IT Technical Associate

Primary Function

Primary functions include: designing, managing, tracking, and maintaining fiber optic network assets for iFiber, Fiber Ventures, and Northern Illinois University.
Duties and Responsibilities (generally)

1. Supports Broadband Network Outside Plant Assets

• Manage fiber contractors schedule, work, and deliverables for installations, decommissions, and repairs.
• Maintain accurate records on fiber splice diagrams, as-builts, locations, and geographic coordinates of all fiber plant assets.
• Accountable to ensure any 3rd party agencies, such as JULIE /811, have up to date, accurate data on all outside plant assets.
• Work with Sales on design and capacity-checking to ensure that opportunities are viable to sell

2. Damage and Maintenance Work

• Collect and calculate all labor and material costs in damages and maintenance work
• Provide information to the Damage Assessment Coordinator to facilitate collection from responsible parties.
• Provide information to the Project Coordinator to reconcile costs and close out maintenance.

3. Geographic Information Systems ( GIS )

• Maintain accurate records and layers of the current fiber infrastructure in any GIS -related systems
• Maintain access and permissions for all users of the GIS system (local and hosted)
• Ensure local and hosted systems are synchronized

4. Outside Plant Inventory

• Ensure that inventory provider has an accurate count of items
• Coordinate with inventory location provider on procurement on standard and special order items, and ensure that best procurement processes are followed

5. Field Work

• Checking in hand holes in a systematic pattern for evaluation and photographs of cable condition, slack loop approximate length, splice case condition, and any other notable items are documented
• Physically oversee construction, splicing, and other field activities when appropriate

6. Project Management

• Create appropriate Project Management documents which include, but are not limited to, charters, schedules, and customer deliverables.
• Is responsible for planning and overseeing projects with attention to detail from initiation through completion.
• Coordinate people and processes to deliver projects on time and within budget
• Define resource requirements and manage resource availability & allocations.
• Tracking projects in SalesForce and providing regular reports on project status to project team and key stakeholders.
• Managing the relationship and communication with the client and all stakeholders, ensuring the project is delivered to their satisfaction.

7. Other duties as assigned
Minimum Required Qualifications for this position

1. Any combination totaling two (2) years from the following categories:
A. progressively more responsible work experience in an Information Technology (IT) related profession
B. college course work which included Information Technology (IT), IT Management, or a closely related discipline, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
- 60 semester hours or Associate’s Degree equals one (1) year
- 90-120 semester hours or Bachelor’s Degree equals two (2) years
2. Demonstrated professional work experience with a fiber optic network environment including enterprise or carrier networking environments utilizing single-mode fiber
3. Demonstrated professional work experience reading Optical Time-domain Reflectometer ( OTDR ) results.

Specialty Factors (Additional Required Qualifications)

Education and Experience Preferred

GIS certificate from an accredited University or 5 years experience working with ArcGIS, AutoCAD, or equivalent system

List the knowledge, skills, and abilities critical to the performance of this position.

Proficient in SalesForce, Adobe Acrobat
Prior use of ArcGIS and/or 3GIS
Working Hours
8:00-4:30
Minimum Pay Rate (Hourly or Monthly)
$33.34/hour
Hiring Rate Information

Actual hiring rate is commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity; position includes a robust benefits package to eligible applicants.

Posting Date
11/24/2021
Closing Date
01/03/2022
Priority Review Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position, however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience.

If you have education and/or training in excess of what is required, we encourage you to upload your unofficial transcripts.

After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this particular position.

Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu . Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.

We STRONGLY recommend that contact information used in your online profile be personal use, not professional/work information: personal email address, home address, and phone numbers. The information you provide is used to make contact on search updates, department referrals and interviews, etc. We must be able to relay sensitive and important information in a way that protects your privacy concerning job search activity, now and in the future.

The Civil Service examination for this classification is a Credentials Assessment, and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Once this position has been filled, all names will be removed from the employment register in accordance with State Universities Civil Service System rule.

If eligible for Veteran’s Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application in order to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.

Click on Information Technology Technical Associate for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.

Please click Human Resource Services – Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University’s benefits package.

Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
Application Procedures

Link to Department Homepage
www.niunet.niu.edu
Physical Demands

Must be able to attend in-person meetings, drive to job sites and routes, sit or stand for long periods of time.
Remote work is available, but there will be expectations to be in person
EEO Statement

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560
Is Background Check Required
Yes
Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person’s disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Education ( AAEOE ) at ada@niu.edu .

Clery Act Information

NIU provides information regarding campus security, personal and fire safety, including topics such as: crime prevention, emergency response procedures and crime reporting policies, in addition to crime and fire statistics for the most recent three calendar years. The Annual Security Report containing security and safety information is available at www.safety.niu.edu/clery or by contacting the University Police Department and Public Safety Department at 815-753-9628 to receive a hard copy. The Annual Fire Safety Report is available at www.niu.edu/clery/fire_report.pdf or by contacting the Environmental Health and Safety Department at 815-753-0404 to receive a hard copy.

Quick Link
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/60242
Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
   • Yes
   • No
   • Not Applicable
2. * Please rate your level of professional work experience with a fiber optic network environment including enterprise or carrier networking environments utilizing single-mode fiber.
   • Work experience not directly related to the job function described
   • Work experience at a minimum level of competency relevant to the job function described, requiring some assistance and guidance.
   • Work experience at a high level of competency relevant to the job function described, performed independently.
3. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (“See Résumé” is not an acceptable response.)
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
4. * Please rate your level of professional work experience reading Optical Time-domain Reflectometer (OTDR) results.
   • Work experience not directly related to the job function described
   • Work experience at a minimum level of competency relevant to the job function described, requiring some assistance and guidance.
   • Work experience at a high level of competency relevant to the job function described, performed independently.
5. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (“See Résumé” is not an acceptable response.)
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   

Applicant Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. List of at least 3 References

Optional Documents

1. Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
2. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
3. Certifications/Licensure #1