Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide senior systems analysis and design expertise, business application services, and project leadership to support complex web applications managed by the iACCESS Solutions Branch in the Community Services I&IT Cluster (CSC). To lead the development and enhancement of customized web applications to meet the information needs of clients/stakeholders of the 5 Ministries.

Duties / Responsibilities :

As a member of the Community Services & IT Cluster servicing the 5 Ministries (EDU/TCU/MTC/MCI/MMAH), the position:

1. Leads the development and enhancement of customized web applications and systems solutions developed on IBM Websphere Application Server (WAS) to meet the information needs of clients and stakeholders of the Learning Ministries. Plans, designs, develops, tests, documents and implements systems enhancements and changes to applications to meet legislative and business needs and priorities.

2. Leads production support services to WAS/WSAD applications managed by the iACCESS Branch. Ensures successful production runs to meet the information needs of Ministry clients and stakeholders. Identifies and evaluates feasibility of modifications; assesses impact on service delivery/resources/business and costs/savings. Identifies opportunities for maximizing technology to enhance efficiency of business practices. Prepares and presents technical proposals and business cases.

3. Works collaboratively with client organizations and stakeholders to ensure that client business needs are met. Leads system consultation and mentoring services for Ministries clients and stakeholders, pertaining to the business applications under management. Leads and/or provides technical training to staff and users.

4. Leads data modeling, data purification services, data conversion services and consultation to support application development projects in the Ministries.

5. Provides project leadership and/or independently designs system specifications to meet information needs of Ministries' clients and stakeholders; leads programming, coding and testing procedures. Develops systems documentation, operations and user documentation.

6. Provides ongoing systems management and control functions for web applications, following development and implementation. Provide systems improvement service on the above applications to ensure that the application continues to evolve and perform effectively and efficiently.

7. Provides key advisory services to project teams. Promotes integrity, consistency and clean management service on the above applications to meet CSC's I&IT standards and data quality requirements.

8. Provides specialized advisory services to branch/program staff with respect to web application development and support; acts as the primary resource for the investigation and resolution of technical problems for such applications.

9. Leads and/or serves on project teams engaged in the development of technology performance standards; the development of innovative systems applications design and development approaches. Leads and/or
contributes to ministry and inter-ministry I&IT and/or systems development/management committees.

10. Provides technical and project leadership to external contractors including preparing RFP's; evaluates tender proposals and interviews applicants; discusses and determines information technology priorities with clients; determines project technical requirements and develops cost estimates; analyzes and evaluates projects completed by external resources for compliance with contractual agreements and ministry standards.

continued

Staffing and Licencing :

n/a

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of:
• Development and support of large and complex web applications including demonstrated ability with the following competencies: scalable J2EE client-server and MVC based web applications; IBM Websphere Application Server (WAS); Websphere Studio Application Developer (WSAD), , Oracle Database, , HTML, J2EE components including: Java Server Pages (JSPs), servlets, Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs), JDBC and XML; JavaScripts (both client and server environments); Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) editors, structured system life cycle methodologies for business applications; ongoing maintenance and support of applications in production; project management methodologies (MS Project); the development of large-scale test plans and test cases.
• Theory and principles of systems design and object-oriented design, development and related methods and techniques, practices and standards to provide leadership in the design, development, testing, implementation and enhancement of business applications and systems solutions to meet client requirements.
• Government policies and procedures with respect to business case development, negotiation of contracts, project approvals, etc.; business intelligence, and data warehousing and emerging technologies, to lead a project team or to act independently in the identification and evaluation of IT options, and the development of systems modifications and improvements.
• Knowledge of IT planning, project planning methodology and clients' business processes and requirements to recommend systems solutions which promote corporate IT strategies and goals while meeting business needs and priorities.
• Project management practices and techniques to lead technical staff in business application design, testing and implementation.

Skills :

Job requires analytical and problem-solving skills to analyze and define clients' application needs; to lead the development of IT solutions to improve client program/service delivery; to conduct complex systems analysis and design, and to resolve system design and administration issues and technical problems surrounding web applications; to provide technical guidance to project teams in the integration of systems. Job requires analytical skills to analyze and evaluate design alternatives and consider business needs, consolidating work of team on various aspects of feasibility study, and guiding development of recommendations on systems and technology approach, efficiency/flexibility standards, costs, time constraints and future development considerations. Job requires evaluating skills to conceptualize approaches to monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of applications managed by the branch. Job requires evaluating skills to design enhancements to meet legislative and business needs and priorities, and to provide systems improvement service to ensure that business applications continue to evolve and perform effectively and efficiently.

Job requires oral communication, presentation and negotiating skills: to discuss systems development options, modifications and technical processes with clients and project team members; to clearly convey technical analyses, limitations and considerations in non-technical terms; to communicate advantages and disadvantages of options and the anticipated impact on client's program/service delivery. Job requires written communication to prepare project reports; to explain analyses/recommendations; to develop business cases; to prepare systems documentation and manuals. Job requires interpersonal skills: to work collaboratively with client organizations; to explain/illustrate alternate business applications and solutions; to develop client support for recommended approach, by outlining benefits to service delivery and achievement of business goals. Job requires negotiating contracts with external service providers within delegated parameters. Job requires organizational skills to work within a deadline-driven environment, and to deal with multiple teams representing various areas in the delivery of projects.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within government, cluster and ministry I&IT strategies, guidelines, policies, plans, standards and directives.

Job exercises judgement to lead the development and enhancement of customized applications to meet the unique information needs of clients and stakeholders of the Ministry of Education and Training, Colleges and Universities i.e. supporting the collection of education data on disks, Letter of Permission, and the Ontario School Year Calendar. Job exercises latitude for decision-making in: preparing technical proposals and business cases; evaluating tender proposals; developing cost estimates; acting as the primary resource for the investigation and resolution of technical problems for business applications; designing enhancements to meet client business needs; determining project approach; developing project plan, schedule and budget; determining necessary adjustments to development process during course of project; and ensuring that deadlines are met.

Work is regularly discussed with clients. General updates on project status and achievement of objectives are provided to the manager, and are reviewed in relation to stated project objectives, time lines and budget. Job refers to manager problems/issues such as: changes to operating systems; need for organizational enhancements; resource issues; and proposed modifications that may have significant impact on clients, timeframe or project priorities.