Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide expertise in management of configuration and release projects and activities for multi-tier applications development in support of the Open For Business Modernization of Approvals strategic initiative.
To configuration and release leadership, expertise and advice to staff administering the multi-tier applications development.
To provide technical team leadership to assigned staff and/or project teams.

Duties / Responsibilities :

The Job requires:
1. Leading and providing highly specialized technical support for the technical design, development and implementation of multiple concurrent or sequential multi-tier application development projects in compliance with Cluster/enterprise standards, including planning, estimating resources, providing highly specialized technical guidance, co-ordination and instruction, monitoring progress and problem-solving, and reporting to management with recommendations. Projects cover any aspect of multi-tier application development and include major activities such as:
• planning and managing configuration of compiled applications and common components across multiple environments, using tools such as IBM Clear Case
• planning and leading build automation projects, using tools like ClearCase (ClearMake), Apache ANT and Apache Maven
• managing builds for multiple test and production code streams, including generating release packages for these environments
• integrating JUnit tests into build management process, and running and reporting on test results for periodic builds
• preparing technical and non-technical documentation such as configuration management plan and user guides
• ensuring that project activities for multi-tier applications a-e co-ordinated between the Cluster internal and external service providers and the client business area(s).
2. Providing highly specialised multi-tier technical application development expertise. For example: assists with the development of client and Cluster l&IT plans and other documents, ensuring that recommendations are congruent with overall work goals and corporate directions; performs advanced analysis to design and implement approved application components; consults with Cluster and client management and staff to communicate technical analysis, limitations and considerations, explain the advantages/disadvantages of various options, recommend solutions to address new/modified business requirements, and seek approvals; provides change-related support, technical explanations and assistance for the user community; providing mult-tier technical advice and assistance to Cluster Systems Officers, client users and other systems staff.
3. Supporting multi-tier applications performance and quality by designing and running reports; creating/modifying new/existing ClearQuest schema for defect and change tracking processes; proactively assisting in the definition and implementation of best practices in release and configuration management; assisting in the evaluation and recommendation of new technologies and software.
4. Interacting and co-ordinating directly with development teams, ITS, project managers and test teams to ensure that all Cluster standards, guidelines, policy and procedures regarding multi-tier application design, development and implementation are met and/or addressed, documented and/or approved by the Cluster, and to identify and resolve technical problems.
5. Participating in selecting and negotiating with assigned vendors to develop statements of work; managing vendors' performance, alerting management to defaults, recommending and implementing solutions.
6. Performing administrative functions, such as project setup and user maintenance.

Management has the right to assign other duties

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of:
Established and emerging multi-tier applications and related architectures and technologies, including expert technical knowledge of configuration management principles and tools (e.g. IBM Clear Case), Rational products (e.g. RequisitePro), scripting and build automation tools (e.g. ClearCase (ClearMake), Apache ANT, Apache Maven), unit testing/automation framework for Java programming (i.e. JUnit), to: plan and lead the technical design, development, testing and implementation enterprise/Cluster multi-tier applications and ensure their technical integrity and compatibility with existing/planned technology and corporate/cluster standards (e.g. for Junit testing automation through integration in build automation); deploy and manage applications in a clustered websphere environment; provide highly specialised advice and technical analyses (e.g. configuring IBM Rational tools to meet client process requirements); configure, manage and deploy 'Message Broker Service' and Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) technologies; analyse and maximise application capabilities using available technology; and research and make recommendations on acquisition of new software/hardware.
• Technical change and configuration management and release management concepts, protocols and standards (e.g. ITIL), to ensure the integrity of projects through change, configuration and release stages, including creating the code package, manifest, release notes, etc.
• The software development life cycle (SCLC), specifically, development, testing and deployment and the documentation associated with each step.
Client/enterprise/Cluster needs and business environments to define technical scope of work with the Manager and develop highly specialised technical specifications and analyses.
• Cluster l&IT plans, project planning methodology and Cluster business, processes and requirements, to recommend multi-tier solutions which promote Cluster/enterprise l&IT strategies and goals while also meeting business needs/priorities.
• Project management methodology software, analytical tools and processes, to lead projects, develop project plans and schedules, estimate resources required and conduct technical and financial analysis of vendor proposals. Problem-solving techniques to provide technical leadership and solutions which deal efficiently and effectively with a very wide variety of highly specialized systems administration technical, operational and service problems.
• RFP and tendering process, contract management, to ensure own input is compliant with corporate standards and client needs.
• Client service techniques to provide users with data, reports, problem resolution, education and information

Skills :

Job requires skills in:
Using highly specialized technical systems, tools and methodologies described in Knowledge Section to the level typically required by certified technical training, including expert practical ability to support development and implementation of applications in a large multi-tiered development environment.
• Using ClearCase, ClearQuest and other Rational products to ensure the integrity of installation and administration projects and activities.
• Analysis, reasoning and problem solving to understand technical issues in depth and quickly; assess complex information/systems needs which are very diverse and/or broad in nature; make critical judgments to analyse and evaluate options and develop/recommend l&IT solutions which are cost effective and meet very diverse situations and business needs and enterprise/Cluster requirements.
• Analysis and problem solving to design, advise on and lead testing and the development of hardware and software configurations, and to manage change and release in situations that present very broad impacts or potential exceptions from the rule.
• Dealing with ambiguity, in order to analyze and determine root causes of application design, development, configuration and release problems, deal with potential exceptions from the rule, provide viable solutions for very diverse problems which have broad implications (e.g. potential impacts on related l&IT architectures, enterprise/Cluster goals for the Open For Business Modernisation of Approvals strategic initiative). Working under pressure to meet tight deadlines in a process driven environment, while simultaneously paying attention to detail and actively promoting adherence to process.
• Managing concurrent and very diverse projects and assignments, including developing I&IT project priorities and recommended approaches.
• Written and oral communications to write, explain and present very complex technical concepts, options, reports and recommendations for decision-makers whose expertise may not be in multi-tier application development or related I&IT technologies used by the projects; explain alternate solutions to meet application development requirements; establish effective working relationships and provide instruction for less experienced team members and users; participate in negotiations/negotiate with and instruct vendors; and prepare technical systems and user documentation.
• Teamwork, leadership and interpersonal skills to lead multi-disciplinary teams; discuss and develop support for recommended approaches to achieve approved business goals.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires:
Using judgement to translate broader goals and objectives into project specifications within organisational policy
and to develop testing modifications or conduct new systems development as pilot projects prior to change/release.
• Conceptualising approaches to meeting new business and/or technical requirements by designing new, or modifying existing, components of the portfolio of applications or related software.
• Developing/finding innovative solutions to solve very diverse and/or specific difficult development problems which have very broad impacts, for which there may be no precedent, and possibly to deal with exceptions from the rule. Exercising latitude in decision-making by determining how best to deliver needs-based solutions; recommending particular I&IT approaches for projects; determining necessary adjustments to the development process to ensure product quality and achievement of time lines and changing priorities and requirements.
• Interpreting/translating documented business requirements into forward-looking solutions/options that meet diverse client/user needs, and providing advice and instruction to users and systems officers regarding the development and implementation of new or modified systems or modules..
• Evaluating and recommending new systems development techniaues/frameworks. software and technoloav for acquisition by the Cluster.
• Using judgement to draft cluster policies and standards for multi-tier application development and acquisition and ensure their alignment with related Cluster/enterprise frameworks.
Providing appropriate team leadership and co-ordination; ensuring provision of sound needs assessments, costing, resource estimation and deployment; developing project milestones and performance benchmarks for approval; evaluating approved technical aspects of work performance; developing and implementing remedies and improvements.
• Managing relationships and providing appropriate support to a wide variety of management stakeholders and clients.
Finding effective ways to communicate, educate and guide peers, counterparts, team members, stakeholders and users.
• Participating in the RFP and tendering process effectively and contributing to process integrity (e.g. developing comprehensive, very complex technical specifications, assisting in evaluating responses, participating in contract negotiations); managing vendors' ongoing performance.
Determining when to refer to Manager for decisions (e.g. identifying the need for approval for applications enhancement and changes in project direction; resources issues; issues related to the development of new methods and approaches).
Work is reviewed by the Manager at key milestones for progress and achievement in relation to project objectives, resource commitments. time lines and budcet.