Residence Requirements:

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS:  CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one present vacancy at the Erie County 

Examples of Duties:

An Associate Communications Manager assists with planning, developing, coordinating and monitoring the procurement, installation, operation and maintenance of telephone and other communications equipment in the County;

Monitors and evaluates network service level;

Assists in supervising maintenance of records and data for each location;

Assists in determining the telephone and communications needs of all locations of County departments;

Assists in monitoring and coordinates installations and maintenance of all communications equipment;

Responsible for preparation of and compliance with departmental budgets;

Assists in consulting with all department managers regarding their telephone needs;

Assists in coordinating the integration of voice and data networking;

Assists in monitoring new technologies and evaluates their application toErieCounty;

Assists in interfacing with outside contractors, i.e. operating telephone companies, suppliers and consultants;

Assists in providing training to County employees in the best use of the telephone system;

Assists in evaluating performance of communications equipment and services, prepares reports and other materials as required;

Assists in making recommendations to management regarding networks, communications equipment and methods of implementation of same;

Assists in coordinating the plans, functions and schedules of the communications staff;

Assists in implementing new operational procedures and techniques to improve the efficiency of the telecommunications function.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test: 

A)   Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of electronic data voice and data communication experience, at least one (1) year of which involved the design, management, installation, maintenance or repair of communications systems and/or equipment and one (1) year of supervisory experience; or:

B)   Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an associate’s degree and five (5) years of electronic data voice and data communication experience, at least one (1) year of which involved the design, management, installation, maintenance or repair of communications systems and/or equipment and one (1) year of supervisory experience; or:

C)   Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and seven (7) years of electronic data voice and data communication experience, at least one (1) year of which involved the design, management, installation, maintenance or repair of communications systems and/or equipment and one (1) year of supervisory experience; or:

D)   An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (C).

Notes:

1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting the experience requirements.

2. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application. All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Preparing written material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

2. Supervision

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

3. Telecommunications systems installation, servicing, troubleshooting and repair, including test equipment and tools

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the installation, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of telecommunications systems and related equipment, including testing and repair procedures, equipment, and tools.

4. Interpretation of technical manuals, drawings, and specifications

These questions test for the ability to read and understand technical written material, specifications, and diagrams involving telecommunications and related systems and equipment.

5. Telecommunications terminology, equipment, and operation

These questions test for knowledge of telecommunications and telephone systems terminology, technology and equipment; and the principles and practices involved in the operation of telephone and telecommunications systems.

6. Analysis and solution of local and long-distance telecommunications service, traffic, and cost problems

These questions test for knowledge of telecommunications and telephone systems traffic and service operating procedures; the ability to analyze and troubleshoot service problems; and the ability to calculate costs for various types of services based on cost information provided.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.