CV :: Roger Jardine

In this role I am most notably involved in designing, implementing and integrating Active Directory Services into the University's computing systems. As one-half of the project team, my responsibilities include:

Designing and maintaining an optimum Active Directory infrastructure.
Integration and synchronization of the directory with other sources of University information
Testing and deployment

This ambitious project required considerable technical expertise as well as excellent project-management skills. The project can only be described as an unqualified success, over 4000 desktop computers and 100 servers are now managed centrally using the system, and neither the directory nor any of the services that complement it have had any down-time since the project went live around 5 years ago.
I have created a number of bespoke solutions, using the C# language, most of which involve synchronizing Active Directory data with a number of other University databases.
In addition to this, I am responsible for many other centralised University IT services including the University's VPN services, paid printing services, remote OS installation services, software deployment systems, provision of storage area network facilities, data protection and archiving, virtualization services and so on.

I was solely responsible for system administration and application support for a number of NT/2000 servers and services, particularly for the various administrative departments within the University, e.g. student accommodation databases, University payroll, sports booking systems, and many more.
I developed friendly, open relationships with key staff in the departments that used the systems which I administered. I believe this was important, it helped to ensure that the users felt that they were being listened to and that systems were developed and improved in accordance with their needs and wishes. My influence within these departments also helped me to guide their choices for individual systems towards solutions that integrated with, and enhanced, the wider IT infrastructure in the University.
Whilst fulfilling this role I made it a priority to make the use and administration of IT in these departments more efficient; for example by identifying and reducing duplicated and overlapping services, and by automating tasks which were previously time-intensive manual tasks. This resulted in less time troubleshooting, and more time to concentrate on improving IT services.
I was also involved in the formation and development of the University’s initial E-learning strategy. This included choosing a suitable development platform and implementing a campus-wide trial of the system.

Whilst studying for my doctorate I worked, during my spare-time, as a Technical Advisor for the Computing Services Helpdesk. This position involved helping students and staff solve a wide variety of computing problems.
My experiences in this role helped me in a variety of ways; I sharpened my logical, problem-solving abilities, but more importantly, I also developed excellent personal communication skills, enabling me to clearly express my thoughts and ideas at a variety of levels of technical expertise. At the same time I was improving my ability to determine people's computing-requirements, even when they themselves are unclear. The skills I learned are still of great use to me today, and this it was this part-time job that helped me to decide to pursue a career in IT.