Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide consulting, technical leadership and subject matter expertise in development and maintenance of conceptual and logical architecture from strategic decision making down to the project planning level.
To provide specialized business, information, and solution (application and technology) architecture consulting services to support application system development and implementation projects/sub-projects and/or services for the Enterprise Services Cluster (ESC) clients.
To develop, revise and maintain conceptual and logical architecture artifacts of Enterprise Architecture (EA) and ensure that these are vertically integrated in the context of the project, the client ministry, the cluster and the OPS. To provide advice to client business on key business strategies and their impact on business functions, processes and information.

Duties / Responsibilities :

As a resource assigned to a wide variety of I&IT projects within the Enterprise Services I&IT Cluster, which provides I&IT services to Ontario Shared Services, HR Ontario, Office of the Corporate Chief Information Officer, and other enterprise-level clients, the Job requires:

1. Architecture Expertise:
• Provides leadership, consulting and subject matter expertise in the area of conceptual and logical architecture on assigned I&IT projects.
• Provides business, information (as primary domains) and solution (application and technology, as secondary domains) architecture expertise and guidance, and able to work simultaneously and effectively in a variety of roles on a team.
• Undertakes comprehensive architecture needs assessments and complex reviews in support of systems needs of ESC clients.
• Plans, manages and coordinates the effective translation of client business requirements into systems models through information analysis pertinent to business architecture and stakeholder consultation.
• Analyses, defines, develops and implements the information architecture, including determining the architecture, design, flow and distribution of data, the integration of databases and data access methods. Develops information models for business activities and models how the information/data would be used to align the appropriate technology to ensure business requirements would be satisfied in application development projects.
• Provides general and situation-specific business, information and solution architecture interpretation advice and expertise to enterprise level I&IT project teams, client management and staff, cluster management and staff, and external contractors.
• Participates in training to deliver business, information and solution architecture elements.
• Champions corporate architecture governance reviews and approvals on assigned projects within ESC portfolios and informs key stakeholders of decisions and updates.

2. Consulting:
• Develops and facilitates a partnership relationship with client divisions in order to maintain current knowledge of their strategic and business directions, objectives and priorities, and provide on-going support and advice related to information technology planning and analysis.
• Provides strategic advice and consulting to support IT senior management decision-making by developing conceptual and logical architecture, and other key enabling documents for major and/or high risk initiatives. Assumes a quality assurance role for submissions and materials developed and delivered on assigned projects. Provides advice and recommendations to stakeholders and senior management, facilitates key meetings, and synthesizes results from an architecture perspective.
• Provides authoritative advice, directions and guidance to client senior management and project teams with regard to the integration of program needs, business requirements and business architecture. Liaises with clients on an on-going basis to ascertain trends, provide guidance on current issues and address concerns. Provides expertise and input to strategic and multi-year information technology plans.
• Defines and agrees conceptual and logical architecture requirements with clients, and obtains I&IT management approval.
• Provides recommendation and consults on cross cluster opportunities for reuse and/or enterprise class applications.
• Participates in steering committees and other stakeholder forums as needed to ensure business alignment.

3. Project Management:
• Proactively manages scope, time and resources to produce quality deliverables, including monitoring progress, resolving problems and reporting regularly with recommendations to I&IT management and clients' decision makers.
• Develops and obtains approval for detailed plans and resource estimates for large-scale and complex business, information and solution architecture projects and/or components of other projects with business, information and solution architecture elements.
• Leads and/or undertakes in-depth and complex business, information and solution architecture development, reviews and assessments and/or support projects, to support new and changed enterprise priorities and initiatives and/or business needs (such as domain architecture planning and implementation; business and IT risk research and identification; root cause analysis and identification and problem-solving).
• Establishes priorities and critical path schedules, and allocates work to staff or consultants.
• Provides leadership and technical direction to assigned project staff.
• Develops performance measures for conceptual and logical architecture evaluation and conducts follow-up to ensure integration, reliability, pertinence, efficiency, effectiveness and ongoing compliance with cluster and corporate I&IT strategies, governance, policies and priorities.
• Ensures proper documentation and maintenance of approved domain architecture.

4. Standards and Policies:
• Identifies opportunities and recommends optimal architecture approach based on enterprise architecture standards and practices.
• Ensures that recommendations are aligned with corporate policies and standards and take into consideration cluster specific requirements and best practices from the industry.
• Researches, develops, implements and maintains business, information and solution architecture policies and standards, as approved by management.
• Investigates, evaluates and recommends strategies and implementation of provincial, national and international standards and best practices related to business, information and solution architecture and associated technologies and approaches.

5. Other:
• Values the importance of delivering high quality, innovative service to clients; understands the needs of the client; customer service focus.
• Leads and/or participates in highly sensitive enterprise architecture investigations. Provides professional opinions for inclusion in issues management briefings. Provides expertise, offers solutions and leads implementation of approved recommendations.
• Participates on enterprise-wide projects and committees involving other clusters, jurisdictions or broader public sector, providing expertise and hands-on business, information and solution architecture integration, development, review, implementation and risk assessment/control skills.
• Remains current with state-of-the-art architecture and IT industry trends and developments.
• Develops architecture specifications for Request for Proposals (RFP) and participates in assessing bids and negotiating Service Level Agreements (SLA) with vendors.
• Acts for the Manager in a non-managerial capacity, as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge :

Architecture Expertise:
• Advanced professional skills in all aspects of business and information architecture with working knowledge of solution (application and technology) architecture domain; strategic architecture planning; related enterprise level and client cluster strategies, plans, standards, directives, policies; road mapping and future state architectures; related applications, technology, tools, methodologies and trends; business, information and solution architecture related technical and business planning; current trends and emerging technologies; and knowledge of concepts of security and privacy; in order to: provide practical expertise to meet quickly-evolving, complex and/or diverse cluster needs; lead complex I&IT business, information and solution architecture projects; assess business, information and solution needs; ensure integrity of business, information and solution architecture models; and ensure/monitor compliance with policies and standards.
• Solid understanding of enterprise architecture concepts and architecture management; the software development life cycle; software integration, management, evaluation and control mechanisms; database concepts; networking; hardware environments; change management; business analysis, including business design and I&IT business management; capacity planning; quality assurance; risk management; disaster/recovery planning; business process modelling and process re-engineering; and standards, trends, methods, tools and techniques for all these, in order to: advise on business, information and solution architecture related approaches and issues, and develop/assess solutions; assess business, information and solution architecture plans, business, information and solution models, proposals and existing structures; and evaluate their ability to meet future needs from a business, information and solution architecture perspective.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of business and information technology planning techniques and procedures including the key tools such as portfolio and project management, business intelligence, and corporate architecture frameworks (such as Zachman framework for enterprise architecture).
• Industry best practice enterprise IT architecture strategies, plans, standards and directions, and the strategic directions, programs/services, in order to architect priorities of ESC clients to provide influential recommendations that are aligned with corporate directions and standards and also accommodate highly diverse cluster-specific requirements.
• Hands-on experience with business and information architecture including business requirements gathering/analysis, database design, data mining, large-scale data modeling and reporting structures.
• Strong understanding of multi-dimensional and relational data structures, theories, principles, and practices.
• Familiarity with information resource management and related practices, processes and procedures.
• Hands-on knowledge of enterprise architecture repository tools, data modeling, mapping and profiling tools.

Consulting:
• Expert knowledge of consulting and comprehensive understanding of clients' business, information, application and technology needs, operations and objectives, and related architectural solutions, in order to assist in defining and developing the conceptual and logical architecture; assess related applications, technology and architecture plans from a technical perspective; and ensure integration with enterprise level and other clusters' architectures.
• Ability to translate complex I&IT application and technology issues into plain language; think strategically within the I&IT system perspective; view the entire system and analyze impacts of different scenarios.
• Ability to innovate and introduce new ideas, and work effectively in a team environment.
• Polished all-round communications, relationship management skills, to listen and consult with I&IT senior management, clients, business partners, stakeholders and project staff; communicate technical information to non-technical parties; establish effective working relationships; make persuasive presentations; represent the organization to external and/or internal stakeholder groups; provide business, information and solution architecture expertise and technical instruction to project/section staff; and manage vendors.
• Analytical and problem solving skills and the ability to synthesize and analyze large amounts of information in order to carry out complex analyses and projections to support business case development, divisional IT planning and the needs of business areas. Organizational awareness to be effective in ensuring support for initiatives, understanding of impacts, advocacy on the part of business areas, and the fostering of trust relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Impact and Influence skills to persuade, convince, influence or impress others to get them to go along with or to support planning strategies.
• Skills to make complex ideas or situations clear, simple and/or understandable.
• Superior research, analytical, evaluation and practical problem-solving skills, and strong goal and results orientation; resourcefulness; innovation and creative thinking, in order to provide cost-effective and reliable business, information and solution architecture expertise and solutions.
• Business relationship skills to create opportunities to initiate relationships; build and maintain relationships or networks of contacts who are, or may be, influential in delivering efficiency and effectiveness and achieving both the long and short term enterprise objectives.

Project Management:
• Excellent project/work management skills, including planning, estimating, budgeting, scheduling, measuring, monitoring and controlling, to manage multiple, concurrent, complex large-scale business, information and solution architecture projects.
• Excellent knowledge of industry best practice in project/portfolio management, strategic planning and business development in order to anticipate and appreciate very complex, sensitive and high-level issues.
• Ability to apply risk management techniques in identifying and assessing architecture options and make strategically-focused architecture recommendations that control risk effectively.
• Understanding of administrative policies and procedures, to manage project budgets.

Standards and Policies:
• Excellent understanding of industry best practice enterprise architecture policies, standards and practices.
• Knowledge of industry best practice formal procurement processes and standards, in order to write business, information and solution architecture specifications; prepare input for RFPs; participate in evaluating proposals, selecting and negotiating SLAs with vendors; and manage vendor performance against contract requirements.

Other:
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible, adaptable and able to work effectively in a variety of roles on a team.
• Skills/ability/experience at working both independently, with minimal manager supervision, and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Proficiency with common office and specialised software tools, in order to prepare business, information and solution architecture deliverables, reports, recommendations, briefings and correspondence, and make presentations.
• CPIC 1 level clearance and/or enhanced security clearance may be required.

Judgement :

Works under administrative direction of the Manager, Enterprise Application Portfolio, and with direction from I&IT client senior management, and within the framework of the mandate of the OPS, its objectives and policies and within industry, I&IT trends and standards. Ability to exercise independent, objective and professional judgement and take action on it to solve problems while under pressure is essential. This position works with all levels of the organization including senior executives across the Ministry of Government Services (client, MGS Corporate, cluster) in the extremely sensitive and complex area of information management and technology. An ability to influence individuals at senior levels is crucial.

Judgement exercised in:

• Providing business, information and solution architecture expertise as input to clients' architecture strategies, plans and decisions, including evaluating the environment to take advantage of opportunities, identifying and addressing business risks, recommending alternatives which will improve technology efficiency, effectiveness, capacity and availability, and provide appropriate access for users.
• Assessing the feasibility of ideas raised in senior management sessions and divisional technical staff in preparing planning documentation and pursuing business opportunities.
• Identifying business, information or other architecture issues, determining and recommending most appropriate solutions to resolve them and meet goals, needs and standards, and avoid costly mistakes and incompatibility issues.
• Planning, delivering and implementing assigned phases of large-scale, complex business, information and solution architecture projects which impact on the client and internal and external stakeholders and partners; estimating costs; determining priorities and schedules; determining and managing allocated resources (financial, human, material/asset, time); weighing and advising on risks, constraints and contingencies.
• Recommending new or revised enterprise architecture policies, standards and practices to senior I&IT management which reflect current industry trends, effective use of resources and are in line with approved goals and needs (i.e.: ensuring business and information architecture integrity, quality and compliance with enterprise and cluster directions, standards and priorities, user needs and industry best practices).
• Undertaking highly complex reviews to assess causes and recommend solutions for business, information and solution architecture problems.
• Preparing and applying detailed business, information and solution architecture specifications for procurement purposes.

Accountability - Programs :

• Planning, co-ordinating, leading and delivering all phases of assigned business, information and solution architecture projects/services from start through completion within risk, time and resource constraints to meet agreed client needs.
• Delivering high quality consulting, technical leadership and subject matter expertise in development and maintenance of conceptual and logical architecture from strategic decision making down to the project planning level.
• Ensuring high quality business, information and solution architecture deliverables are produced.
• Ensuring high levels of client satisfaction for client deliverables.
• Providing business, information and solution architecture expertise, to ensure that a valid plan is developed, implemented and evaluated according to approved standards and policies.
• Assisting in issues management.

Accountability – Personnel :

• Providing leadership, functional expertise, technical direction and supervision for assigned project personnel, including setting priorities, scheduling and assigning work, monitoring and reporting on performance, providing technical training, advice, coaching development for less senior architects by assessing their learning needs in order to provide technical guidance.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

• Preparing and controlling assigned project budget expenditures and meeting project goals within scope, time and budget.
• Managing the work of external contractors.
• Participating in evaluating Request for Proposals (RFP) to acquire consulting services and to assess new technologies. Managing vendors' performance; monitoring and recommending 3rd party contractor payments.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

• Poor decisions could result in serious mismanagement and/or loss of significant resources, higher costs; impaired or delayed achievement of program objectives; poor client/user relations; and public embarrassment. The position's functions are key in providing cluster management with sound information required for effective and efficient decision making.
• Errors in research, project and policy approaches, interpretations and recommendations to senior management could result in decisions that could seriously affect the I&IT strategy, relationships with stakeholder groups and the credibility of the Manager, Enterprise Application Portfolio, and cluster.
• Ineffective coordination and incorrect information in response to enquiries could result in wasted time, resources, incomplete and poor quality work, and could severely damage relationships with stakeholders.
• Inability to identify opportunities for business improvements could result in prolonged inefficiencies, increased errors and costs.
• Inadequate needs assessment, analysis, planning, professional expertise and project management could result in severely misguided architecture, policies, standards and recommendations, leading to very costly business and information architecture decisions which lack relevance, integration, compliance, efficiency and effectiveness.

Contact - Internal :

• Frequently with Section, Cluster, I&IT client senior management and their clients' senior management, to provide project status reports, advice, and recommendations, explain resource requirements, provide briefings, and assist in resolving issues.
• Frequent contacts with peers, management, senior management and clients, to solicit input, share plans and concerns, and provide professional expertise and guidance.
• Frequently with OPS I&IT community, to co-ordinate, integrate, ensure effective implementation of business, information and solution architecture solutions, participate on task forces and projects, and participate in resolving common problems.
• Leads/participates as a member of various cluster, inter-clusters and corporate committees and has regular contact with counterparts in other clusters and corporately to share concerns/solutions.
• Daily contact with management and staff to obtain information, build business relationships, provide expertise to make customer-focused decisions, participate on committees, and coordinate problem resolution. Considerable contact with Cluster clients and stakeholders to manage issues, provide and obtain information, represent the cluster and Manager, Enterprise Application Portfolio, participate on committees, identify needs and opportunities for service improvement, and develop positive business relationships.

Contact - External :

• Regularly with professional peers in the I&IT community to keep abreast of developments.
• Regularly with vendors, suppliers and external consultants to assess trends and developments, or to address problems related to quality or services.
• Regularly with contacts in broader public sector, private sector, and other jurisdictions (such as federal, other provincial governments), to participate in joint projects, exchange information, and share experience.