These are excerpts from a recruiting network regarding the IT economy. It's not as bad as the media would have us believe! Speaking from my personal experience, I couldn't agree with these folks more. My desk is busy, and I am seeing more and more job activity. The reality is that technology isn't going away and it certainly is not slowing down. Onward and upward to that next great career opportunity!
"I'm so tired of negative news in the media. "Recession this," and "Recession that." I have not had so many quality job orders since 1999 (thank you TE trading partners...keep those JO's coming!). Also, remember in 2001 (last real recession) when all the IT consulting firms were laying off in droves (and many went under)? Well, one of the largest IT consulting firms in the world, Accenture (they have 94 of the 100 Global 500 as clients), just reported record profits today and their stock is up 5%.If we were in a recession, Accenture would be laying off (as they did in 2001) and not hiring and having record profits."
- Sean
"Excellent advise Sean. What we hear in the news and what is reality are quite different. Earlier this week this little known factoid was buried in the newsThe economy grew at a 1 percent annualized rate in the first quarter, Let's all conserve energy and stop listening to the news... "
- Don
"We should see some of those IT jobs coming back - for two reasons - inflation is much higher in India and the Far East. The second reason - it is hard on the body to fly there and manage those folks and transportation costs are going through the roof!!!"
- Charlie
Also, my experience over the years has led me to believe that consulting firms are a leading indicator of recovery. I always called them the canaries in the coal mine. First to die, First to be deployed.They haven't died, and they are being deployed in record #'s. We have hit a bit of a summer slow down, but 2008 has been a solid year already, and looks to continue!
- Jed
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Hot "new" jobs in Massachusetts
These jobs are not yet posted... They are NEW and we are recruiting heavily for them. Feel free to share with friends and colleagues! All are located in Massachusetts.
Manager of Technical Services
Responsible for directing the technical research, planning and 24x7 support activities of the UNIX and database Technical Services teams. This includes systems programming and administration; system architecture planning and implementation; database administration; technical methods and standards definition; technical library services and maintenance and advanced escalation support for software and hardware technical issues. This position is responsible for Capital and Expense budget development and administration in addition to hardware/software procurement. The Manager will participate in the development and execution of the Information Systems Business Plan.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of ten year's technical and management experience in IS infrastructure and support. Prior experience in AIX, DB2 UDB, Websphere, Oracle and/or EMC environments is required. Strong knowledge of infrastructure design, implementation, maintenance, upgrade and operations techniques along with network/communication concepts. Project management and resource planning experience in a fast-paced environment is required, with the ability to manage and motivate technical personnel. Excellent communication skills both verbally and written and the ability to interact with all levels of senior management is required.
Manager of IT Compliance
Manage all IT related Payment Card Industry (PCI), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compliance processes, implementing IT general controls covering Program Development, Program Change, Computer Operations, Security, and third party service providers. Facilitate quality assurance audits on IT controls to ensure process compliance on a regular basis. Develop and maintain metrics measuring the effectiveness of the overall assessment of IT controls in a variety of environments. Work alongside senior management to identify and report upon technology risks, developing recommendations to remediate control weaknesses or categorize mitigating controls. Is responsible for the maintenance and support of the centralized repository of the IT documentation related to the attestation of the Company's financial habits. Assist IT, Internal and External audit teams to clearly define SOX requirements based on industry norms. Map key service provider SAS70's to assess risk, impact and remediation requirements. Serve as subject matter expert on IT compliance to the organization. Lead best practice activities to evolve compliance tasks into routine processes. Manage and build the Quality Assurance functions to insure that all system changes meet Company and regulatory requirements. Provide training, direction and leadership for Change Control compliance. Perform other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
A minimum of seven (7) years of IT auditing, compliance or technology experience is essential with experience in the retail industry with corporate or multi-site responsibilities a plus. A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Business Administration or related studies is ideal. Prior IT audit/compliance experience is preferred. Knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, Payment Card Industry standards and of the retail regulatory environment is essential. Must have broad exposure to various technologies, including networks, platforms, and applications. Risk assessment experience and familiarity with tools and techniques used to provide controls and monitoring mechanisms are helpful. Prior project management and Quality Assurance experience is desired. Excellent analytical, organizational, verbal and written communication skills are required, plus a strong attention to detail.
Manager of eCommerce Solutions
Manage, implement and support eCommerce solutions. Provide vision and direction for a departmental team and other management. Monitor industry trends to identify technologies and practices that best align with company goals. Develop and maintain technical and administrative resources. Ensure department compliance with company and regulatory policies and procedures. Provide project leadership for design, development, integration and maintenance of all eCommerce systems. Responsible for staff career development, performance reviews and team hiring decisions; guide and direct the activity of the team. Analyze and outline company's eCommerce strategies and standards for B2C and B2B, based on corporate objectives. Manage relationships with external partners including management of contracts, service levels and vendor performance.
Minimum of 5 years of experience is required managing a complex, high volume, transactional eCommerce environment (online retail merchandising) including a majority of the following: technical project management; business analysis; contract negotiation; systems analysis; and general management of production and maintenance of multichannel retail solutions (Fortune 500 company). Strong working knowledge is essential in eCommerce methodologies and technologies involving enterprise application integration, interactive design, content management, online security, e-mail marketing, e-learning, e-collaboration, search engines, portals, online affiliate programs and online customer care. Understanding is necessary in current market strategies, development tools, infrastructure planning and design. Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills are required, as well as self-motivation and ability to persuasively lead senior management. Strong analytical and managerial skills necessary, as well as structured project management life cycle techniques. Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in computer science or related field.
Manager of Sales Systems
Responsible for systems development, implementation and support for Sales related systems including Point of Sales (POS), Glory Cash Counting, Gas Sales and others as appropriate. Responsibilities include product evaluation, purchase, installation, software selection and/or software development, performance monitoring and application tuning, disaster recovery planning and 7 day per week, 24 hours per day technical supervision/support for problem resolution. Extensively interface with management in various divisions and all levels of team members within the organization. Responsible for managing large IT initiatives. Position includes management, guidance and development for multiple teams of technical professionals including staff with expertise in the following areas: IBM POS Operating System, IBM GSA POS application, Microsoft NT server software, 4690 POS hardware and associated PC servers, applications, and peripherals. Additionally, provide input in the development of Sarbanes Oxley controls, as well as the monitoring of adherence to these controls and other applicable regulatory regulations. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum of 7-10 years of related IT experience is required.
Project Leader- Software Applications
Support daily functional operations and technical aspects of assigned applications, including providing analytical and applications support for our Logistics and Distribution systems. Interface with all levels of management and the user community. Responsible for managing small and medium sized projects. Plans, leads and supports applications enhancement implementations. Additionally, participates with business partners and IT support teams in the design of new functionality and system architecture. Provides technical training and support for department team members as needed. Prepares and completes project life cycle documentation, test plans and requirements specifications according to department standards. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
A minimum of 5 years of experience is required in providing application or infrastructure support. Experience desired in a client server applications environment, supporting business initiatives and multiple projects. Experience with AIX, UNIX, Oracle, and/or Windows environments is preferred. Prior experience interfacing applications in a diverse technical environment is essential, as well as a background in application development and support, data communications and networking, project management and supporting project team members. Understanding of Comlink, Websphere, Webmethods/MQ, and/or RF networks/equipment is a plus. Excellent project management, analytical and communications skills are required. Retail industry experience is preferred. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business or related field is desired; equivalent work experience in Information Technology will be considered.
Manager of Network SolutionsPlease send your resume and cover letter to Attn: GZ/HP/MNS using the contact information provided at the bottom of the page.
This position is responsible for directing the technical research, planning and supporting activities of the Network Solutions department including: network architecture, planning and implementation, network management, technical methods and standards definition, technical library services, maintenance and advanced escalation support for data and voice communications. This position is responsible for Capital and Expense Budget development and administration. This position will also participate in the development and execution of the Information Technology Business Plan. Performs other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of ten (10) year's technical and management experience in IT infrastructure and support. Candidate must have experience with TCP/IP, Ethernet, VOIP solutions design and implementation, DNS, NFS, FTP, SSH, SMTP, SNMP, DHCP, Web Security and LDAP. Experience with network engineering plus strong knowledge of network infrastructure design, implementation, maintenance, upgrade and operations techniques along with network/communication concepts are essential. Must possess hands-on knowledge of information technology and strategic network/communications concepts. Must have working familiarity with various operating systems and industry-accepted standards to be used in traditional, client/server and Internet/Intranet computing environments. Project management and resource planning experience in a fast-paced environment is necessary, with the ability to manage and motivate technical personnel. Excellent communication skills both verbally and written and the ability to interact with all levels of senior management required.
Senior Information Security Engineer
Utilize current information security technology disciplines to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of information assets. Use changing regulatory, threat and technology landscapes to continually develop or maintain security policies and standards to attain compliance throughout the organization. This position provides consulting services to the technology teams and to the organization as a whole through security awareness efforts. As a senior staff member of the Information Security Department within IT, will transfer knowledge to other staff members and serve as a mentor on the execution of duties as an information security professional. Participate in security design and monitoring of operating system and application security. Research and evaluate current security products recommendations. Participate in the implementation and review of audit trail logs and reporting mechanisms, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. Maintain security policies, standards and security awareness efforts. Work with industry organizations, business partners and technology teams to develop compliance validation methods where appropriate. Perform 3rd party service provider risk assessments to ensure data in outsourced arrangements is secure. Assist in the resolution of security related issues as appropriate to individual level of technical experience. Will perform other duties as assigned.
A minimum of 7+ years experience within an Information Technology organization, with a concentration on Information Security and IT audit experience at the enterprise level, plus a CISSP certification, is required. In depth knowledge of security across technologies, including networks, platforms and applications is mandatory. Familiarity with risk assessment, Internet security, cryptography, and tools and techniques used to provide security controls and monitoring is necessary. Strong knowledge of network infrastructures, including firewalls, VPN's, Intrusion Detection Systems, penetration testing and vulnerability assessment strategies, file and session encryption and cryptography methods, web application and device security is a requisite. Security awareness training, incident response team experience, policy management and contract exposure are essential. Must demonstrate skills in gathering and documenting business and functional requirements toward the implementation of security controls and technologies. Must be a self-starter and be able to respond to rapid changes within IT and the retail industry. Excellent communication and customer service skills are required. Will facilitate effective communications between all members of IT and business by ensuring timely collection and dissemination of information. Must have good Microsoft Office skills, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio and Access. A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field is preferred. Equivalent work experience in Computer Science or related field will be considered.
Senior Java Developer
Provides analytical and technical expertise in the identification and solution of business problems. The focus of this role is to analyze business requirements, and to design and develop web and portal applications on Java based architectures using current industry standards (J2EE, JDBC, XML). This individual serves as a lead technical resource on large projects, assumes the role of project coordinator on small to medium sized projects, as well as performs other tasks and/or responsibilities as assigned. Across all divisions, interacts with business management who are serving on project committees. Performs other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
At least 6 years of experience is required in analysis, design and implementation of Java based web applications, including programming and systems design. Must have demonstrated JSP, Java and HTML skills, as well as application design and analysis skills. Must also have knowledge and experience of web services, XML, SOAP, JMS or equivalents, HTTP and IP protocols, SQL and DB query skills. Additionally, must have knowledge of project life cycle methodology, as well as strong communication and project coordination skills. Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience is required.
Senior Project Manager
Manage one or more projects (generally having budgets between $250k and $2 million) within the constraints of scope, quality, schedule, cost and budget. Responsibilities include managing the people, tasks, and external resources for assigned projects within the defined tolerances. Act as a primary liaison between the IT division and the various stakeholders. Establish, build and update project plans with actuals and forecasts, manage deviations from the plan, and identify and manage project risks. Ensure the project team is defined and staffed appropriately and that the appropriate internal and external services are obtained to meet the objectives of the project in order to deliver the specified functionality and requirements defined by the projects. Ensure all the project requirements and/or objectives are properly defined and documented. Communicate with users, IT and senior level management concerning project status and manage stakeholders' expectations. Comply with all System Development/Project Life Cycle, Change Management, Regulatory and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
At least seven (7) years of experience is required in IT project delivery including application development projects and working with business and IT users. Also, 3-5 years of increasing responsibility is necessary, with a proven track record in project management delivering complex projects using varied development approaches for internal and externally developed applications. Significant knowledge is essential in project management processes, methods and standards. Requirements also include: experience managing a matrix team of associates, contractors and vendors with various skills and disciplines; strong business acumen and strategic thinking to complement tactical execution skills; and ability to build relationships, influence and negotiate without authority across all levels of IT and business units. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business or related field, or equivalent work experience, is required. Retail industry experience, PMP (Project Management Professional) certification and knowledge of Six Sigma methodologies desired.
Senior Data Warehouse
Provides the coding and process construction for the development and maintenance of the enterprise data warehouse and supporting business intelligence (BI) structures. Designs, develops, tests and maintains the process of and code that build, support and provision the data warehouse and business intelligence (BI) applications at the company. Develops complex analytic queries and data transformations in SQL and other ETL tools sets. Assists in the development of production reports, cubes and analytical applications. Additionally, captures and maintains business and technical metadata; ensures the integrity, reliability and data quality of the BI systems; and performs diagnostic and recovery techniques as appropriate, as well as handles duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
Must have over 3 years of related database development experience, including record of working in very graphical development environments for process construction and monitoring. Experience with ETL tools such as DataStage or Informatica preferred, as well as with appropriate software and BI tools such as Oracle, SAS, Cognos, etc. Must have the ability to create and use complex SQL or other forms of database query. Some experience in writing and using stored procedures and triggers within a database system a plus. Strong communication, interpersonal and time management skills are essential, as well as ability to work in a team environment. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent work experience is required.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Working in our Information Technology Division, debug applications through the use of systemic and manual tests to maintain quality standards for applications and work closely with development teams to resolve problems. Develop, maintain and execute manual and automated test scripts to verify application functionality and adherence to business requirements. Create and perform application load tests. Develop and manage a repository of test data to support testing efforts. Provide progress reporting, defect tracking and risk assessments related to testing efforts. Keep pace with emerging quality assurance trends; ensure the existence of development testing standards and processes. Contribute to improving department processes and selection of tools. Ensure that requirements are clearly defined and testable. Comply with System Development/Project Life Cycle (SDLC), Change Management, Regulatory and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
At least 4 years of experience in software quality assurance testing is required including background in software programming, test planning, test scripts and documentation. Experience is preferred with Mercury Quick TestPro, LoadRunner, Rational Requisite Pro and Clear Quest. Basic abilities in UNIX, Oracle and CICS are required. Familiarity with basic concepts of computer architecture, data structures and standard programming practices is needed. Ability to read and understand software and/or hardware design specifications is necessary. Excellent organizational, communication, problem solving and intepersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively are essential. Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering or related field is preferred. Quality assurance certification is preferred. Retail industry experience is a plus.
Senior Network Engineer
This position is responsible for all technical and administrative support of company Local Area Network (LAN), Wireless Area Network (WLAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure. Will be responsible for network hardware and software installations, troubleshooting, diagnostics, cabling, documentation, network standards, and management reporting. Ensures compliance with all Company and Regualatory Policies and Procedures.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of five (5) years in area network infrastructure support. Must possess hands-on knowledge of LAN and WAN technologies and communication protocols. Must have working familiarity with various operating systems and industry-accepted standards to be used in traditional, client/server and Internet/Intranet computing environments. Will provide general technical and system design guidance to I.T. development teams. Will assess new technologies and define manner in which new system software technologies can be best leveraged by I.T. development staff. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, strong customer service skills, and the ability to interact with all levels are required. Comprehensive knowledge System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology, business systems' design goals and requirements, standards and objectives is preferred.
Manager of Technical Services
Responsible for directing the technical research, planning and 24x7 support activities of the UNIX and database Technical Services teams. This includes systems programming and administration; system architecture planning and implementation; database administration; technical methods and standards definition; technical library services and maintenance and advanced escalation support for software and hardware technical issues. This position is responsible for Capital and Expense budget development and administration in addition to hardware/software procurement. The Manager will participate in the development and execution of the Information Systems Business Plan.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of ten year's technical and management experience in IS infrastructure and support. Prior experience in AIX, DB2 UDB, Websphere, Oracle and/or EMC environments is required. Strong knowledge of infrastructure design, implementation, maintenance, upgrade and operations techniques along with network/communication concepts. Project management and resource planning experience in a fast-paced environment is required, with the ability to manage and motivate technical personnel. Excellent communication skills both verbally and written and the ability to interact with all levels of senior management is required.
Manager of IT Compliance
Manage all IT related Payment Card Industry (PCI), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compliance processes, implementing IT general controls covering Program Development, Program Change, Computer Operations, Security, and third party service providers. Facilitate quality assurance audits on IT controls to ensure process compliance on a regular basis. Develop and maintain metrics measuring the effectiveness of the overall assessment of IT controls in a variety of environments. Work alongside senior management to identify and report upon technology risks, developing recommendations to remediate control weaknesses or categorize mitigating controls. Is responsible for the maintenance and support of the centralized repository of the IT documentation related to the attestation of the Company's financial habits. Assist IT, Internal and External audit teams to clearly define SOX requirements based on industry norms. Map key service provider SAS70's to assess risk, impact and remediation requirements. Serve as subject matter expert on IT compliance to the organization. Lead best practice activities to evolve compliance tasks into routine processes. Manage and build the Quality Assurance functions to insure that all system changes meet Company and regulatory requirements. Provide training, direction and leadership for Change Control compliance. Perform other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
A minimum of seven (7) years of IT auditing, compliance or technology experience is essential with experience in the retail industry with corporate or multi-site responsibilities a plus. A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Business Administration or related studies is ideal. Prior IT audit/compliance experience is preferred. Knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, Payment Card Industry standards and of the retail regulatory environment is essential. Must have broad exposure to various technologies, including networks, platforms, and applications. Risk assessment experience and familiarity with tools and techniques used to provide controls and monitoring mechanisms are helpful. Prior project management and Quality Assurance experience is desired. Excellent analytical, organizational, verbal and written communication skills are required, plus a strong attention to detail.
Manager of eCommerce Solutions
Manage, implement and support eCommerce solutions. Provide vision and direction for a departmental team and other management. Monitor industry trends to identify technologies and practices that best align with company goals. Develop and maintain technical and administrative resources. Ensure department compliance with company and regulatory policies and procedures. Provide project leadership for design, development, integration and maintenance of all eCommerce systems. Responsible for staff career development, performance reviews and team hiring decisions; guide and direct the activity of the team. Analyze and outline company's eCommerce strategies and standards for B2C and B2B, based on corporate objectives. Manage relationships with external partners including management of contracts, service levels and vendor performance.
Minimum of 5 years of experience is required managing a complex, high volume, transactional eCommerce environment (online retail merchandising) including a majority of the following: technical project management; business analysis; contract negotiation; systems analysis; and general management of production and maintenance of multichannel retail solutions (Fortune 500 company). Strong working knowledge is essential in eCommerce methodologies and technologies involving enterprise application integration, interactive design, content management, online security, e-mail marketing, e-learning, e-collaboration, search engines, portals, online affiliate programs and online customer care. Understanding is necessary in current market strategies, development tools, infrastructure planning and design. Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills are required, as well as self-motivation and ability to persuasively lead senior management. Strong analytical and managerial skills necessary, as well as structured project management life cycle techniques. Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in computer science or related field.
Manager of Sales Systems
Responsible for systems development, implementation and support for Sales related systems including Point of Sales (POS), Glory Cash Counting, Gas Sales and others as appropriate. Responsibilities include product evaluation, purchase, installation, software selection and/or software development, performance monitoring and application tuning, disaster recovery planning and 7 day per week, 24 hours per day technical supervision/support for problem resolution. Extensively interface with management in various divisions and all levels of team members within the organization. Responsible for managing large IT initiatives. Position includes management, guidance and development for multiple teams of technical professionals including staff with expertise in the following areas: IBM POS Operating System, IBM GSA POS application, Microsoft NT server software, 4690 POS hardware and associated PC servers, applications, and peripherals. Additionally, provide input in the development of Sarbanes Oxley controls, as well as the monitoring of adherence to these controls and other applicable regulatory regulations. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum of 7-10 years of related IT experience is required.
Project Leader- Software Applications
Support daily functional operations and technical aspects of assigned applications, including providing analytical and applications support for our Logistics and Distribution systems. Interface with all levels of management and the user community. Responsible for managing small and medium sized projects. Plans, leads and supports applications enhancement implementations. Additionally, participates with business partners and IT support teams in the design of new functionality and system architecture. Provides technical training and support for department team members as needed. Prepares and completes project life cycle documentation, test plans and requirements specifications according to department standards. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
A minimum of 5 years of experience is required in providing application or infrastructure support. Experience desired in a client server applications environment, supporting business initiatives and multiple projects. Experience with AIX, UNIX, Oracle, and/or Windows environments is preferred. Prior experience interfacing applications in a diverse technical environment is essential, as well as a background in application development and support, data communications and networking, project management and supporting project team members. Understanding of Comlink, Websphere, Webmethods/MQ, and/or RF networks/equipment is a plus. Excellent project management, analytical and communications skills are required. Retail industry experience is preferred. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business or related field is desired; equivalent work experience in Information Technology will be considered.
Manager of Network SolutionsPlease send your resume and cover letter to Attn: GZ/HP/MNS using the contact information provided at the bottom of the page.
This position is responsible for directing the technical research, planning and supporting activities of the Network Solutions department including: network architecture, planning and implementation, network management, technical methods and standards definition, technical library services, maintenance and advanced escalation support for data and voice communications. This position is responsible for Capital and Expense Budget development and administration. This position will also participate in the development and execution of the Information Technology Business Plan. Performs other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of ten (10) year's technical and management experience in IT infrastructure and support. Candidate must have experience with TCP/IP, Ethernet, VOIP solutions design and implementation, DNS, NFS, FTP, SSH, SMTP, SNMP, DHCP, Web Security and LDAP. Experience with network engineering plus strong knowledge of network infrastructure design, implementation, maintenance, upgrade and operations techniques along with network/communication concepts are essential. Must possess hands-on knowledge of information technology and strategic network/communications concepts. Must have working familiarity with various operating systems and industry-accepted standards to be used in traditional, client/server and Internet/Intranet computing environments. Project management and resource planning experience in a fast-paced environment is necessary, with the ability to manage and motivate technical personnel. Excellent communication skills both verbally and written and the ability to interact with all levels of senior management required.
Senior Information Security Engineer
Utilize current information security technology disciplines to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of information assets. Use changing regulatory, threat and technology landscapes to continually develop or maintain security policies and standards to attain compliance throughout the organization. This position provides consulting services to the technology teams and to the organization as a whole through security awareness efforts. As a senior staff member of the Information Security Department within IT, will transfer knowledge to other staff members and serve as a mentor on the execution of duties as an information security professional. Participate in security design and monitoring of operating system and application security. Research and evaluate current security products recommendations. Participate in the implementation and review of audit trail logs and reporting mechanisms, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. Maintain security policies, standards and security awareness efforts. Work with industry organizations, business partners and technology teams to develop compliance validation methods where appropriate. Perform 3rd party service provider risk assessments to ensure data in outsourced arrangements is secure. Assist in the resolution of security related issues as appropriate to individual level of technical experience. Will perform other duties as assigned.
A minimum of 7+ years experience within an Information Technology organization, with a concentration on Information Security and IT audit experience at the enterprise level, plus a CISSP certification, is required. In depth knowledge of security across technologies, including networks, platforms and applications is mandatory. Familiarity with risk assessment, Internet security, cryptography, and tools and techniques used to provide security controls and monitoring is necessary. Strong knowledge of network infrastructures, including firewalls, VPN's, Intrusion Detection Systems, penetration testing and vulnerability assessment strategies, file and session encryption and cryptography methods, web application and device security is a requisite. Security awareness training, incident response team experience, policy management and contract exposure are essential. Must demonstrate skills in gathering and documenting business and functional requirements toward the implementation of security controls and technologies. Must be a self-starter and be able to respond to rapid changes within IT and the retail industry. Excellent communication and customer service skills are required. Will facilitate effective communications between all members of IT and business by ensuring timely collection and dissemination of information. Must have good Microsoft Office skills, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio and Access. A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field is preferred. Equivalent work experience in Computer Science or related field will be considered.
Senior Java Developer
Provides analytical and technical expertise in the identification and solution of business problems. The focus of this role is to analyze business requirements, and to design and develop web and portal applications on Java based architectures using current industry standards (J2EE, JDBC, XML). This individual serves as a lead technical resource on large projects, assumes the role of project coordinator on small to medium sized projects, as well as performs other tasks and/or responsibilities as assigned. Across all divisions, interacts with business management who are serving on project committees. Performs other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
At least 6 years of experience is required in analysis, design and implementation of Java based web applications, including programming and systems design. Must have demonstrated JSP, Java and HTML skills, as well as application design and analysis skills. Must also have knowledge and experience of web services, XML, SOAP, JMS or equivalents, HTTP and IP protocols, SQL and DB query skills. Additionally, must have knowledge of project life cycle methodology, as well as strong communication and project coordination skills. Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience is required.
Senior Project Manager
Manage one or more projects (generally having budgets between $250k and $2 million) within the constraints of scope, quality, schedule, cost and budget. Responsibilities include managing the people, tasks, and external resources for assigned projects within the defined tolerances. Act as a primary liaison between the IT division and the various stakeholders. Establish, build and update project plans with actuals and forecasts, manage deviations from the plan, and identify and manage project risks. Ensure the project team is defined and staffed appropriately and that the appropriate internal and external services are obtained to meet the objectives of the project in order to deliver the specified functionality and requirements defined by the projects. Ensure all the project requirements and/or objectives are properly defined and documented. Communicate with users, IT and senior level management concerning project status and manage stakeholders' expectations. Comply with all System Development/Project Life Cycle, Change Management, Regulatory and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
At least seven (7) years of experience is required in IT project delivery including application development projects and working with business and IT users. Also, 3-5 years of increasing responsibility is necessary, with a proven track record in project management delivering complex projects using varied development approaches for internal and externally developed applications. Significant knowledge is essential in project management processes, methods and standards. Requirements also include: experience managing a matrix team of associates, contractors and vendors with various skills and disciplines; strong business acumen and strategic thinking to complement tactical execution skills; and ability to build relationships, influence and negotiate without authority across all levels of IT and business units. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business or related field, or equivalent work experience, is required. Retail industry experience, PMP (Project Management Professional) certification and knowledge of Six Sigma methodologies desired.
Senior Data Warehouse
Provides the coding and process construction for the development and maintenance of the enterprise data warehouse and supporting business intelligence (BI) structures. Designs, develops, tests and maintains the process of and code that build, support and provision the data warehouse and business intelligence (BI) applications at the company. Develops complex analytic queries and data transformations in SQL and other ETL tools sets. Assists in the development of production reports, cubes and analytical applications. Additionally, captures and maintains business and technical metadata; ensures the integrity, reliability and data quality of the BI systems; and performs diagnostic and recovery techniques as appropriate, as well as handles duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
Must have over 3 years of related database development experience, including record of working in very graphical development environments for process construction and monitoring. Experience with ETL tools such as DataStage or Informatica preferred, as well as with appropriate software and BI tools such as Oracle, SAS, Cognos, etc. Must have the ability to create and use complex SQL or other forms of database query. Some experience in writing and using stored procedures and triggers within a database system a plus. Strong communication, interpersonal and time management skills are essential, as well as ability to work in a team environment. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent work experience is required.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Working in our Information Technology Division, debug applications through the use of systemic and manual tests to maintain quality standards for applications and work closely with development teams to resolve problems. Develop, maintain and execute manual and automated test scripts to verify application functionality and adherence to business requirements. Create and perform application load tests. Develop and manage a repository of test data to support testing efforts. Provide progress reporting, defect tracking and risk assessments related to testing efforts. Keep pace with emerging quality assurance trends; ensure the existence of development testing standards and processes. Contribute to improving department processes and selection of tools. Ensure that requirements are clearly defined and testable. Comply with System Development/Project Life Cycle (SDLC), Change Management, Regulatory and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
At least 4 years of experience in software quality assurance testing is required including background in software programming, test planning, test scripts and documentation. Experience is preferred with Mercury Quick TestPro, LoadRunner, Rational Requisite Pro and Clear Quest. Basic abilities in UNIX, Oracle and CICS are required. Familiarity with basic concepts of computer architecture, data structures and standard programming practices is needed. Ability to read and understand software and/or hardware design specifications is necessary. Excellent organizational, communication, problem solving and intepersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively are essential. Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering or related field is preferred. Quality assurance certification is preferred. Retail industry experience is a plus.
Senior Network Engineer
This position is responsible for all technical and administrative support of company Local Area Network (LAN), Wireless Area Network (WLAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure. Will be responsible for network hardware and software installations, troubleshooting, diagnostics, cabling, documentation, network standards, and management reporting. Ensures compliance with all Company and Regualatory Policies and Procedures.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of five (5) years in area network infrastructure support. Must possess hands-on knowledge of LAN and WAN technologies and communication protocols. Must have working familiarity with various operating systems and industry-accepted standards to be used in traditional, client/server and Internet/Intranet computing environments. Will provide general technical and system design guidance to I.T. development teams. Will assess new technologies and define manner in which new system software technologies can be best leveraged by I.T. development staff. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, strong customer service skills, and the ability to interact with all levels are required. Comprehensive knowledge System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology, business systems' design goals and requirements, standards and objectives is preferred.
TAKE CONTROL OF THE INTERVIEW
Interesting article on "taking control of the interview".
TAKE CONTROL OF THE INTERVIEW: Bill Gaffney, Career Coach
Many times an interviewer will start off by asking me, “So tell me about yourself”. How do I address that question and what are they looking for? Do they want my whole life history or a review of my career? HELP!!
A: Let me fill out the title of this column first. I am not telling you to go in like Ahnold and tell them “I’m back”. I am simply saying, as I have before, many interviewers are ill trained and come up with poor questions because they don’t know any better. In those cases you have to subtly take control and guide the interview in a direction where the “best you” comes out. If you do you might just be the only one who does and you will stand out.
My friend Jeff Skrentny, top Chicago based IT recruiter and one of the best recruiter trainers in the business, has some excellent suggestions about how to handle this question. The most important suggestion is ask the interviewer, “Where would you like me to start?” Probably 90% of them will tell you ether just your career (most likely) or your entire life. The savvy ones will say, “Wherever you would like”. If you get one of these you probably have a good interviewer.
This question is an excellent starting point actually. If they don’t ask it you should find a place in the interview, where you cover what I am going to suggest to you. The interviewer (not typically the HR interviewer as they usually have a preset list of questions) is really interested in three things:
∑ Accomplishments
∑ Demonstrated progression in your career
∑ Scope of responsibilities
Leave you skills for a different point in the interview.
This is really a presentation you should have memorized and rehearsed without sounding robotic. This review should go back 10-12 years and typically cover 2-4 jobs. If you have been with one company during that time review the different positions. If the interviewer wants a history further back they will ask for it.
The presentation for each position should include a brief description of the job, the scope of responsibility (size of budget, people reporting to you, etc) and two or three major accomplishments in that position. Remember an accomplishment is income produced, money saved and/or time saved (production increased). These need to have a reference point such as “I had a targeted budget of 10 million dollars but was able to finish the year at 8 million through productivity increases. If possible include a similar reference point for responsibilities.
Each position you cover should take no more that 1-2 minutes and do just the highlights. Do not get into the minute details. If they want more they will ask. Be careful not to brag, but to me more matter of fact and to exude confidence in your abilities.If you get asked to review your entire life don’t launch into “War and Peace”. Instead do the Cliff’s Notes” version. They probably don’t care at what age you were potty trained or when you took your first swimming lesson. But they might be interested to hear how you did in school or extracurricular activities you were involved in, especially sports. When you talk about your personal life think about things that demonstrate a character or trait related to business, competitiveness, fast starter, teamwork, etc. You might want to also throw in a personal crisis, a death, loss of a competition, etc and follow it with how you responded and overcame it. In interviewing potential recruiters I always look for this. It shows resilience and determination.
Practice the interview with a spouse, business acquaintance, friend, etc. until you have it down without having to think about it. Also practice inflection, tempo, tone, etc. You do not want to sound like you’ve done this 20 times in the last two weeks. Give the person you are practicing with permission to critique you, even to the smallest degree. The more polished you are the better you will come across.
As I stated earlier if you do not get that “Tell me …” question (and hopefully you won’t) work this presentation into the interview somehow. This is especially easy if the interview is meandering. You might say something like, “Would it be helpful if I reviewed some career highlights with you”. I guarantee, besides them wanting to hear this, the interviewer will have an immediate sense of relief since they are uncomfortable doing the interview anyway.
I want to finish by saying three things. There are other points in an interview where you might have to take some subtle control. Watch for meandering and relatively pointless questions. Secondly watch your body language. This can really put an interviewer off. Number one, don’t sit with your arms crossed across your chest. This indicates resistance or boredom. You should review material on this subject. Lastly watch for the interviewers’ tone, inflection, pace, etc. Try to follow that. If they talk slow and deliberately don’t talk fast. This is actually a subtle form of flattery. (You thought I was going to say manipulation, didn’t you?) This will also force you to listen to them without performing answers.Interviewing is both a science and an art. Don’t take it lightly.
TAKE CONTROL OF THE INTERVIEW: Bill Gaffney, Career Coach
Many times an interviewer will start off by asking me, “So tell me about yourself”. How do I address that question and what are they looking for? Do they want my whole life history or a review of my career? HELP!!
A: Let me fill out the title of this column first. I am not telling you to go in like Ahnold and tell them “I’m back”. I am simply saying, as I have before, many interviewers are ill trained and come up with poor questions because they don’t know any better. In those cases you have to subtly take control and guide the interview in a direction where the “best you” comes out. If you do you might just be the only one who does and you will stand out.
My friend Jeff Skrentny, top Chicago based IT recruiter and one of the best recruiter trainers in the business, has some excellent suggestions about how to handle this question. The most important suggestion is ask the interviewer, “Where would you like me to start?” Probably 90% of them will tell you ether just your career (most likely) or your entire life. The savvy ones will say, “Wherever you would like”. If you get one of these you probably have a good interviewer.
This question is an excellent starting point actually. If they don’t ask it you should find a place in the interview, where you cover what I am going to suggest to you. The interviewer (not typically the HR interviewer as they usually have a preset list of questions) is really interested in three things:
∑ Accomplishments
∑ Demonstrated progression in your career
∑ Scope of responsibilities
Leave you skills for a different point in the interview.
This is really a presentation you should have memorized and rehearsed without sounding robotic. This review should go back 10-12 years and typically cover 2-4 jobs. If you have been with one company during that time review the different positions. If the interviewer wants a history further back they will ask for it.
The presentation for each position should include a brief description of the job, the scope of responsibility (size of budget, people reporting to you, etc) and two or three major accomplishments in that position. Remember an accomplishment is income produced, money saved and/or time saved (production increased). These need to have a reference point such as “I had a targeted budget of 10 million dollars but was able to finish the year at 8 million through productivity increases. If possible include a similar reference point for responsibilities.
Each position you cover should take no more that 1-2 minutes and do just the highlights. Do not get into the minute details. If they want more they will ask. Be careful not to brag, but to me more matter of fact and to exude confidence in your abilities.If you get asked to review your entire life don’t launch into “War and Peace”. Instead do the Cliff’s Notes” version. They probably don’t care at what age you were potty trained or when you took your first swimming lesson. But they might be interested to hear how you did in school or extracurricular activities you were involved in, especially sports. When you talk about your personal life think about things that demonstrate a character or trait related to business, competitiveness, fast starter, teamwork, etc. You might want to also throw in a personal crisis, a death, loss of a competition, etc and follow it with how you responded and overcame it. In interviewing potential recruiters I always look for this. It shows resilience and determination.
Practice the interview with a spouse, business acquaintance, friend, etc. until you have it down without having to think about it. Also practice inflection, tempo, tone, etc. You do not want to sound like you’ve done this 20 times in the last two weeks. Give the person you are practicing with permission to critique you, even to the smallest degree. The more polished you are the better you will come across.
As I stated earlier if you do not get that “Tell me …” question (and hopefully you won’t) work this presentation into the interview somehow. This is especially easy if the interview is meandering. You might say something like, “Would it be helpful if I reviewed some career highlights with you”. I guarantee, besides them wanting to hear this, the interviewer will have an immediate sense of relief since they are uncomfortable doing the interview anyway.
I want to finish by saying three things. There are other points in an interview where you might have to take some subtle control. Watch for meandering and relatively pointless questions. Secondly watch your body language. This can really put an interviewer off. Number one, don’t sit with your arms crossed across your chest. This indicates resistance or boredom. You should review material on this subject. Lastly watch for the interviewers’ tone, inflection, pace, etc. Try to follow that. If they talk slow and deliberately don’t talk fast. This is actually a subtle form of flattery. (You thought I was going to say manipulation, didn’t you?) This will also force you to listen to them without performing answers.Interviewing is both a science and an art. Don’t take it lightly.
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