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Remuneration Surveys > Australian Computer Society Remuneration Survey Report > Responsibility Levels

AUSTRALIAN COMPUTER SOCIETY REMUNERATION SURVEY REPORT

RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL DEFINITIONS

Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5

LEVEL 1

Definition:

Persons at this level undertake programming under general direction and a variety of information technology work under routine direction. The work at this level involves the application of knowledge of information technology and information technology techniques and principles and requires initiative and judgement.

Features:

This level includes persons who have relevant tertiary training but little or no practical experience in information technology work. It also includes persons who have significant relevant experience in a specialist area. As persons at this level become more experienced their work will require progressively less review and direction and they would be expected to exercise more individual initiative and judgement. Persons at this level may be required to supervise ancillary staff.

Typical Duties:

The duties listed below are typical of this work level.

Undertake programming and/or elements of systems analysis and systems design.
Investigate and implement requirements to rectify or enhance existing computer systems.
Provide technical advice to subject matter staff undertaking their own programming.
Examine and report on systems software and communications systems.
Monitor performance of, and investigate failures in, computer systems and systems software.

LEVEL 2

Definition:

Persons at this level undertake programming under limited direction or systems analysis, systems design or specialist activities under general direction.

Features:

Persons at this level are expected to have relevant tertiary training and be experienced and capable of performing a wide range of information technology work. The direction received varies according to an individual’s experience and the type of work performed. They may work as individuals, as members of a team or as team leaders depending on the size and complexity of projects.

Persons at this level are required to be technically competent at systems analysis, systems design or specialist activities and are expected to demonstrate originality and resourcefulness. They have sound liaison and communication skills which would be expected to develop with experience at this level. The ability to supervise staff or lead a team may be required. A person at this level would be expected to set work priorities and develop work procedures and practices.

Typical Duties:

The duties listed below are typical of this work level.

Provide technical support to operational computer systems.
Undertake systems analysis and/or systems design and more complex programming tasks.
Liaise with users/clients and provide advice on a range of information technology problems.
Evaluate and report on the operational efficiency of computer systems and communications systems.
Supervise staff undertaking the development or maintenance of computer systems.
Investigate and report on the application of new information technology concepts and information technology techniques.

LEVEL 3

Definition:

Persons at this level undertake information technology work requiring considerable originality, independence, initiative and judgement under limited direction.

Features:

The work at this level includes directing the development, modification and/or maintenance of computer systems and/or providing advice on specialist activities. Persons occupying these positions have tertiary qualifications in information technology together with wide experience and may be the highest level of reference for information technology specialist advice in an organisation. They are expected to have well developed liaison and communication skills and the capacity to undertake high level investigations.

A common role performed is that of a team leader who actively participates in the work of the team. The team leader would manage the team’s work, allocate resources and resolve complex technical problems requiring, in some instances, a high degree of knowledge of specialist activities. A specialist at this level would provide advice on technical issues and/or provide technical direction which is significant to programs or functions.

Decisions taken at this level may have a major impact on the operation of the work area. Persons at this level may be required to represent the organisation on specialist information technology issues.

Typical Duties:

The duties listed below are typical of this work level.

Lead a team developing computer systems or undertaking specialist activities, including technical activities, and provide associated advice.
Examine long term information technology requirements, suggest alternative plans and strategies and report on their feasibility.
Liaise with subject matter staff undertaking their own programming and provide advice on complex information technology problems.
Manage computing services for an organisation where these are limited in size, scope and/or complexity.
Implement complex and leading edge solutions with significant impact on the organisation’s information technology work.
Undertake information technology work requiring technical skills, the use of advanced information technology methods and techniques, and the exercise of considerable judgement.
Direct the maintenance and modification of computer systems.

LEVEL 4

Definition:

Persons at this level undertake information technology work which involves a high level of management skill or a high level of specialist activities under broad direction.

Persons at this level may co-ordinate the overall development and maintenance of computer systems and computing services exercising a high degree of independence in the formulation of plans, objectives and policies. They may perform very high level specialist activities.

Features:

Work at this level commonly involves managing a number of teams and management responsibilities would include allocation of resources, formulation of work programs, setting standards and priorities, clarification of policy issues and evaluating results. Specialists at this level would undertake and/or direct investigations in an area of specialist activities and would be expected to make a substantial contribution to the technical aspects of the investigations. The advice on technical issues and technical direction provided by persons at this level would be of major importance to programs and functions.

Persons occupying these positions would have tertiary qualifications in information technology together with significant experience in a number of information technology areas.

Persons at this level exercise a high degree of independence and judgement in formulating priorities or resolving complex information technology issues and are accountable for outcomes within their area of responsibility and within constraints and objectives agreed with senior management. Decisions taken may have a significant impact on the operations of the work area and elsewhere within the organisation.

A high order of liaison and communication skills would be expected of persons at this level. They may be required to represent, and negotiate on behalf of, the organisation on complex information technology issues.

Typical Duties:

The duties listed below are typical of this work level.

Direct two or more teams undertaking specialist activities.
Manage two or more teams engaged in developing and maintaining computer systems or engaged in a large scale computer systems project.
Initiate research and direct investigations in a number of specialist activities or a complex specialist activity and provide high level advice.
Co-ordinate the development of objectives and strategies for meeting and integrating long-term information technology requirements.
Formulate and implement complex information technology policies, strategic plans or service delivery projects.
Co-ordinate and recommend policies for the development and maintenance of computer systems.
Control computing services for an organisation where these are of large scale, scope and/or complexity.
Investigate and suggest solutions to highly complex information technology issues.

LEVEL 5

Definition:

Persons at this level usually report directly to a Chief Executive Officer and would be required to:

manage a major information technology function/work area involving activities of considerable variety or complexity, extensive co-ordination and unusually significant responsibilities for human/financial resources; OR
co-ordinate information technology projects involving large numbers of Information Technology officers and significant information technology requirements; OR
initiate, plan and conduct information technology projects of considerable breadth which contribute significantly to the development of agency or Service-wide policy or require resolution of highly complex information issues; OR
undertake particularly complex specialist activities which require expert knowledge of information technology and information technology techniques and principles in a specialised field and a high degree of originality and independent judgement in the constant adaptation of existing information technology principles to new and unusual problems. This work would involve frequent changes in policy, program or technological requirements.

Features:

Persons at this level would be expected to provide overall direction on information technology and computing services to the organisation and make a significant contribution to corporate strategic planning and information technology policies.

Persons at this level are expected to demonstrate, in varying degrees

management skills of a high order together with considerable knowledge of significant aspects of information technology;
"technical" competencies of the highest level in a field or fields of information technology critical to the organisation requiring a high degree of originality and analytical and conceptual skills in the resolution of highly complex issues; and
highly developed liaison and communication skills and the ability to negotiate significant contracts.