Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide systems development expertise on projects which will help Ontario Digital Service (ODS) clients achieve efficiencies in delivery of programs/services, expedite business processes and achieve business goals/objectives within the global IT environment.
To lead development teams in analyzing systems requirements, architecting, designing and implementing enterprise solutions that conform to standards.
To identify re-use opportunities, lead development of reusable services / components and ensure that they are effectively implemented.
To investigate and assess new technologies and tools and to develop guidelines / best practices in areas of design and development.
To supervise developers on product teams and perform quality assurance activities for their work.
To mentor less experienced staff in new technologies, tools and processes.
To investigate technical problems, provide recommendations to management and lead solution implementations.
To participate in the creation of standards for application, information and security architecture.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Researches emerging technologies, leads the development of prototypes, proof of concepts or feasibility studies and provides design evaluations and recommendations of appropriate technologies and tools pertinent to current and future architecture standards. Leads the adoption of new technologies and tools by providing technology orientation sessions, defining migration techniques and developing guidelines / best practices in areas of design and development.

2. Analyzes requirements, defines system architecture and designs and implements solutions that conform to standards. Analyses complex technical issues, identifies alternatives and recommends solutions.

3. Provides leadership for the selection of reusable services / components, their creation or procurement and ongoing support. Advocates for the use of design patterns and advises on whether the proper reuse is taking place.

4. Participates in the creation of standards for application, information and security architecture. Develops templates and code generation tools that will improve productivity.

5. Liaises with IT colleagues to implement solutions, conduct reviews, resolve operational problems, and support business partners in effective use of solutions.

6. Actively contributes to and encourages others to build an environment for innovation.

7. Develops processes to improve the efficiency of teams. Supports team success and resolves conflicts by facilitating the expression of diverse points of view to enhance teamwork and attain a beneficial resolution. Takes steps to help others resolve the conflict and maintain trusting relationships. Defends team's reputation, stands up for the team. Promotes co-operation between product teams.

Staffing and Licensing :

n/a

Knowledge :

Job requires extensive knowledge of methodologies, technologies and tools used to develop enterprise solutions; platform integration technologies; awareness of technology-specific standards, policies and practices for tools.

Job requires knowledge of Enterprise Architecture patterns and how patterns are implemented in actual solutions; expert knowledge of largescale systems analysis, design and development, application and data modelling using industry standards for modelling languages and tools, programming languages and frameworks.

Job requires knowledge of ODS programs and services, and systems that support them; information technology, application and security architecture standards; planning and development methodology. Monitors industry and other organizations for innovations in application delivery approaches. Leads selection and implementation of new and emerging development and delivery methodologies. Monitors ODS's development environment; contributes to best practices and policies. Reviews and measures the history and evolution of application delivery processes and components.

Advanced knowledge of existing technology infrastructure across all major functions. Job requires knowledge of all major IT departments, roles, responsibilities and interdependencies.

Skills :

Job requires written and oral communication skills to conduct team meetings, write/edit systems documentation, prepare and present written reports on findings/alternate solutions, develop guidelines / best practices.

Job requires interpersonal skills to explain and discuss advantages and disadvantages of various approaches and supervise team members.

Job requires analytical skills to assess applicability of new technologies and impacts of their adoption; design and develop software compatible with client's needs; make a solid business case by summarizing findings and offering recommendations to buy or build software components; investigate and resolve complex technical Issues.

Job requires analytical skills to creates a mechanism to monitor effectiveness of existing evaluation processes and criteria for new technologies.

Job requires design/modelling skills that can be applied for enterprise wide solutions which are interoperable with existing and future solutions; advanced programming skills for multiple languages and development environments; good understanding of platform integration technologies. Advanced expertise in database platforms, structures, migration and connectivity.

Job requires comprehensive experience in development of complex, cross-functional applications using multiple programming languages.

Job requires assessment of client information technology needs and objectives, monitoring emerging technologies and provision of consultation, information, advice and strategic recommendations to clients on acquisition/development of technology to meet their business objectives, and improve operational performance while remaining consistent with overall ODS technology strategy.

Job requires planning and coordinating design and development work, including giving work assignments, accepting results, performing quality assurance activities, directing and mentoring team members. Ability to apply capacity planning approaches, tools and techniques for application design, deployment, and maintenance.

Advanced analytical skills to describe key issues and considerations for cross-platform interoperability. Job requires project management skills for planning, estimating, staffing, organizing and managing multiple projects. Ability to articulate methods used to make build/buy decisions on project components. Ability to identify common IT risks and address them with contingency plans and back-out options. Creates and sustains a link between business requirements and technology production. Holds regular and ad-hoc project reviews with product team, sponsors and clients. Articulates requirements and control expectations of both business and technical clients.

Job requires problem-solving skills to resolve complex, multi-component failures. Ability to distinguish hardware, software and data communications problems. Able to troubleshoot non-recurring and performance-related problems. Ability to discuss alternative troubleshooting approaches and their applicability to types of problems. Organizes teams of own and vendor experts to resolve major problems. Participates in defining and monitoring problem logs, resolutions and lessons learned.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within; ODS and government directives for information technology development and acquisition; and within overall ODS objectives and strategies for use of information technology. Job oversees research of new technologies with vendors and makes authoritative recommendations to management in line with ODS decisions. Job provides senior technical leadership on application development projects.

Job requires decision-making by: defining application architecture; identifying reuse opportunities and recommending to buy or build software components; setting design and development guidelines / best practices; addressing integration and technology transition issues.

Job exercises latitude in decision-making by recommending: new technologies and tools; systems development strategies and initiatives; process and productivity improvements. Work on significant technical issues is regularly discussed with management, vendors and other technical staff.

Job requires referring to manager problems/issues such as: conflicting client requirements, need for additional resources, performance issues and non-conformance to architecture standards