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Job Specification
Position Title: APPLICATION ARCHITECT
Job Code: AMAPCEO - Systems Serv Ama Unit ASY21, 21ASY
Job ID: 22578

Purpose of Position:
To provide senior technical expertise in the planning, design and development of application architecture at the enterprise (cluster) and project (ministry) levels. This includes defining the service and component structures as well as their relationships and interactions among applications; Identifying re-usable, common application components, specifying the organization, operation and layering of application platform software; and determining the requirements and functions of application interfaces and interconnections.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Position is responsible for the:
1) Definition of enterprise (cluster) and project (ministry) application architectures including identification of technology standards, attributes (e.g. performance), tools and other factors associated with the environment and organization of application functions and structures, such as the distribution of application services and components as well as data elements, that may be common and shareable across projects and in the cluster.
2) Development and implementation of an enterprise (cluster) application life-cycle methodology to manage the support and evolution of the ministrys programs and administrative applications, as well as a duster-wide application- development strategy to ensure compatibility with overall corporate application-development strategy.
3) Identification, integration and development of common functions, processes and components among and between applications (e.g. common registration functions, common payment functions, common management and reporting functions) to facilitate business functions in the delivery of social assistance, child welfare, youth justice and community services.
4) Development of application migration strategies as required enabling the transition of the current application architecture to a target application architecture, in alignment with other architecture domains (information, technology and security).
5) Coordination of application architectures with technology, communication, information, security and other key architectural domains to maintain complete, holistic integration among system environments.
6) Review of significant modifications related to enterprise and project application architectures, and analysis of new technologies, methods or processes to support the application-development life cycle (e.g. object-oriented or interfacing to an existing legacy system with traditional architecture).
7) Extension of the conceptual, high-level, enterprise-(duster-) level application model during systems analysis, design and implementation; conceptualization of high-level application architectures during the analysis and design phase of the business systems solution, ensuring adherence to enterprise standards and structure for the application (e.g. application structure standards, user interface standards, coding standards); development of standards, policies and processes as necessary, supervision of the application design teams and preparation of requests for project resources including Requests for Proposals and participating in the vendor selection process.
8) Participation in the specification and development of products, services, application solutions, implementation plans, and other factors associated with the implementation and deployment of the enterprise (duster) reference architecture; and in identifying, promoting and managing major information technology changes.

Knowledge:
Position requires: knowledge of OPS, cluster and ministry strategies, directives, policies, guidelines arid standards in I & IT, particularly as related to data management and application development, business case development, and project approvals, to ensure that the proposed application architecture serving the ministrys business functions complies with directives/guidelines for I & IT and is compatible with overall enterprise application strategy. Knowledge of the ministry business goals/objectives, specifically the business plans and requirements of children, youth and social services programs in order to establish a cluster-wide, cross-ministry application architecture in support of the business processes, information needs and IT changes. In-depth knowledge and experience in developing and maintaining web-based applications in a multi-tiered environment involving heterogeneous platforms and operating systems, including hardware/software, database technologies, languages and telecommunications protocols, middleware and gateways, environment/platform specific technical skills (e.g., JavaScript, Visual Basic, ASP, HTML, COMM/COMTI Objects, COBOL II, JCL, TSOIISPF 0B2/SQL and CICS). Knowledge of emerging IT technologies, trends and directions in order to assess their relevance to work responsibilities, i.e. security technologies, new methods and new ways of designing components of the application. Skills in a range of application software and project management tools (e.g. development tools, case tools, information retrieval packages, etc.); knowledge of metadata structures, repository functions, data dictionaries for systems analysis and design of large, complex systems. Leadership skills in architecture development and implementation of as well as structured methodologies for the design, development and implementation of applications, Excellent analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills as required for reviewing applications and architecture modifications and analyzing any new technology, methods or processes (e.g., object-oriented or interfacing to an existing legacy system with traditional application architecture). Communication skills to: provide advice on major information technology change, including highly technical concepts and development methods/tools to non-technical staff for approval or acceptance; provide clear, change documentation, meeting facilitation, project reporting and recommendations. Interpersonal and negotiation skills to provide leadership/ guidance to systems professionals and business staff in various project groups and in the program areas, ensuring timely and appropriate changes/ modifications in technology in an environment where work success is accomplished by team efforts.

Judgement:
Position reports to the Senior Manager, Technical Architecture, Information Management and Architecture Branch, and works within the framework of OPS and duster l&IT policies, standards and guidelines, l&IT industry standards and applications framework of children, youth and social services programs. Position requires judgement in: defining the enterprise (cluster) and project (ministry) application architectures including standards, tools etc.: developing application life-cycle methodology and development strategy that is compatible and Will integrate with business functions. Position applies judgement to advise the Chief Information Officer (ClO) and other key managers on status of plans, alternative approaches and to recommend options, modifications and issues that may involve policy or schedule changes, or acquisition of systems capital assets with major investments. Position requires broad latitude to: define and design application architecture that meets the current and evolving clients IT needs and priorities; evaluate and recommend new systems development techniques, software and acquisitions; provide expert guidance to design staff, and co-ordinate assignments and resource qualified technical staff.

Accountability - Programs:
Position is responsible for developing, managing and implementing application architectures in a large and distributed environment, maintaining the common characteristics of the applications they support — such as business processes, users, information needed by the application, user interface standards and performance characteristics; for advising senior management in the Children, Youth and Social Services l&IT Cluster and business program areas on strategies and cost implications; and participating in systems policy and planning discussions.

Accountability - Personnel:
Position is responsible for providing clear directions to project groups tasked with the development of system specifications, testing, etc. through distribution of documents and attending team meetings to clarify tasks and discuss/resolve technical problems; providing technical supervision to application design team, assigning and reviewing tasks, participating in staff selection process, and providing guidance in resolving technical problems; supervising external project staff and reviewing performance against contract service agreements.

Accountability - Finance & Material:
Position is responsible for providing the specifications of products, and guidelines and standards for acquisition of hardware/software needs; providing Options and cost estimates of technology changes/acquisitions to clients.

Accountability - Impact of Errors:
Failure to establish the appropriate application architecture and workable interfaces could result in significant disruption to ministry business operation of delivering programs, inconvenience to customers, and damage to the credibility of applications in the Children, Youth and Social Services l&lT Cluster and the client ministries. Corrections could not be undertaken without major costs in time and resources and would defer various time schedules and project implementation dates.

Contact - Internal:
Position has regular contacts with Children, Youth and Social Services l&lT Cluster and client business senior managers to discuss issues and share information as related to projects and application architectures; with peers and counterparts in other ministries and IT staff from the Ministry of Government Services to discuss problem resolutions; regular contacts with ClO and branch directors/managers to brief on status of developments and advise on matters of major capital costs. Position is expected to frequently meet with managers and lead projects to discuss strategies and plans related to application architectures, as well as define major information technology change.

Contact - External:
Position maintains regular contacts with IT professionals in the industry, especially in large systems, to exchange information and acquire knowledge on emergent IT trends and developments; to establish regular contacts with vendors and suppliers on services for tender, costs of services and major systems products.