Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To lead project teams in the development, implementation and maintenance of cost effective web technology solutions and services. To provide systems development, programming and consulting expertise to clients related to the use of open source web technology solutions using agile development methodology to meet business/program goals and objectives.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Providing team leadership in the technical design, development and implementation of complex open source web technology solutions/platforms (nginX, Apache, Linux, PHP, MySQL, Drupal Web Content Management, Lucene/Solr) in the cloud environment: preparing project plans, developing estimates of costs/resources/staffing required and recommending budget/resource requirements to management; providing technical leadership to assigned project staff throughout the systems development cycle and coordinating assigned activities; monitoring project progress and preparing project status reports for technical activities; investigating and resolving technical project issues and problems; serving on project teams engaged in a wide variety of information technology development projects including the development of technology performance standards, evaluating or developing new utility routines and providing practical technological input to innovative applications design and development approaches.

2. Providing technical systems development expertise to meet clients' IT requirements by: coordinating analysis of client IT needs in relation to 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; recommending technical systems development solutions which meet client needs and promote overall Cluster IT strategies and objectives; conducting/providing technical expertise in complex systems analysis and design; coordinating development of all systems documentation and conducting programming; coding, fixing and enhancing complex programming modules based on technical specification, and in compliance with corporate IT development standards; developing and overseeing testing and implementation of systems and applications; providing advice/expertise in the acquisition of software, hardware, technology to meet specific client business needs; performing senior level application database administration responsibilities, in conjunction with the Database Administrators, including supporting users from the data perspective, maintaining data models and ensuring data integrity from the application perspective; conducting software product tendering, evaluation, selection and acquisition; negotiating servicing/acquisition contracts within defined parameters; establishing and maintaining tools, techniques, standards, documentation and performance criteria required for developing corporate and local applications and ensuring quality control.

3. Facilitating clients' review of IT needs and determination of IT priorities by: preparing or contributing to RFP's, coordinating tenders, participating in the review and selection of contractor submissions; providing advice to clients on Cluster/government I & IT policies and procedures, and on appropriate use and efficient application of information technology; acting as a resource in the resolution of technical problems; coordinating/conducting technical training for staff and users.

4. Developing production support procedures and providing support to production systems including on-call support. Working on production systems and analyze system problems to determine cause/solutions. Investigating and assessing impact of application failures/errors and recommending and/or initiating corrective action.

5.Maintaining thorough and current market knowledge of open source web technologies and platforms by attending seminars, vendor courses, participating in community forums, reading literature and research new equipment and developments in the field.

6.Providing leadership in completing research activities to establish technology direction/strategy/standards and best practices working with colleagues across the cluster and corporate/enterprise.

7.Providing on-call and overtime support services, weekends and holidays to resolve all system related problems for the ministry's infrastructure as required. Enterprise applications are typically mission-critical or business-critical, and have associated high availability (e.g. 7 x 24) requirements.

Knowledge :

The position requires knowledge of the open source web technologies (nginX, Linux, Apache, MySQL,PHP) , web content management solutions (Drupal, WordPress), open source search solutions (Lucene Solr), HTML, CSS, Jquery, other emerging web technologies and cloud delivery/ deployment models, to lead a project team in the identification and evaluation of web technology solution options for clients; development of new web solutions or solution modifications; and evaluate and recommend acquisition of applications, hardware/software, web technology services.

Advanced knowledge of theory and principles of systems design and development, programming concepts and languages, and related methods, techniques, practices and standards to lead a team in the analysis and definition of clients' business and information technology requirements; the design, development, testing and implementation of systems solutions; evaluation of software/hardware; preparation of technical documentation and technical support.

Advanced knowledge of database management systems and application database administration

Knowledge of Cluster/government administrative policies and directives to ensure compliance of recommendations on acquisition of technology and services and negotiation of contracts

Knowledge of Cluster IT plan, project planning and agile development methodologies (SCRUM) and clients' business, processes, and requirements to recommend web development solutions which promote Cluster IT strategies and goals while also meeting business needs/priorities of the client

Skills :

Analytical and evaluation skills to assess client's information/systems needs and lead the development of information technology solutions which are cost effective and improve client program/service delivery.

Oral communication skills to discuss client requirements; lead discussion of systems development options and technical processes with project team and explain/illustrate alternate solutions to clients' systems development requirements.

Written communication skills to prepare business cases, RFP's, contracts and project reports

Team leadership skills to coordinate development of technical project plans, control project processes and provide technical leadership to project staff and external contractors

Consultation, interpersonal and team player skills to work effectively with colleagues and clients

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within Cluster and government policies, guidelines, directives related to acquisition and management of computer system services; and within recognized computer systems management practices.

Job requires making decisions by: determining plans and schedules for implementation of system enhancements and upgrades; recommending system development initiatives and short and long term system development plans; determining system performance standards and recover/backup procedures; and recommending selection of vendors proposals related to various tendering processes.

Job requires providing recommendations on system development strategies and requirements to Project Leader/Manager for review prior to formal presentation or circulation.

Job refers problems such as need for additional resources, and conflicting Cluster requirements to Project Leader/Manager.