What are the responsibilities and job description for the IT Specialist (Physical Infrastructure Specialist) position at University of Hawaii?
Description
Title: IT Specialist (Physical Infrastructure Specialist)
Position Number: 0097723
Hiring Unit: Administrative Affairs, Computing Center
Location: UH Hilo
Date Posted: September 14, 2026
Closing Date: September 28, 2026
Band: B
Salary : salary schedules and placement information
Full Time/Part Time: Full-time
Month: 11-month
Temporary/Permanent: Permanent
Other Conditions: Appointment to begin approximately November 2026, pending position clearance and availability of funding.
Position Overview
The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii, recognized for its integration of cultural immersion and place-based research that leverages the island's extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. A comprehensive, regional campus within the ten-campus University of Hawaii system, UH Hilo offers high-quality undergraduate and select postgraduate education, with distinctive strengths in areas such as marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization, while advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity that support community needs, environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge systems, and workforce development priorities for the State of Hawaii.
UH-Hilo Information Technology Services provides technical solutions and services by supporting and empowering the UH Hilo faculty, staff, students, and surrounding communities through informative training, open collaboration, creative solutions, dependable services, and reliable systems.
The Physical Infrastructure Specialist manages the university’s campus-wide physical layer IT environment, bridging the critical gap between design engineering and hands-on field execution across all structural technology spaces. Working alongside networking, systems, and A/V peers, this position provides vital field support for classroom audio/visual installations, assists physical data center deployments, and ensures all structural hardware mountings and distribution closets strictly meet certified industry standards and building codes
Duties and Responsibilities (*denotes essential functions)
- Under the general supervision of the Director, independently performs the full range of professional work related to the campus-wide physical IT infrastructure layer.
- Follows and implements directives and guidance related to best practices from University of Hawai'i System Information Technology Services.
- Ensures the consistent adoption, implementation, and enforcement of recommendations issued through University of Hawai'i System Information Technology Service.
- Keeps abreast of recommendations issued through University of Hawai'i System Information Technology Service, and takes timely action as needed.
- Serves as a subject matter expert for the physical layer, providing technical direction and collaborative consultation on the layout, design, and implementation of network and A/V infrastructure.
- Provides professional, user-centered customer service while designing, planning, and installing campus-wide low-voltage infrastructure, including high-speed copper, fiber optic, and legacy analog twisted-pair cabling.
- Performs advanced troubleshooting, testing, splicing, and repair of fiber optic, Ethernet, and analog infrastructure to maintain reliable, high-speed network and telecommunications continuity.
- Collaborates side-by-side with the Network Engineer, Server Administrator, and A/V Team to execute physical cabling and equipment-mounting solutions that seamlessly fulfill their technical requirements and design parameters.
- Independently manages the physical organization, cleanliness, and security of network closets and distribution racks in accordance with established industry standards and team-approved layouts.
- Performs regular certification testing for fiber and copper media at installation, and provides peer-level diagnostic assistance when Layer 1 troubleshooting or recertification is required.
- Proactively monitors and performs preventative maintenance on the campus cable plant to identify and remediate physical vulnerabilities and non-compliant legacy installations before they cause downtime.
- Directs and oversees the physical work of external consultants and contractors, acting as an empathetic and professional liaison to ensure all outsourced layer 1 work meets university and certified industry standards.
- Determines safe structural mounting solutions for IT, A/V, and wireless equipment on walls, poles, and ceilings, ensuring load-bearing safety, proper grounding, and secure installations.
- Coordinates closely with campus facilities and primary documentation authors to ensure all IT infrastructure projects comply with applicable building codes, while capturing updated technical data for archival.
- Follows and implements directives and guidance related to best practices from University of Hawaii System Information Technology Services.
- Ensures the consistent adoption, implementation, and enforcement of recommendations issued through University of Hawaii System Information Technology Service.
- Keeps abreast of recommendations issued through University of Hawaii System Information Technology Service, and takes timely action as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Possession of a pertinent baccalaureate educational degree in a related technical field and three (3) years of progressively responsible professional information technology experience with responsibilities for physical infrastructure, of which 2 years of the experience must have been comparable in scope and complexity to the next lower pay band in the University of Hawaii broadband system; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
- Considerable working knowledge of physical IT infrastructure design, telecommunications media standards, and structural installation methodologies as demonstrated by the broad knowledge and understanding of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving information technology concepts, principles and methodologies.
- Considerable working knowledge and understanding of the broad technology, systems, hardware and software associated with signals and communication between devices.
- Demonstrated ability to recognize a wide range of intricate problems, use reasoning and logic to determine accurate causes, and apply principles and practices to determine, evaluate, integrate, and implement practical and thorough solutions in an effective and timely manner.
- Proven ability to comprehend, interpret and implement administrative directives and guidance to ensure IT operations align with organizational standards and industry best practices.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
- Demonstrated professional experience in the termination, splicing, and testing of single-mode cabling using specialized equipment (e.g., Fusion Splicer, VFL, OLTS, OTDR).
- Applied knowledge of structural safety standards and industry-standard mounting techniques for securing heavy IT equipment to diverse architectural surfaces (concrete, steel, wood, drywall).
- Demonstrated experience reading and interpreting blueprints, electrical schematics, and BIM (Building Information Modeling) data to coordinate infrastructure paths.
- Ability to conduct their work safely at various heights utilizing equipment such as bucket trucks, scissor lifts, ladders, scaffolding, or any other equipment necessary to complete assigned tasks.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs safely, and perform physically demanding tasks including bending, crouching, and reaching for extended periods.
- Possession of a valid driver's license to transport tools, testing equipment, and materials to various campus-wide facilities.
- Professional industry certifications in physical layer infrastructure (such as a BICSI Installer or Technician designation), along with experience coordinating large-scale IT projects with external vendors, architects, and campus facilities departments.
- Proficiency in using digital labeling systems and specialized software tools (e.g. CAD, Visio, or environmental monitoring applications) to maintain accurate infrastructure data and track network closet utilities.
- Demonstrated experience delivering technical support in a customer-centric environment, with a proven track record of working successfully within a peer-collaborative IT team to manage technical hand-offs between system designers and field implementers.
- Prior experience working with legacy telecommunications infrastructure, including punch-down blocks, multi-pair twisted copper, and analog signal testing.
Inquiries: Charles Snader, csnader@haswaii.edu
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EEO, Clery Act, ADA
The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/
Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled