Residence Requirements:

THIS EXAMINATION IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BRANCH DIVISION OF INFORMATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES (DISS). At present there is one anticipated vacancy in the Erie County Division of Information and Support Services (DISS). The duration of all promotional eligible lists is four years from date of establishment unless otherwise indicated.

Examples of Duties:

A LAN Administrator is responsible for maintaining data processing local area network performance and overall local area network coordination for the Division of Information and Support Services; 

Monitors and maintains local area network performance, resources, security and data integrity to include the upgrade and installation of software as required;

Ensures the integrity of daily local area network backups;

Manages the file systems and shared local area network storage areas; i.e. routine e-mail database maintenance;

Troubleshoots local area network server problems;

Sets up user local area network accounts and access rights;

Provides local area network user support, trains and assists users to include but not limited to Microsoft Exchange 2000 and Microsoft Windows 2000;

Defines/controls printer operations, troubleshoots workstation problems, assists and maintains server operations and problems, develop/maintains user and procedural documentation;

Documents/monitors licensing information and application information;

Sets up user workstations for local area network, e-mail and word processing access;

Performs special projects as assigned by Information and Support administration;

Supports internet activity.

Qualifications:

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST:  Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class and must be serving and have served continuously on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class for 12 months immediately preceding the date of the written test in the position of Job Grade 12 plus the following before July 1, 2019:

A.) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years of electronic data processing experience, at least three (3) years of which included experience with local area networks (LAN), servers and related peripherals, personal computers and associated software; or;

B.) Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalence diploma and six (6) years of electronic data processing experience, at least three (3) years of which included experience with local area networks (LAN), servers and related peripherals, personal computers and associated software; or;

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

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants for designated positions in the Department of Social Services that may have access to federal tax information to perform his/her job duties shall be subject to a suitability background check investigation, including FBI fingerprinting, local law enforcement check, and verification check of citizenship/residency. A criminal record does not necessarily disqualify applicants from employment, rather an individualized determination will be made. The cost of the background check will be assumed by the Department of Social Services.

Notes:

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

Subjects of Examination:

The examination will consist of two parts: a rated evaluation of training and experience and a qualifying PC-administered test. You must pass the evaluation of training and experience in order to take the qualifying PC-administered test. You must pass both tests in order to be considered for appointment. Only your rating on the evaluation of training and experience will be considered when computing final scores.

Rated Evaluation of Training and Experience

You will complete a questionnaire that asks for specific information on your information technology education (formal degrees, IT-related training courses, certifications) and experience. You will also be asked to briefly describe a significant achievement in each of the job's areas and to provide the name and contact information for someone who can verify your information. The information you provide about your experience will be rated against the following areas: 

Computer Programming 

Network Administration 

Qualifying Tests:

Qualifying Multiple-Choice Test of Logical Reasoning and Interpreting Instructions for Computer-Related Positions

These questions test for ability to reason logically and interpret instructions in a computer-related context. They cover verbal and quantitative reasoning, flowchart interpretation and applying written directions. The verbal and quantitative reasoning questions include logical implications (e.g., if A and B, then C) and relations (e.g., greater than). Knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division is necessary, but neither mathematical sophistication nor computational speed is needed. The flowchart interpretation questions require prior knowledge of flowchart conventions. The interpreting instructions questions provide the instructions and specific rules for applying them. All the information needed to answer the questions is presented with the questions.

____________________

Qualifying Simulation Test on Working Effectively with Others to Solve Job-Related Problems

This test requires candidates to assume the role of a staff member in an Information Technology work group who is working with colleagues during a time of change in policy or procedure, in a particular agency. During the test, candidates will be required to deal with obstacles within the working environment, which includes peer relations and the demands of handling multiple tasks. Candidates will be required to demonstrate the ability to be flexible, creative and persistent as a team player. They will also need to demonstrate the ability to cooperate, show initiative, and establish positive working relationships with peers and administrators.

Qualifying test scores may be banked and applied to future examinations for titles that require the same test plan.

WAIVER POLICY FOR QUALIFYING TEST: If a candidate has previously passed an IT qualifying Test prepared by the New York State Department of Civil Service within the last two years and using the same test plan as announced, the qualifying test may be waived. A candidate requesting such a waiver must submit verifiable evidence of passing the qualifying test, including the name of the Civil Service agency that administered the test and the test date.

Retest Policy:  Candidates who fail the qualifying PC-administered test may request one retest by writing to the Erie County Department ofPersonnel.  A waiting period of 6 months is required before the retest is administered.

  INFORMATION FOR PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise indicated, the eligible list resulting from this examination will have a duration of four years and will not supersede existing promotional lists, if any.

RATINGS REQUIRED:  Test is rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70.  Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.

Points will be added to scores of candidates who achieve a passing mark as follows: Seniority:  For each year of service in the classified service:

Less than 1 year……………………..................…0 points

1 year up to 6 years…………….…........................1 point

Over 6 years up to 11 years.....………......….........2 points

Over 11 years up to 16 years….…........….........…3 points

Over 16 years up to 21 years………..................…4 points

Over 21 years………………………..................…5 points

VETERANS:  Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the examination.  You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment.  If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again.

**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.