 23.
Revised: 9/07
NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.