Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide senior level technical specialist and consulting services in development, implementation, and technology support. To lead and/or advise on business/systems needs analysis, and systems business application planning, design, testing, customization and enhancement initiatives. To provide specialized systems consulting expertise to client senior management, and to research/recommend systems solutions that meet client business/program goals and are consistent with ministry/cluster I&IT standards and strategic objectives.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Within the Community Services I&IT Cluster which provides information technology services, the job requires:

1. Providing specialized systems design, development and expert technical consultation/advisory services to client management.

2. Leading consultation processes and/or providing expertise/advice to Project Managers in defining information technology development/enhancement projects (i.e. developing terms of reference - scope, timing deliverables, organization) in Business Process Review (BPR) and JAD sessions with customer groups. Advises Project Managers and client management related to the analysis of current and new client business systems/processes to identify and evaluate information technology options to support and enhance business delivery.

3. Providing senior level specialist systems design and analysis services to help clients determine requirements and recommends the most cost effective alternatives for the development/acquisition of hardware/software technology, systems applications and information technology services related to the implementation, testing, customization and enhancement of the solution. Develops business cases for recommended systems and applications.

4. Designing and implementing new applications and changes to business application systems, and documenting requirements and system/module designs. Researches, analyzes and evaluates potential application solutions available in the marketplace, working with the defined requirements, vendors and key business representatives as required. Leads the development of criteria for product evaluation with the representatives of the client business area.

5. Leading and/or providing senior level technical advice to other team members related to the development of standards, processes, methods, techniques and controls to ensure optimum performance and the integrity, security, confidentiality and reliability of data, and to provide contingency recovery in the event of major systems problems.

6. Leading the design, development, testing, and implementation of new programs, system modules, database procedures, and other automated procedures, and changes to system programs, system modules, database procedures, and other automated procedures in accordance with system design specifications, system requirements, and project Division standards.

7. Leading and/or advising on the implementation of systems, including planning, conversion, integration, and testing customer training and initial customer support.

8. Applying current and evolving business application related practices and technologies to forward Ministry/Cluster business plans and I&IT architecture.

9. Developing system design standards by working with key technical resources across the Division, ensuring the user interface delivers a fully integrated, seamless solution to the customer, maximizing client/server, internet/Intranet and other leading edge technology to improve case of use, accessibility and cost effectiveness, and ensuring completed architecture adheres to the Ministry IT architecture, and justifying any exceptions.

10. Providing senior level technical consulting and advisory services to project development teams, systems support groups, users and user management to identify information and design technologies that facilitate business practices by providing input on content, technical and operational decisions involving system technologies to ensure quality, cost-effective application systems that satisfy client requirements and meet business and I&IT strategic objectives. Reviews information technology systems and system proposals to verify that they align with policies and standards relating to application system design and meet performance requirements of the ministry's I&IT architecture.

11. Leading, conducting and/or advising on the preparation and documentation of operational procedures and guidelines; developing and adapting design and technical standards and procedures for use and operation.

12. Providing expertise in researching and recommending Ministry usage and standards for technologies through assessment of new products.

Staffing and Licensing :

n/a

Knowledge :

Job requires specialist/expert knowledge of computer technology, business analysis, systems requirements gathering, systems analysis and Unified Markup Language (UML) to lead and/or advise project teams and Client management by identifying/analyzing information technology options to meet business objectives, and by recommending acquisition of applications, hardware/software, and information technology services. Job requires excellent knowledge of systems design/development, data modelling and related methods, techniques, practices land standards; object-oriented development/integration platforms, including Unix, Windows and third party tools; vast experience in web based application design and development using Java EE (J2EE) technologies such as JSF, Spring, MyBatis and Hibernate ORM Framework, EJBs, Servlets, Core Java, WebSphere 8 +, Oracle 12c, JDBC, itext, Jasper Report, Crystal Report, Spring Batch, Aspects; web based applications implementing with MVC framework, Apache MyFaces, Richfaces, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, JQuery, Bootstrap, Foundation, Perl, NodeJs, RESTful Services and SML; Multiple platforms Solaris/Linux/Windows and system testing methods; IBM RAD 8, Eclipse, Maven, Junit, ANT Build and other open source tools; demonstrated ability to become familiar with data model tools such as RSA, Erwin, ER/Studio or similar tools. Knowledge of the use of database management packages including Oracle, and Microsoft Access; knowledge of HTML and XML; Windows server platforms, and system testing methods. Job requires knowledge in software and requirements change management to fix bugs and implement application enhancements. Job requires knowledge of cluster/government information and information technology corporate goals, objectives and priorities to ensure that technology solutions and advice meet corporate strategic and business operations requirements. Knowledge of administrative policies and directives to ensure compliance of recommendations on acquisition of technology and services.
Job requires knowledge of ministry/cluster I&IT plan and clients' business, processes, and requirements to recommend systems development solutions which promote the ministry/cluster I&IT strategies and goals while also meeting business needs/priorities of client. Job requires knowledge of project management methodology to effectively manage and provide technical leadership/advice for systems design, development, customization and implementation projects. Knowledge of cost benefit analysis methods and techniques to prepare business cases, conduct feasibility studies, and prepare cost and resource estimates.

Skills :

Job requires analytical skills to research, analyze and assess the effective design and integration of the information technology environment, and to provide specialist advice to client management on information technology planning and recommended solutions. Job requires analytical and problem solving skills to assess clients' information/systems needs and lead, or advise on, the development of information technology solutions which are cost effective and meet client program/service delivery objectives. Job requires analytical skills to define client requirements, including assessment of short and long term business goals and objectives, and to advise clients on development of their information technology priorities in order to reflect their business needs/requirements/plans, program/service delivery requirements and resource limitations. Job requires analytical and evaluation skills to assess design alternatives related to the client' s business needs; to guide and advise on business and systems design; and to develop recommendations on business systems and technology approach, efficiency/flexibility standards, costs, and future development considerations. Job requires analytical
skills to conceptualize approaches to address new business requirements and to recommend new systems development techniques, software and technology for acquisition by the client branch.
Job requires the following technical skills: Expert skills with WebSphere, other integrated development environments (IDE) such as RAD, Eclipse, Maven etc for application development and debugging; ability to use modeling tools such as Rational Software Architect, Together in order to streamline and accelerate an application life cycle. Job requires oral communication and presentation skills to discuss and confirm client requirements; lead discussion of systems development options and technical processes among project teams; provide ongoing specialist recommendations and support to client management; present and/or discuss a variety of technical analysis, limitations and considerations clearly in non-technical terms while also communicating advantages and disadvantages of various options and their impact on client's program/service delivery. Job requires written communication skills to prepare systems design documents, business cases, feasibility studies, estimates, systems documentation and user manuals. Job requires interpersonal, consultation and advisory skills to provide specialist technical advice and recommendations to client senior management on information technology planning and solutions; provide expertise and specialist support to clients in determining their information technology needs and priorities; explain/illustrate alternate solutions to client' s systems development requirements; discuss and develop clients' support for recommended approach, and resolve project issues and problems.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within cluster policies and guidelines for the delivery of systems consulting services; government policies and directives for information technology development and acquisition; and established industry trends related to systems analysis and development principles, practices and standards. This position is a key technical specialist resource on business systems design, development and issue resolution matters, and is relied upon to make a number of authoritative recommendations to client management as a result of this expertise. Job exercises latitude in decision-making by: analyzing/assessing client business needs/priorities; identifying information technology options; recommending systems application acquisition, development, enhancement, and/or customization to meet business needs, and advising senior management on information technology planning and development solutions/options. Job exercises independent judgement by providing senior level technical consulting services for all technical phases of systems design, development and implementation processes, and advising on and/or resolving complex technical systems problems. Job refers to the Senior Technical Manager, problems/issues such as changes to business requirements; resourcing/funding issues; and issues which are outside of established policy. Work is reviewed by the Senior Technical Manager through general updates on work progress, and through assessment of the achievement of project/service objectives and schedules.