Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To plan, manage and coordinate the effective translation of client business requirements into systems models through analysis information and business/stakeholder consultation. To analyse, define, develop and implement the information and information technology (I&IT) architectures, policies and standards. To ensure the provision of timely and authoritative architectural advice and support to project architects, ministry clients, OPS client ministries and agencies in the use and management of integrated I&IT architecture. To assess, define and recommend on the structure, standards and relationship between suites of applications, including the identification of re-usable components, the organization and layering of software and the determination of interfaces and determining the flow and distribution of data, the integration of databases and data access methods. To develop and revise information and information technology architecture artifacts of the Ministry Systems Enterprise Architecture (EA) and ensure that these are vertically and horizontally integrated across the EA framework and MTO.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Defines, evaluates and makes recommendations on business/information/application/security (BIAS) architecture requirements of the branch. Works with cluster architects, project architects, planners and branch managers, external IT service providers to ensure the identification, analysis and evaluation of issues and requirements, including security and privacy issues, service delivery concerns, anticipated trends and current technology. Ensures analysis and recommendations meet current and anticipated client needs, are in keeping with the Cluster mandate and comply with appropriate architecture and systems standards. 2. Works with cluster/project architects to ensure that the design and development of applications are aligned with the business processes and program goals/objectives. Works with branch planning staff and client management to develop and implement application strategies, plans, initiatives that meet business requirements, including the development of customized applications. 3. Analyses, defines, develops and recommends 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 with subsequent application development. 4. Investigates, evaluates and recommends strategies and implementation of architecture standards (e.g. data formats and classification schemes), architectural methods, tools and best practices. 5. Defines, evaluates and recommends on information and application architecture requirements (e.g. the structure and relationship between suites of applications, including the identification and assessment of re-usable components, the organization and layering of software and the determination of interfaces). 6. Plans, develops and recommends project plans for the design, development and implementation of specific architecture requirements. Devises project activity plans and schedules and identifies architecture resources, appropriate tools and methodologies. 7. Develops and maintains networks with counterparts in other jurisdictions as well as private sector IT professionals to share ideas and experiences, identifies best practices and discusses common issues pertaining to information, application and business architecture. 8. Collaborates with the cluster architects in the selection, evaluation, implementation and maintenance of the ministries' systems development and support methods, tools, standards and technologies. 9. Provides detailed templates, guidelines, best-practices, techniques and strategies for the design, and development of information and application components, emphasizing maximum flexibility, re-usability, inter-portability and cost-effectiveness, in accordance with cluster and corporate standards. 10. Provides guidance, advice, awareness, training and expert architectural consulting services to cluster/project architects, business managers, other domain architects, external IT service providers and branch management. 11. Reviews, recommends and approves the development of authoritative architectural artifacts from cluster/branch projects and promotes the artifacts to the appropriate cluster/branch architecture repository. In collaboration with cluster architects, identifies candidate artifacts and re-usable components and facilitates their promotion to the enterprise repository. 12. Collaborates with the IT planners, business planners and portfolio managers during the development of target I&IT architectures required to support the Ministry's key business strategies and keep pace with the constantly changing business/program needs.

Knowledge :

General Knowledge • Work requires excellent skills in: systems analysis; systems design; problem solving; project planning, implementation and monitoring. • Work requires facility in both structured and object methodologies for the design, development and implementation of computer applications. • Work requires knowledge of the Zachman Framework and Enterprise Architecture concepts. • A good working knowledge of iterative, model-driven application development techniques. • Work requires knowledge of emerging IT technologies, trends and directions. • Work requires knowledge of customer service standards and client expectations to lead the development and implementation of information systems and technology, which meet corporate efficiency, effectiveness, access, privacy and security goals. • Work requires knowledge of a range of different platforms, operating systems, environments, data base technologies, languages and telecommunications protocols. • Work requires very good written and oral communications skills. • Work requires excellent consultation, advisory, negotiation and consensus building skills. • Work requires the ability to work both as a team player or a team leader, depending on nature of task or project. Additional Expert Knowledge in one of; 1) Business/Information Architecture • Work requires knowledge of business architecture methods (e.g. service definitions, resource analysis). • Work requires knowledge of modeling information flow to support business processes. • Work requires extensive knowledge of systems analysis and design method for large or medium systems environments. • Work requires experience in and good practical knowledge of the use of data and process modeling methodologies, techniques and tools, including a working knowledge of metadata structures, repository functions, data dictionaries, data warehouses etc. • Work requires some knowledge of case tools for the development and documentation of business/information architectures and detailed data models. • Work requires knowledge of corporate and ministries' I&IT operating environments, provincial government business activities and information needs, and information resource management tools and techniques. 2) Application/Security Architecture • Work requires knowledge of application architecture methods including multi-tier architectures, component based model, application patterns and object models. • Work requires proven experience in the development and implementation of applications architecture, including considerable knowledge of different platforms, operating systems, environments, database technologies, languages and telecommunications protocols. • Work requires knowledge and experience in middleware, including gateways, adapters and API's. • Work requires knowledge of performance design considerations in different environments. • Work requires extensive experience in the use of development tools, case tools, information retrieval packages, and other software packages such as project management software and business engineering software. • Work requires proven experience in monitoring and enforcing application development standards in a large complex organization. • Work requires knowledge of cluster and corporate security requirements, policies and guidelines and a good working knowledge of and experience in user authentication, authorization, and identification principles.

Judgement :

Works under the direction of the Manager, Strategic Planning and Transition, within the Branch mandate and related directives, policies and standards; statutory requirements (e.g.FIPPA), OPS administrative policies, procedures, directives; and accepted systems development practices. Works on assigned projects and may lead projects as required. Judgement is exercised in: identifying and assessing I&IT architecture problems and issues; determining appropriate tools and methods for business/information modeling, systems analysis and design, systems/component development and implementation; devising project parameters, designing, developing, implementing and assessing applications; identification and assessment of re-usable components, the organization and layering of software and the determination of interfaces; providing credible and timely advice to client managers and MTO senior management; undertaking related policy review and development activities; and staying current with related I&IT technology and systems, architecture methods and tools, data modeling methods and other assessment and application mechanisms, and maintaining good working knowledge of different ministry and corporate business environments, and information management legislative obligations.

Accountability - Programs :

Position contributes directly to the Branch mandate by effectively conducting analysis, identifying and evaluating information and information technology architecture issues; planning and implementing specific projects; maintaining an awareness of current and leading edge technologies, techniques, methods and mechanisms; establishing and maintaining client relations; and providing input and recommendations to cluster and corporate strategic planning activities.

Accountability – Personnel :

Provides authoritative functional advice and guidance to colleagues or associates on cluster and corporate teams and committees.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Establishes project budget costs, develops terms of reference, cost/benefit analysis and monitors project expenditures.

Contact - Internal :

Ongoing contact with cluster/project architects, IT/business planners and managers in the MTO cluster and stakeholder ministries/clusters to share information, to solicit input, exchange knowledge; enhance the flow of ideas; maintain on-going liaison; provide expertise, analysis and recommendations; discuss issues of mutual concern, and resolve problems. Regular contact with cluster/branch senior management and Ministry stakeholders to provide briefings and updates and to provide expertise, advice and recommendations with regard to emerging issues and concerns. Regular and ongoing contact with cluster and Ministry peers to coordinate operational activities and discuss issues of mutual concern.

Contact - External :

Regular contacts with peers in other jurisdictions to share information, identify needs, and learn from experiences, identify best practices, co-ordinate joint projects, and resolve problems. Frequently with I&IT industry to stay current with developments and trends, and obtain specific information pertinent to current architecture projects.