Network Specialist I/II

Salary : $2,952.80 - $3,371.20 Biweekly
Location : Juneau, AK
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: L1686
Department: Legislative Affairs
Opening Date: 09/04/2024
Closing Date: 10/25/2024 5:00 PM Alaska
Position Open To: Alaska Residents Only
Bargaining Unit: Exempt Legislature
Range: 18/20
Job Description
**Note: this recruitment has been extended to close on 10/25/2024, if you have already applied for this position
you do not need to re-apply.**
The nonpartisan Legislative Affairs Agency provides objective, accurate, and timely services and products to the Alaska Legislature and Alaskans to support and inform policy making, facilitate public access to the legislative process, and preserve the legislative institution.
Working in seamless partnership across sections, staff approach their tasks with professionalism, grace, and courtesy in supporting the challenging and vital work of the legislative branch.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA) - Information Technology - Networking Team is a cross-trained team of four; two junior and two senior positions. This Network Specialist position is one of the two junior leads, with the potential to flex up to a senior position. Tasks include administering local area network (LAN) for the Legislative Affairs Agency and Alaska State Legislature. They will learn to engineer, build, deploy, and monitor performance of the LAN; from hardware to software support for routers, servers, and network attached devices. This position will also provide tier 2 support services for the LAA Help Desk.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Design and build network servers utilizing current technologies and best practice standards. LAA uses a mix of Windows and Linux servers.
• Take secondary or sometimes primary lead and cross-train on a mix of services: Exchange, Cloud Services, Hyper-V clusters, enterprise wireless, firewalls, switches, Remote Access, Microsoft Office E3 Productivity Suite, and the potential for others with approval and research.
• Provide business needs analysis, research, and provide recommendations to be brought forward to the Internet Technology Subcommittee.
• Monitor and review network performance; resolve detected issues.
• Review security logs to fine tune and correct the network.
• Troubleshoot LAA Help Desk complex trouble call or tickets and provide in-person customer service were appropriate.
• Research, review, and implement industry best security practices in all environments of the network: physical, logical, production, and test.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Hands-on network infrastructure building from the ground up - planning and designing network growth -spec'ing devices, purchasing equipment, installing, and configuring network servers by utilizing current technologies and best practice standards. LAA uses a mix of Windows and Linux servers.
• Learn to lead across multiple application types, eventually taking primary or secondary lead and cross-train on a mix of services: Exchange, Cloud Services, Hyper-V clusters, enterprise wireless, firewalls, switches, Remote Access, Microsoft Office E3 Productivity Suite, and the potential for others with approval and research.
• Follow trends in IT advancements to provide business needs analysis, research and recommendations for the Internet Technology Subcommittee.
• Monitor and review network performance; resolve detected issues.
• Review security logs to fine tune and correct the network.
• Troubleshoot LAA Help Desk complex trouble call or tickets and provide in-person customer service where appropriate.
• Research, review, and implement industry best security practices in all environments of the network: physical, logical, production, and test.
• Travel to remote legislative locations across the state of Alaska to upgrade network infrastructure.

Why work for the Legislative Affairs Agency?
Working here is a chance to be a part of Alaska history. LAA employees provide essential nonpartisan support to the Legislature where vital policy and laws are created. The Agency is made up of eleven sections led by a management team with 200 years of combined legislative experience and institutional knowledge who, along with our staff, share an unwavering commitment to serving Alaskans. We work in a dynamic environment and teamwork is not just a buzzword, but fundamental to everything we do.
We value:
Accountability. We are committed to responsible use of human, financial, and environmental resources.
Respect. We provide services without discrimination or judgment.
Integrity. We are honest and ethical in our work.
The Alaska Legislature values the unique contributions that candidates with diverse experiences, knowledge and backgrounds can bring to our work. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility at our workplace.
Comprehensive Benefit Package
The Alaska Legislature offers health benefits including a range of coverage choices for medical, dental, and vision; a health flexible spending account; as well as other health services such as Teladoc, Hinge Health, and Surgery Plus. In addition, there are a variety of supplemental elections: life insurance, additional accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, and both short- and long-term disability.
Health and Wellness
Employees have access to a 24/7 Wellness Center, which is a small fee-based workout facility ($50 annually) with two treadmills, two ellipticals, one recumbent bike, strength training equipment, free weights, two showers, one steam room, lockers, and towel service.
For mental health and wellness, the State of Alaska offers free, confidential help through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Financial Well-Being
The State offers savings and investment plans, paid leave, insurance options, and more to help employees meet their financial goals.
This includes:

• Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), with either a Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution based on original State of Alaska hire date.
• Deferred Compensation plan with options for before or after payroll taxes.
• Supplemental Benefits System Annuity (SBS) in lieu of Social Security.
• Workers Compensation Insurance.
• Voluntary Savings Plan (Defined Benefit participants only)

Professional Development
The Legislative Affairs Agency encourages employees to improve their skills by enrolling in professional development courses directly related to their job responsibilities. Employees may apply for reimbursement for the cost of tuition and books for one undergraduate college-level course per calendar year for which they receive a minimum of a 'C' letter grade.
Work/Life Balance
Work/life balance is supported through:

• The potential for flexible work schedules during interim when the legislature is not in session.
• Agency staff may accrue as compensatory time up to 150 hours of hours worked over the standard work week. There is no cash value to compensatory time.
• The State offers paid leave starting at 6:04 (h:mm) a pay period or 21 days a year. If you have previous time working for the State of Alaska in a leave eligible position, the time will be calculated into your accrual rate.
• 11 paid State holidays each year
• The Legislative Affairs Agency is a family-friendly employer.
• The Alaska State Legislature has an onsite daycare with priority given to legislative employees' children.
• An assigned parking space may be available upon request.

This is a fully exempt job class under AS 39.25.110(3). Positions in the Legislative Affairs Agency are required to be politically neutral.
Minimum Qualifications
Two years of professional experience in an IT related field such as networking; information technology analysis and troubleshooting; system maintenance; computer hardware, software installation, and maintenance; network utilities and services; or database management.
Substitution :
A bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field may substitute for one year of non-specific professional experience.
Additional Required Information
To apply, you can either apply through Workplace Alaska OR submit a Resume, cover letter, and professional references to the Personnel Section at
Requested at time of application:
1. Cover Letter
Please attach a professionally formatted letter of interest, no longer than one page, explaining how your qualifications make you the ideal candidate for this position.
2. Professional References
Three (3) professional references that have had supervisory responsibility over you along with their daytime contact phone numbers. (If not already attached to application submission)
Required at interview: Copy of your last evaluation, if available.
Special Note:
This is a fully exempt job class under AS 39.25.110(3). Positions in the Legislative Affairs Agency are required to be politically neutral.
Contact Information
Legislative Personnel Office
(907) 465-3854
Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits
The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.
For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)
Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)

The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.

• General Government
• Labor, Trades and Crafts
• Public Safety Employees Association
• Masters, Mates & Pilots

Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits

Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

See for additional information
Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year