Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To co-ordinate and provide technical and consulting expertise for the management and integration of the Safety & Regulation Division database connectivity environments. To provide project management and team leadership for supporting the following database environment connectivity functions: to ensure data availability, integrity, communication performance, security, and capacity management, Database connectivity software upgrades (DB2 Connect, IMS Connect), communication utility evaluation and operational support. To provide database connectivity technical consultation to Ministry IT staff and to provide 7x24 problem resolution and technical support.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Providing data based mangement expertise/consultation in the operation and performance of the ministry's large driver, vehicle and carrier systems by: advising on ministry data base communication design standards: developing solutions to data integrity, availability and security issues; advising on
new systems releases involving multi-platform integration (IMS, DB2 and ORACLE); and assessing impact of data. Job requires: organization/reorganization on systems performance and overall system environment.
2. Consulting with and representing the division with senior technical officials within and outside government e.g A Government/private partnership project may require to choose a connectivity product for this project, this coordinator is responsible to provide his/her expert input for decision making to provide advice and influence the direction of connectivity environment projects and activities involving both ministry and other government wide clients e.g A multi-ministries partnership project may require to choose a communications protocol (e.g TCPIP) for this project, this co-ordinator is responsible to consult and discuss with his/her counterpart in other ministries to come up with a solution.
3. Leading multiple projects for the testing and implementation of large system data base environment projects and design of data base re-organizations by: providing technical direction and leadership to project teams; co-ordinating development of general design specifications and project schedules; preparing cost estimates, implementation schedules and technical reports and recommendations; monitoring project development and ensuring efficiency, performance, integrity of division data; and overseeing implementation.
4. Developing and implementing division standards, operational procedures/manuals and documentation for use and management of division data and environment by: evaluating and
recommending technical design features and alternatives to ensure proper procedures for security; capacity planning, growth monitoring and resource utilization and data base connectivity design performance; identifying components subject to data corruption and initiating procedures using appropriate utilities to improve and maintain data integrity.
5. Evaluating and recommending cost effective use of new data connectivity products, data modelling
tools and enhancements to hardware/software environments; analysing new features of data base mangement systems and technology to enhance performance; co-ordinating environment related problems with computer services, systems project leaders, clients and management.
6. Providing supervision and group leadership to permanent staff and contracted consultants by assigning work, reviewing quality and timeliness of assignments upon completion. Providing input into staff performance evaluation and identifying staff training requirements.
7. Estimating project resources (financial cost of software, hardware purchases; and physical need for equipment, software or mini/mainframe computer time). Managing database environment project budgets and recommending purchase of software, hardware and consulting/contractual services.
8. 7x24 on call support to ensure continous availability of the division's database environment to both internal and external clients. This also includes using off peak hours (late nights, weekends) to peform database maintenance tasks that render portions of the data to the unavailable for the duration of the tasks.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of information engineering methodologies, tools, techniques, and data base management system design, information architecture, data modelling and warehousing concepts and practices, in order to : provide data management expertise and advice on database connectivity standards, applications and current environment issues; advise on solutions to data integrity, security issues; and assess impact of data organization on systems performance.
Job requires knowledge of PC based computer system technologies, understanding of database management using mainframe and mid-range platforms (IMS, DB2 and Oracle) and knowledge of data management and applications software, to assess and advise on how software/hardware issues relate to data organization and design; analyse and maximize capabilities of data connectivity using available technology, programming languages, implementation of multi-purpose and multi-client based databases and data environment structures; monitor and maintain data connectivity performance through development of standards; and evaluate connectivity software and data management techniques/services for potential use by division.
Job requires knowledge of government/ministry directives, standards, policies and guidelines
governing data management and use/acquisition of information technology to develop proposals for division database management, use of new technology and information management in relation to operational objectives and short/long term business strategies.

Skills :

Job requires reasoning and problem sovling skills to review and analyse ministry data management issues/concerns/initiatives.
Job researches and analyses data management requirements such as integrity/security/communication issues and develops recommendations for division data communication design standards.
Job analyses and develops proposals for data connectivity environment and protects the data environment by involving ministry and government-wide clients by reviewing systems performance issues and data organization in relation to division business strategies and operational requirements, and developing recommendations for guidelines and structures to ensure effective development/maintenance of information database requirements.
Job requires evaluative and problem solving skills to assess client requirements in relation to multi-purpose and multi-client database systems and lead project team in design/development of corporate data models for systems, databases, data management structures, standards, policies and procedures.
Job requires evaluative skills to work on assessing ministry/external client data requirements by: developing technical design features and alternatives to ensure effective performance, security and integrity for division database connectivity; identifying components subject to data corruption; and initiating projects to ensure integrity.
Job assesses and evaluates new methods, technologies and techniques for potential division use and impact of changes within system (both technical and financial) and make recommendations on same 7x24 on-call support requires that problem solving skill set involve the ability to quickly assess and solve (anytime day or night) any issue/problem that threatens the continuous availability of the database environment.
Job requires written communication skills to: prepare reports, briefs and papers on database management policies and standards; write reports on project findings/conclusions, including assessment of technical specifications and considerations (e.g. technical design features ensuring data integrity/security/recovery).
Job requires oral communication skills to: explain technical solutions to non-technical ministry personnel; and to make presentations to senior management (systems and non-systems managers) on proposals for data management aspects of ministry information management and information technology strategies.
Job requires interpersonal skills to : present and discuss benefits/drawbacks of proposals on data management strategies for division with senior managers and encourage support of recommended approach; discuss data communications with client groups and encourage/promote approach which facilitates achievement of division information technology, data management objectives and client needs; and negotiate provision of services or acquisition of hardware/software with vendors, within defined limits.
Because of emergency 7x24 support requirements, the job requires the ability to clearly and concisely communicate within a group of people to quickly solve problems.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within government/ministry directives, guidelines and policies relating to the acquisition and use of information technology and requirements for data security; and within recognized systems and database management techniques and practices. Job requires decision-making by: determining database design standards; recommending and influencing proposals for database application projects involving the needs of ministry and government-wide client; leading design of multi-purpose and multi-client database systems; implementing policies, standards and procedures for use
and management of ministry data; and recommending use of new practices and methodologies. Work such as proposals for data management strategies and recommendations for design and implementation of new data connectivity and release projects are reviewed for soundness within the
context of overall ministry technology strategies and business plans and operational requirements. Work on multi-client projects and corporate data models are reviewed within context of ministry information technology strategy for facilitation and achievement of ministry IT plan and data management objectives. Job refers to supervisor problems/issues such as lack of resources for projects, conflicts between client requirements and division/ministry information technology strategies/plans, and need for significant changes/modifications to corporate data models or data management strategies.