Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To manage and coordinate multiple large projects involved in the development of information systems by providing business analysis and systems consulting expertise in addressing a full range of client information technology requirements. To provide systems development, support and maintenance expertise on projects which have strategic significance for achieving the Ministry's Information Technology plans and objectives.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Job requires: 1) Providing project leadership on development teams engaged in the analysis, design, development, testing and implementation of large, complex Ministry applications. 2) Coordinating and conducting the analysis of business and information requirements in order to design and develop applications which meet the stated business requirements. 3) Leading the definition of clients' Business Requirements and using these requirements to design and develop business applications which satisfy these requirements. 4) Overseeing the development and maintenance of program, systems, user, and operational documentation. 5) Leading the implementation of new and enhanced systems including ensuring the promotion of all system components into the appropriate staging areas. 6) Maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of testing tools, environments and databases. 7) Keeping senior management informed of the progress of strategically significant projects. 8) This position provides a significant level of assistance to clients including deciding and arranging for a variety of services to meet the client's needs, intervening and initiating action or cessation of services on behalf of the client. This position provides authoritative direction and guidance to client organizations in a variety of subject areas in order to help the client meet different, interrelated goals and objectives.

Staffing and Licencing :

N/A

Knowledge :

Knowledge 1) This position requires knowledge of standard methods and techniques for systems analysis (including process and data modeling, and design and development techniques) in order to: - Identify and evaluate the feasibility of various options and assessing the impact of options on service delivery, resources, costs, and the production and testing environments. - Conduct feasibility studies and cost benefit analyses on complex business and systems initiatives. - Review client business and information requirements; - Evaluate costs and benefits and recommend appropriate, cost effective solutions; - Investigate and recommend alternative solutions to meet business and systems requirements.
- Assist clients in identifying information requirements and collecting data; - Assess information technology, data, and systems requirements; - Interview users regarding business, information, and
system testing needs and document these needs to fit established divisional standards. - Develop complex data and process models. - Lead the review of options for complete systems development and testing solutions. 2) This position requires knowledge of various mainframe, mid-range, and personal computer systems technologies including operating systems, networks, and applications development and testing software in order to: -Provide technical expertise in all aspects of systems analysis and design for large complex systems; - Develop recommendations and identify opportunities for maximizing technology to improve the efficiency of the clients' business or testing practices. -Gather information on programs, services and business objectives and design systems or testing specifications to meet these objectives. - Recommend systems development and testing solutions that meet client needs and promote overall Ministry IT strategies and objectives. -Evaluate vendors system design solutions and proposals to ensure business requirements are met. - Evaluate vendors system design solutions and proposals to ensure a sound data, technical, and integrated architecture is developed and maintained. - Provide advice to branch and program staff on appropriate use and efficient application of information technology. -Conduct hardware and software product renders, evaluation, and selection and negotiate acquisition and service contracts within defined parameters. - Provide advice and expertise in the acquisition of hardware, software and other technology including conducting searches for products to meet specific business needs. 3) This position requires knowledge of a variety of industry standard concepts, languages, and testing tools and protocols in order to: -Evaluate the effectiveness of these tools in delivering comprehensive and cost effective business applications to clients. - Provide, leadership, guidance, and technical expertise to other members of the project team;- Oversee the development complete testing documentation including detailed test cases including expected and actual results, automated test scripts and comprehensive audit materials; - Oversee all system testing activities;
- Provide practical, technical input to innovative applications design and development; - Recommend and arrange technical training for staff; - Provide recommendations to clients as to the acceptance or rejection of system components.- Establish and maintain tools, techniques, standards, documentation and performance criteria required for developing and/or testing corporate and local applications and ensuring quality. 4) This position requires knowledge of commonly used business software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database management in order to: - Oversee the preparation of a wide variety of requirements including: business, systems, software, and systems testing. - Oversee the development of complete systems, user and operations documentation. - Oversee the development of complete testing documentation including detailed test cases, expected and actual results, automated test scripts and comprehensive audit materials. 5) This position requires knowledge of standard testing and query tools and protocols in order to: - Examine test databases to ensure that the integrity of the production databases will be maintained after implementation of the application.- Maintain the integrity and effectiveness of regression test databases;- Monitor for problems to ensure ongoing availability of systems. 6) This position requires knowledge of standard problem logging techniques and tools in order to track problems and ensure accuracy and completeness of problem documentation ensuring follow-up or corrective action. 7) This position requires knowledge of standard debugging and testing techniques and practices in order to: -Identify and debug problems encountered with software usage. - Provide hardware, communications, applications, and network support including providing on site expertise to end users. -Resolve complex technical problems. -Participate in, prepare, and facilitate JAD sessions.
8) This position requires knowledge of the clients' business in order to:- Collect information on business requirements, analyze information, system, and testing needs and participate in developing recommendations on appropriate solutions; -Provide experienced application knowledge to requirements and development teams in walkthroughs and design consensus meetings; - Provide input to business and systems analysts as required for problem resolution. - Assist clients in identifying
Information Technology priorities; - Liaise between Ministry clients and vendors to ensure the development of quality systems. 9) This position requires knowledge of team leadership techniques and practices in order to: - Coordinate and oversee the analysis, design, development, testing, and implementation activities of a team of programmers.- Coordinate the development of all systems documentation. - Coordinate and direct the development of complete system and systems testing specifications. 10) This position requires knowledge of standard project management methodologies
and tools in order to: - Develop and maintain several interrelated project plans, schedules, cost and
resource estimates, and staffing requirements. -Monitor team member activities against previously
agreed to deliverables and dates and report on status of self and team members. -Prepare development and system testing plans. - Coordinate issue management and resolution throughout the business requirement definition and development process. - Present, review, and rationalize project plans and design solutions to senior management. - Provide high level planning information to the senior management business planning process. - Organize, plan, and manage several large projects of strategic significance to the Ministry. 11) Knowledge of theory and principles of systems design and development, systems testing and related methods, techniques, practices and standards, in order to lead a team in the analysis and definition of clients business and information technology requirements; 12) This position requires knowledge of client/server, Internet/Intranet and other emerging, state-of-the-art technologies in order to: - lead a project team in the identification and evaluation of information technology options for clients; -participate in the creation of a standard applications architecture; - maintain tools, techniques and standards which ensure the development of applications which adhere to the Ministry's Information, Application, and Technical architectures. 13) This position requires knowledge of Ministry and Government administrative policies and directives to ensure compliance of recommendations on acquisition of technology and services and negotiation of contracts. 14) This position requires knowledge of Ministry Information, Application, and Technology architectures in order to design and develop business applications which adhere to these architectures.

Skills :

This position requires considerable analysis to determine the nature of issues or problems including conducting considerable research for and interpretation of information and evidence. This position responds to issues or problems by drawing inferences from research and reevaluation of issues or problems. This position uses existing alternatives as a starting point for developing different alternatives or solutions for review by senior management. This position requires writing and speaking skills to convey, fully grasp and explain detailed information which may involve specialized information technology terminology and to present, discuss, and explain highly complex information and arguments in a field of expertise where precise language is critical. This position requires interpersonal skills necessary to encourage compliance promote acceptance and secure cooperation for a course of action, recommendation or proposal. This position also requires the skills to reconcile conflicts, mediate disputes, and negotiate formal agreements with external vendors and service providers.

Freedom of Action :

This position works within ministry and government policies, guidelines and directives for the use and development of information technology and within established practices and procedures for computer systems design, development and management. Work is performed with wide latitude in making decisions in the application of methods, procedures, and practices. Results are reviewed for contributions to stated objectives. Situations requiring major modifications or development of new methods and approaches are referred to the supervisor or manager.