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Job Requisition ID:

2025-00610

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Group:

Staff

Job Category:

IT Support

Employment Type:

Temporary

Department:

Information Systems and Technology - Enterprise Systems

Hiring Range:

$78,214.70 - $97,768.38

Posting Information:

Term - 2 years

Internal posting closes Thursday October 2nd at 11:59 AM

Job Description:

General Accountability

The Information Systems Specialist is accountable to an IST director or designate. The Information Systems Specialist is responsible for providing technical coordination, guidance, and support, for one or more of PeopleSoft HRMS, PeopleSoft SA, Oracle Government Financials, Cognos decision support applications, as well as other acquired and/or University developed information systems. Information Systems Specialists must interact well with other staff throughout IST, as well as IST clients and vendors. The Information Systems Specialist must maintain familiarity with, comply with, and at all times promote, the University’s policies and its directives related to information systems and technology.

Nature and Scope

The University's administrative information systems are purchased and/or built applications that are functionally robust and technically complex. This complexity encompasses all aspects of the technical infrastructure supporting these applications' life cycles; network and operating systems layer, database layer, programming languages, and delivery methods (e.g. client/server, web), as well as the implementation and support methodologies themselves.

The Information Systems Specialist is directly involved throughout the life cycle of these applications. The Specialist is also involved with other projects and working groups within IST as well as the provision of ongoing application support for information systems in production. The responsibilities and assignments of Information Systems Specialists encompass a wide range of specializations that currently include:

1. application design, development, and support

• conducting business analysis at the process level
• designing system logic
• programming and testing
• documentation
• may encompass system integration, system interfaces, system customizations, or complete applications
• support of production systems in terms of problem analysis and solution development
• participate in the evaluation and selection of programming languages, tools, methodologies, etc.

1. application administration

• ensure appropriate applications infrastructure exists for development and production work
• participate in the evaluation and selection of programming languages, tools, methodologies, etc.
• coordination of technical components within various projects
• proactive monitoring of technical directions and strategies of existing applications and tools
• provide technical guidance and support for development activities
• strategic technical architecture planning

1. database administration

• ensure appropriate infrastructure exists for development and production databases
• participate in the evaluation and selection of database systems, tools, methodologies, etc.
• proactive monitoring of technical directions and strategies of existing database systems and tools
• provide technical guidance and support for development activities
• strategic technical architecture planning for database system components
• database system administration including installation, tuning, performance monitoring, and upgrading

1. project leadership & management

• conducting business analysis at the department and/or University level
• designing system logic
• project planning, communication, etc.
• assignment of tasks and supervision of work for technical and functional staff dedicated to the project
• provide mentoring support for junior staff (technically as well as functional knowledge specific to the assignment)
• strategic business information systems planning

An Information Systems Specialist is expected to remain technically current with the tools and the applications that they are supporting, as well as with emerging technologies related to these systems.

The nature of these assignments is such that an Information Systems Specialist may be required to work irregular hours on occasion, and/or be available on-call to support production applications.

A university degree in a related discipline, or equivalent, is required.

Statistical Data

Specific Accountabilities

Each level of the Specialist position corresponds to increases in depth and breadth of expertise with information systems technologies, applications, project management, and institutional accountability.

Core Competencies

• Hardware
  • General knowledge of computer hardware including desktop and network servers and how it integrates with information systems and databases. Awareness of capabilities and limitations of various configurations.
• Networking
  • A general knowledge of network connectivity, integration, and protocols.
• Software Development
  • Knowledge of software development tools, theories, methodologies, and standards.

Computing and Database Systems

• General knowledge of operating systems and understanding of database constructs.

Applications Support

• Knowledge of information systems from functional and technical perspectives. Knowledge of toolsets utilized to build, implement, and support these information systems. This overall knowledge of the application’s development environment may include (but is not limited to) development tools, utilities, database management systems desktop applications, web development, systems analysis and design, systems development and support methodologies, project management.

Problem Solving

• Ability to apply knowledge to the process of assessing and resolving problems.

Communications

• Ability to understand and communicate complex technical concepts in ways that are appropriate to the requirements of the information technology client or group.

Organization Skills

• Ability to effectively plan, prioritize, and manage, multiple concurrent assignments and tasks.

Teamwork and Leadership

• Ability to work successfully in a team-oriented matrix management model where team size and role varies by assignment.

Career Path for an Information Systems Specialist

The following descriptions make reference to levels of expertise: foundation, proficiency, in-depth, and expert. The definitions for these levels can be found in the IST Career Paths Competencies Table.

The foundation level position (USG9), and proficient level position (USG10) expect staff to develop general understandings of information systems concepts, University departments and information systems, and proficiency in specific technical areas.

In most cases, with the approval of a director, Information Systems Specialists (USG11-USG14) will be required to focus their technical skill development in one of the following directions: applications development, applications administration, database administration, project management.

Information Systems Specialists are generally expected to develop their skills to at least the level of a USG11. Advancements to higher levels are in recognition of ability, skills that demonstrate expert level knowledge in a range of technical and/or functional areas, as well as increased levels of experience and responsibility.

USG9

An entry level position, staff are generally responsible for their own work and work independently on assigned responsibilities within specific application areas or project assignments. Staff are expected to develop and demonstrate foundation and proficiency level knowledge and skills in the following:

• foundation level knowledge of supported desktop computing environments and standard desktop applications
• foundation level knowledge of software development, encompassing systems analysis and design concepts, development
• foundation level knowledge of applications support with an understanding of at least one university supported development environment, development tools, and application area
• foundation level of accountability
• proficient level of problem solving skills
• proficient level of communication skills

USG10

As experienced, competent professionals, staff are generally responsible for their own work and work independently on assigned responsibilities within specific application areas or project assignments with only general direction required. In addition to a foundation level of Accountability, staff are expected to develop and demonstrate foundation, proficiency, and in-depth level knowledge and skills in the following:

• foundation level knowledge of organization and planning skills
• foundation level of leadership skills
• proficient level knowledge of supported desktop computing environments and standard desktop applications
• proficient level knowledge of software development, encompassing systems analysis and design concepts, development
• proficient level knowledge of applications support with an understanding of at least one university supported development environment, development tools, and application area
• in-depth level of problem solving skills
• in-depth level of communication skills

USG11

This senior working level position has a demonstrated track record of successes and an in-depth knowledge in one of the following areas: Software Development, Project Leadership, Applications Administration, Database Administration. Depending upon the assignment they may also have direct responsibility for assigning tasks and monitoring progress of more junior staff. Staff at this level are expected to develop and demonstrate proficiency level of Accountability, and knowledge and skills in at least one of the following:

• proficient level of leadership skills
• proficient level knowledge of project management skills, or
• proficient level knowledge of applications administration, or
• proficient level knowledge of database administration, or
• proficient level knowledge of software development technologies (development tools, programming languages, decision-support, web, etc.),

As well as in-depth level knowledge and skills in the following:

• in-depth knowledge of those aspects of software development that include systems analysis and design concepts, development methodologies
• in-depth organization and planning skills
• in-depth knowledge of at least one university supported development environment, development toolset, and application area

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.