Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To assist clients from MTO, their agencies, commissions and regions by providing consultation, business analysis, project management, development, and second level technical support. This assistance is provided for all tiers of the ministry technical architecture and includes software and some customization.
To participate in, or lead, project teams in the development, implementation and maintenance of cost effective information technology solutions and services. To provide systems consulting expertise to clients and advise on use of information technology to meet business/program goals and objectives.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Providing project leadership/management in development of systems or applications including preparing project plans, modelling business activities, leading teams throughout development cycle, developing estimates of costs/resources/staffing required, determining schedules, monitoring activities, providing status reports and project control.

2. Providing/co-coordinating analysis of client IT needs in relation to client's program/service delivery requirements and both short/long term business goals and objectives. Conducting feasibility studies and cost/benefit analyses on complex business/systems initiatives, identifying opportunities for business process re-engineering and recommending systems development solutions which meet client needs and promote overall Ministry IT strategies and objectives; and assisting clients in identifying IT priorities.

3. Conducting/providing technical expertise in complex systems analysis and design; development, testing and implementation of systems and applications; and, development of all systems documentation. Providing programming expertise to project and existing applications.

4. Providing advise/expertise in acquisition of software, hardware, technology, including conducting searches for products to meet specific client business needs; conducting software product tendering, evaluation, selection and acquisition; negotiating servicing/acquisition contracts within defined parameters.

5. Establishing and maintaining tools, techniques, standards, documentation and performance criteria required for developing corporate and local applications and ensuring quality control.

6. Preparing RFR's, RFP's, along with any supporting documentation required for running tenders and assisting clients with determining information technology priorities.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of micro-/mini-computer and personal computer system technologies (operating systems, application software, ministry standard/commonly used, client customized software, and networks), internet technologies and emerging technologies, in order to participate in, or lead, a project team in: identification and evaluation of information technology options for clients; development of new system or systems modifications; evaluate and recommend acquisition of applications, hardware/software, and information technology services.
Job requires knowledge of theories and principles of systems design and development, and related models, techniques, practices and standards, in order to lead a team in: analysis and definition of clients business and information technology requirements; design, development, testing and implementation of systems solutions; evaluation of software/hardware; preparation of technical documentation and technical support.
Job requires knowledge of ministry/government administrative policies and directives to ensure compliance of recommendations on acquisition of technology and services and negotiation of contracts.
Job requires knowledge of Ministry IT plan, project planning methodology, and client's business, processes, and requirements to recommend systems development solutions which promote Ministry IT strategies and goals while also meeting business needs/priorities of client.

Skills :

Job is responsible for planning and co-ordinating project activities and work of team members to meet project commitments and requirements of clients. Job develops and discusses project outline and schedules with client and recommends to systems manager along with staff/budget requirements to systems manager for approval. Job prioritizes and co-ordinates activities of team, and develops and co-ordinates plans for testing and implementation of systems.
Job requires verbal communication skills to: discuss client requirements; lead discussion of systems development options and technical processes among project team; and discuss systems development recommendations with clients, making a variety of technical analyses, limitations and considerations clear in non-technical terms while also communicating advantages and disadvantages of various options and their impact on client's program/service delivery.
Job requires writing skills to: prepare project reports; explain analyses/recommendation; develop business cases for recommend approach to systems development or acquisition of technology/services; prepare systems documentation and manuals.
Job requires analytical skills to: design and develop software code compatible with client's needs; investigate and resolve application faults; review/assess applicability/impact of new technologies on existing platforms/applications.
Job requires interpersonal skills to: explain/illustrate/present alternate solutions to client's systems development requirements; discuss and develop client's support for recommended approach, by outlining analyses of costs/benefits, impact on client's service delivery and achievement of business goals. Job negotiates contracts with vendors of services, equipment and hardware/software, within pre-determined parameters.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within: ministry and policies and guidelines for delivery of systems consulting services; and ministry and government directives for information technology development and acquisition. Job exercises latitude in decision-making by: determining how best to define and characterise client needs; recommending particular information technology approach for project; schedule and budget; determining necessary adjustments to development process during course of project to ensure quality of product and the timelines and sometimes changing client requirements are met. Work is regularly discussed with clients; and general updates on project status and achievement of objectives are provided to supervisor/manager and reviewed in relation to stated project objectives, timelines and budget. Job refers to supervisor/manager problems/issues such as: changes to operating systems; need for organizational enhancements; resourcing issues; and significant changes to project direction.