1. Healthcare

THE GOVERNORS OF ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM Job Description Job Title: Computer Systems Manager This is a permanent full time position funded by grant in aid from the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and by other research grants. Overview of the Post: The Computer Systems Manager will be responsible for the development and maintenance of computer systems at the Armagh Observatory, including the main web and email servers, the high-­‐performance systems, desk-­‐top systems used by astronomers and students, telescope and instrument control systems, and computers used by administrative and financial support staff. The Computer Systems Manager will be responsible for troubleshooting and the installation and maintenance of appropriate software as required, and for assisting users resolve problems. The Computer Systems Manager will also have overall responsibility for administration of the computer systems, including computer accounts, electronic mail, web and database services and network security. Salary and Holidays • Based on the Northern Ireland Civil Service ICT Level 5 (Staff Officer and Analogous Grades) pay scale, which currently ranges from £28,500 to £31,135. The starting point is normally the bottom of the scale, but may exceptionally be higher depending on experience. • No additional payment will be made for hours worked in addition to the normal 35 hour week for the post (based around the Armagh Observatory normal office hours -­‐ 9am to 5pm). The Employer may require the person appointed to work additional hours to fully discharge the responsibilities of the post. Time off in lieu will be granted for additional hours worked. • The person appointed will be entitled to 30 days annual leave plus 11 public and privilege holidays. The leave year commences on 1 January and new entrants will be entitled to leave proportionate to completed months of service. Location • The Observatory is located on College Hill, Armagh. Probation Period • The successful candidate will be required to complete a standard period of probation, lasting 6 months. 1 Key Tasks and Responsibilities Development and Maintenance of Computer Systems, including main servers, high-­‐
performance systems, and users’ desktop and portable computer systems • Install and maintain operating systems, Windows, Mac OS X, Linux (Fedora, OpenSuse, Centos, Ubuntu). • Maintain the VOIP phone system. • Provide System Support for approximately 30 users. • Maintain backups for users’ and server computer systems (approximately 40 systems). • Install, maintain and monitor web servers. • Maintain supplies of computer consumables. • Participate in procurement and installation of computer equipment. • Investigate, advise and encourage uptake of new technologies. • Prepare business cases and post-­‐project evaluations for technical equipment. Installation and Maintenance of Software Systems • Configuration and Licence Management. • Provide HELPdesk service to users. • Astronomical research software including Starlink, IRAF, HEASOFT, SciSoft, CASA, MIRAID, PyRAF, SolarSoft, etc. • Other research software including MatLab, Mathematica, Fortran, IDL, Python, PySALT, LaTeX, Java, etc. • Office software including MS Office, Adobe Flash and Acrobat, printer drivers and appropriate updates. Administration of User Services • Administration of electronic Mail services. • Administration of computer accounts, including biannual reviews. • Administration of VOIP accounts. • Diagnosis and resolution of computer and network issues raised by users. Miscellaneous IT Services • Provide cover for relevant tasks normally carried out by the Technical Support Officer (e.g. computer hardware, network and other IT services). • Carry out other duties not specified but within the general scope of the post and capabilities of the post holder, as determined by the Line Manager or the Director. 2 Person Specification JOB TITLE: Computer Systems Manager Education/Qualifications Essential Desirable • Technical, engineering or scientific • Systems administration qualifications or degree or equivalent qualification equivalent experience e.g. OR alternatively, manufacturer’s system administration experience with substantial computer course certificate science or ICT content • Networking qualifications or experience e.g. manufacturer’s networking course certificate • An additional higher level qualification, for example, MS OR other relevant qualification Experience Essential Desirable • A minimum of 2 year’s experience of • At least 1 year’s experience of managing UNIX-­‐type operating systems astronomical or other scientific (Mac OS X, Linux) including installation equipment and/or software and configuration • At least 1 year’s experience of network installation, configuration and management (TCP/IP over Ethernet) Skills, Abilities and Knowledge Essential • Working knowledge of major computing operating systems including Mac OS X, Linux (Fedora, OpenSuse, Ubuntu) and Windows • Knowledge of firewall configuration, principles and operation • Ability to diagnose and, where possible, to correct hardware, software and network faults • Good written and oral communication skills, • Must be able to provide support and explain IT issues to non IT staff and stakeholders • Self-­‐motivated and able to work without Desirable • Experience of providing support to other computer users • Demonstrable interest or qualification in science or astronomy • Familiar with network services e.g. NFS, SMB, CIFS Knowledge of TCP/IP and Ethernet protocols 3 supervision Skills, Abilities and Knowledge (continued) Essential Desirable • Have effective organisational skills, be • able to manage competing priorities combined with the ability to meet deadlines • Ability to seek and accept responsibility • Ability to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational/team objectives Shortlisting Criteria In addition to the above qualifications and experience, representatives of the Governors of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium reserve the right to shortlist only those candidates who satisfy one or more of the desirable criteria. 4 THE GOVERNORS OF ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM Additional Information Computer Systems Manager Pre-­‐Employment Checks: All offers of employment will be conditional with the offer clearly being subject to the candidate’s relevant pre-­‐employment checks being returned satisfactorily. •
Proof of identity and entitlement to work in Northern Ireland; •
Proof of relevant qualifications; •
Two references; •
Criminal Convictions Disclosure. Please note that if a candidate is recommended for appointment he or she must complete the pre-­‐employment checks, outlined above, within 10 working days, failing which, the offer of employment may be withdrawn. Receipt of Applications: Completed applications must be received by 3 pm on 30 January 2015. Please note it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that his or her application form is submitted and received by this closing date and time. No late application forms will be considered. No application forms, or supporting information in respect of an already submitted application form, will be considered after this date and time. Short-­‐listing and Interview Date: It is envisaged that short listing for this post will take place on 2 -­‐ 6 February 2015. It is envisaged that interviews will take place on 23 -­‐ 27 February 2015. 5 ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM -­‐ Background Information The Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium are distinct institutions within a single statutory corporation, “The Governors of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium”. The principal function of the Armagh Observatory, founded in 1789, is to undertake original research of a world-­‐class academic standard that broadens and expands our understanding of astronomy and related sciences and to communicate this knowledge to the wider public. The corporation’s incorporating legislation is the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. The organisation is classified as a Non-­‐Departmental Public Body within the Northern Ireland public sector and is sponsored by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). The governing structure comprises the Board of Governors and the Management Committee, a sub-­‐Committee of the Board of Governors. The organisation currently receives annual funding from DCAL of approximately £1.5m and makes bids to DCAL for additional in-­‐year recurrent and capital funding. The Armagh Observatory also currently receives in excess of £300k per annum grant funding from research funding bodies in the UK and Ireland for astronomical research projects. The Armagh Observatory is located on a 14 acre site within the City of Armagh and is led by a Director. The Observatory has a complement of approximately 30 research staff, students and support staff and regularly hosts academic guests from other institutions. The research staff make observations of stars, galaxies, the Sun, comets and asteroids etc. using both ground based telescopes in locations such as South Africa, Chile and the Canary Islands and also satellite based instruments managed by the European and Japanese Space Agencies and NASA. A number of observational programmes are located on the Observatory site including daily meteorological readings contributing to the Observatory’s unique meteorological series and climate archive. The data obtained from these observational programmes are analysed using the computer facilities at Armagh Observatory and the results are published in international scientific journals. The goal is to contribute to the understanding of the universe and to communicate that knowledge to the public. Computer facilities Computer facilities currently comprise approximately 40 desktop systems (Linux and MacOS X), a central Linux server (Mail, Web, DNS, NIS, DHCP) and two ancillary web servers. Additionally two other web servers are hosted for partner organisations. The local area network extends across 6 buildings. It is CAT5 and fibre Ethernet based running at 1 Gbps with currently 11 managed switches. There is also site-­‐wide wireless access. The site has a 100Mbps upstream and downstream internet link. The firewall is configured and managed in-­‐house. The servers, firewall and over 100TB of RAID storage are housed in 3 dedicated computer rooms, one of which is fully air-­‐conditioned. The RAID storage is part of an automated backup system and is also used for astronomical data storage. Additionally, 4 rack mounted multi-­‐processor servers are dedicated to astronomical computations. The 6 Observatory also has access to super-­‐computer facilities at the Irish Centre for High-­‐End Computing (ICHEC). Other core technical facilities include 12 networked printers, digital projectors, video-­‐
conferencing equipment, digital displays, digital still and video cameras, and network security cameras. The Observatory operates an in-­‐house VOIP telephony system based on an Asterisk PBX with both VOIP trunk lines and ISDN lines. There are a number of active on-­‐
site monitoring and observational programmes using telescopes, CCD imaging systems and computer control systems and enclosures, for which systems support is required. Further details about the work and future plans and objectives of the Armagh Observatory, the latest set of audited accounts, minutes of the meetings of the Board of Governors and Management Committee and other information are available on the website at www.arm.ac.uk 7