Athabasca University Professional Position Description

Transcription

1 Athabasca University Professional Position Description Section I Position Information Update Only Classification Review Position Title Senior Systems Analyst / Programmer Position # Department Administration Classification Level C Reports to Director, Human Resources Effective Date July 17, 2013 Position Summary Briefly describe the main purpose(s) of the position The Senior Systems Analyst/Programmer will work with the administrative applications unit to provide systems development skills to projects. Dedicated technical support is provided for the computing systems and software in the Financial Information Systems (FIS) and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) utilized by the Administration, Financial Services and Human Resources departments. Maintenance of systems software and related functions is required as well as suggesting and implementing enhancements to existing systems and functionality. A good understanding of financial and human resources functions is expected, together with provision of solid advice and assistance in long term systems planning and development. Duties and Responsibilities Organize by key responsibility area and include % of time spent where possible Client Support 25% Provide end user support to Athabasca University staff using FIS and HRIS systems. Resolve software and/or Oracle database problems which staff encounter while entering, updating, or retrieving institutional data to/from systems. Analyze the situation to determine the appropriate action. Consult with other technical staff to provide software support to users, as applicable. Consult with vendor and application technical staff regarding software and/or Oracle database, as applicable. Install vendor and application software upgrades on client machines, including support during vendor and application software upgrade installations. Collaborate with Computing Services and the administrative applications unit on the server installation of vendor and application software upgrades. Page 1

2 Systems analysis, requirements, and design 20% Create analyses, requirements, and design documentation for new projects. Evaluate alternatives and recommend systems solutions. Maintain documentation for existing projects. Project and maintenance programming 30% Codes and documents new programs. Participate in creating test plans and assist in testing programs to meet specifications. Codes and documents existing programs to change functionality and/or eliminate bugs as required by the user community. Consults with Computing Services operations and help desk staff to ensure FIS and HRIS systems availability. Creates analyses, requirements, and design documentation for upgrade projects Assists Computing Services in the maintenance of Oracle databases in both the production and test versions for various FIS and HRIS applications, including contracts and materials management, etc. Backup maintenance of Oracle databases for production and test versions, for the FIS and HRIS applications Develop and maintain software interfaces and integration points (specifically student systems to finance, payroll to finance, purchasing to finance, and contracts to finance). Analyze information and the related business processes to be interfaced, with a view to providing enhancements to the design of the interface. Develop and maintain programs to extract and report specific HRIS and FIS data to students, staff, and/or government agencies (i.e.: T2202A, T4, T4A) Develop and maintain web and client/server applications to integrate or add functionality to the HRIS, FIS, materials management and contract systems. Administrative functions 15% Identify opportunities for improvements in processes. Assist in addressing queries/problems that have been directed to the CS Helpdesk. Provide information to assist the CS Helpdesk in resolution of queries/problems. Actively participate in scheduled administrative and project meetings, as required and applicable. Assist in very technical report-writing projects. Page 2

3 Classification Factors Share and reinforce skills and knowledge to utilize new methods and tools to develop and maintain software and/or Oracle database for the FIS and HRIS applications. Communication Obtain information from non-technical end-users and interpret that information to resolve technical problems. Excellent interpersonal skills (both oral and written) are essential as the incumbent will deal with AU staff from a number of departments as well as individuals with various levels of computing knowledge. Diplomacy, tact and persuasiveness will also be required to collect requirements, analyze procedures, and develop alternatives. The incumbent will ensure that departmental system activities will align with the goals of Athabasca University and Office of the CIO, and must maintain a good awareness of these goals and activities. The nature of this position, and the related duties and responsibilities require the incumbent to uphold the utmost degree of confidentiality. The incumbent will help to ensure that a good rapport is established and maintained between user departments and software development teams. Supervision Supervision will be needed for staff assigned to systems projects. The position will be responsible for training/advising staff with respect to new features/functionality in new and enhanced systems. Impact of Service or Product A high degree of proficiency in the maintenance and enhancement of the FIS and HRIS systems is critical to ensure the reliability and integrity of information and reports that drive management and executive decisions, administration of funds held on behalf of students, collection of revenues, contractual obligations, and disbursement of funds. The duties of this position will impact the work of the majority of staff members within Administration, Financial Services, Human Resources and other stakeholder departments. The satisfaction and morale of the employees within Page 3

4 these stakeholder departments is significantly influenced by the effective and efficient operations of the software systems utilized in the performance of their jobs on an ongoing basis. Maintenance of financial, human resources and reporting systems (e.g., payroll, leave tracking, vendor payments, purchasing, contracts) affect a great number of individuals both within and external to the University. Independence of Action This position is a specialized technical resource and works with a significant level of independence on projects. Systems programming, maintenance, testing, documentation and guidance are provided independently. Independently investigate, consult and resolve urgent software problems adversely affecting the operations of AU staff members using FIS and HRIS systems. Complexity The incumbent will be required to resolve software problems with respect to all FIS and HRIS systems. System-specific technical knowledge is required for each assigned application. In addition, the incumbent will have to be knowledgeable in the set of business rules, features and functionality that each system is performing. A basic knowledge of financial accounting, payroll and contract concepts and operations will assist the incumbent in understanding user requirements and meeting user needs. Planning The incumbent will be involved in planning as follows: Analyze software requirements of Administration, Financial Services and Human Resources to determine their needs and participate in making recommendations for systems acquisitions and/or enhancements. Analyze information and related processes with a view to providing enhancements to existing processes. Predict the ramifications of alternate solutions identified to alleviate or eliminate existing or potential problems. Identify opportunities for improvement in processes. Signatures for Section I Incumbent's Signature Supervisor's Signature Page 4

5 Section II Qualifications Includes education, experience, skills, abilities and any other special qualifications required. The qualifications relate to the position not the incumbent Required The position requires a four-year degree in computing science or a related discipline with concentration in computing science, and a minimum of five years direct experience in an computing environment, preferably in the maintenance of financial or human resource applications and/or database systems. Knowledge of financial accounting concepts is desirable. Specific knowledge of/experience in applications development/deployment in a UNIX/Linux with Oracle environment is required. Proven ability to thoroughly and logically analyze complex system applications, using both deductive and intuitive reasoning to recognize potential problem areas within a system and/or Oracle database is essential. Preferred Experience supporting financial and human resources/payroll applications and related information systems Experience with Perl (CGI, DBI, Tk), Visual Basic, C, Pro*C, Windows Server, and IIS Working knowledge of CODA Financials, Empath (Now Solutions), IBM Cognos Planning, Banner ERP and ITIL Signatures for Sections I and II Department Head Signature Executive Officer Signature Human Resources Review Page 5