Overview --> Appointments and Promotions Table of Contents --> Technical Staff and Departmental Assistants --> Information Systems Technical Career Paths

Within the Information Systems Career Path, there are currently six major areas of specialization, intended to represent the primary work concentration for any one position. These specializations are:

• Computer and Communications Systems
• Computer Operations
• Network Engineering
• Programming/Analysis
• Systems Programming
• Library Systems

It is highly likely that positions within this career path have responsibilities that overlap with two or more of the specializations. When classifying the positions, every effort will be made to reflect the most dominant set of job duties in designating the area of specialization.

The following pages describe the job, duties, and minimum desired hiring qualifications for positions on the Information Systems Ladder. Individuals in all positions must be willing and able to go to sea for extended periods if required.

Same as for Science/Research Technical Career Path.

With close supervision, uses established procedures to perform prescribed tasks related to information or library systems of oceanographic research.

• assists in support, installation, operation, or repair of computer, data communication, or peripheral equipment with specific instructions and review of work upon completion;
• may assist in daily operation of a library unit.

Desired Qualifications:

High School or equivalent plus one year experience, or Technical School training beyond high school level. Applicants are expected to have a basic understanding of and facility with common practical skills related to their area of work.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSISTANT II

With some supervision, applies acquired knowledge of established procedures to perform the prescribed tasks related to information or library systems support of oceanographic research.

Characteristic Duties:

• assists in support, installation, operation, documentation, or repair of computer, data communication, or peripheral equipment with instruction and advice; exercises judgment in selecting or adapting procedures and equipment;
• re-configures hardware and software systems when necessary, documenting significant activities in the form of corrective maintenance reports, operating manuals, etc.;
• conducts various tests or experiments to troubleshoot and correct minor malfunctions;
• may perform routine library operational tasks.

Desired Qualifications:

High School or equivalent plus three years' experience, or Technical School training plus one year related experience, or one to two years' progress toward a computer science or related degree.

• performs non-routine assignments of substantial variety and complexity given well-defined objectives and technical advice from a supervisor or Information Systems staff member;
• may serve as a source of information on established library policies and procedures;
• supports, installs, programs, documents, maintains, or operates computers, data communications, or peripheral equipment;
• may direct field operations in area of specialization and/or may supervise work of other assistants.

Desired Qualifications:

High School or equivalent plus six years' experience, or Technical School training plus four years' practical experience, or two to three years' progress toward a computer science or related degree.

• with established guidelines, is responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting significant and often critical components of an information systems or scientific effort;
• directs field operations in area of specialization and/or may supervise work of other assistants;
• supports, installs, programs, documents, maintains, or operates computers, data communications, or peripheral equipment.

Desired Qualifications:

Considerable experience in specialized field; consistently exceptional performance and a demonstrated record of reliable and timely task completion; invaluable long-term experience at the Institution coupled with technical support of the highest quality.

• with established guidelines, is responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting significant and often critical components of an information systems of scientific effort;
• directs field operations in area of speciality and/or may supervise work of other assistants;
• supports, installs, programs, documents, maintains, or operates computers, data communications, or peripheral equipment.

Desired Qualifications:

Substantial experience as a Senior Information Systems Assistant I; consistently exceptional performance and a demonstrated superior record of reliable and timely task completion where direction of a team effort is required. Individuals at this level often combine invaluable experience and the ability to manage a support group with a focus on quality, and function as an operational resource.

• through the use of standard computing, library, and information systems practices and principles, participates in library or information systems applications design and implementation efforts;
• designs, programs, modifies, implements, installs, or maintains component, computing, communication, library, operating or application systems as appropriate;
• participates in writing of reports and documentation of methods and procedures;
• develops basic practical information or library system skills.

Desired Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a specifically related field with minimal experience, or evidence of appropriate computer skills gained through experience in the absence of a formal degree. (Candidates with a Bachelor's degree and minimal experience in an unrelated field will likely start on the Department Assistant ladder.) Career Potential:As an initial position on the Technical Ladder, a Information Systems Associate I is not expected to remain at this level for more than two to three years. During this time, the Information Systems Associate I is expected to demonstrate appropriate skills, intellectual motivation, and growth in independence and creativity to warrant promotion to the Information Systems Associate II position. Failure to reach the level of Information Systems Associate II within two to three years may warrant reclassification or termination.

• conceptualize solutions to information or library systems problems;
• analyze, design, program, modify, implement, install, maintain, or troubleshoot difficult component, library, computer, communication, operating system, or information system applications as appropriate;
• exercises creativity regarding adaptations or modifications to information or library systems;
• participates in writing of reports and documentation and may single-author results;
• may engage in oral communication to describe functions of information or library systems or services;
• may supervise other personnel.

Desired Qualifications:

Master's degree in a specifically related field with minimal experience, or Bachelor's degree in a related field with several years of relevant experience, or demonstrated competency as an Information Systems Associate I, or significant, progressive independence and skill development at the Information Systems Assistant III or Senior Information Systems Assistant levels or equivalent positions on the other technical ladders, or equivalent work experience in the absence of a formal degree. (Candidates with a Master's degree in an unrelated field and minimal relevant experience will likely start on the Department Assistant ladder.) Career Potential:An Information Systems Associate II will have demonstrated initial competence in one or more specialized areas of computer or research support. The opportunity exists for assumption of increased technical and/or managerial responsibilities based on the continued development of expertise. While there is no time limit to appointment at this rank, promotion within the Technical Staff is expected. To that end, promotion consideration can occur as early as the third year in rank; formal consideration should normally occur within five or six years in rank.

• develops a major portion of the solutions for complex information or library systems, with supervision consisting primarily of milestone progress reviews;
• conducts analysis or design of new approaches to solve complex information system problems requiring broad knowledge of information or library system fields;
• plays a significant role in report writing or proposal preparation and may single author results as appropriate;
• interact with Scientific and Technical Staff colleagues for utilization of information or library systems expertise in the solution of research and engineering problems;
• may supervise other personnel or may operate as independent researcher.

Desired Qualifications:

Ph.D. in a related field, or Master's in a related field with several years of relevant experience, or Bachelor's in a related field with more than five years of experience. In the absence of a formal degree, considerable equivalent work experience is required. Successful candidates will have demonstrated the technical skill, motivation, independence, and creativity necessary to complete difficult tasks. Career Potential:While there is no appropriate time limit for appointment at this rank, exceptional individuals will be promoted. Candidates should develop a mastery of specialized techniques or ingenuity and creativity in selecting and evaluating approaches to problems. They should develop the ability to apply an analytical approach to solutions and to assimilate the details and significance of various analyses, procedures, and tests prior to being considered for promotion.

• develops major portions of large complex information systems which operate over a wide range of current technologies, without supervision;
• fulfills all the characteristic duties appropriate to an ISAssociate III, but with a broader view and understanding of information systems and their applications to and role in marine science;
• exercises substantial creativity, motivation, and independence in information systems project development;
• may serve as a principal investigator, with full responsibility for proposal preparation, grant financial and management oversight, and the supervision of the staff necessary to support the grant activities;
• produces research findings for publication and/or reports to funding agencies.

Desired Qualifications:

Appropriate academic background enhanced by more than 10 years of specifically related experience. All candidates must possess demonstrated excellence within a related field, i.e., a record of superior accomplishment--such as patents, publications, or documented instrumentation or systems--which provides objective evidence of original professional contributions and/or exceptional management skills. Career Potential:There is no appropriate time limit at this rank. Exceptional individuals can be considered for promotion when they have demonstrated creativity and considerable independent scientific judgment, as well as a demonstrated effectiveness as a project and scientific manager. Recognition within the Institution and within the broader oceanographic community as an authority in the field, is normally a prerequisite for promotion.

• has full technical and managerial responsibility for evaluating, organizing, and coordinating major information systems efforts as a direct requirement of a scientific project, as an independent project, or as a consequence of key technological developments;
• participates at the highest Institution level for the development of overall scientific or information system strategies, the identification of areas for information systems emphasis, and the formulation of information systems techniques and strategies;
• speaks for and represents the Institution's interests in high-level planning activities concerned with information system developments, externally to the Institution;
• operates as a laboratory head, unit head or independent researcher, with full supervisory and management responsibilities;
• through research endeavors, information system creation, and the preparation of research results and reports, contributes important techniques and designs that significantly impact the ways different aspects of ocean science are performed.

Desired Qualifications:

Appropriate academic background or its equivalent relevant work experience, enhanced by more than 15 years of increasingly successful and creative achievement. Candidates for this rank are recognized as leaders and authorities in their field through their original contributions. They must have had far-reaching impact on the scientific activities of the Institution and their field. They should have demonstrated high levels of creativity and independence (i.e., a record of superior accomplishment--such as patents, publications, or documented instrumentation-which provides objective evidence of original professional contributions) with foresight and judgment in planning, organizing, and guiding extensive and complex information systems projects.