Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide team leadership on small to medium sized projects or on larger projects as a member of a team in the development, implementation and maintenance of cost effective information technology solutions and services. To lead activities related to analysis, design, development, testing and implementation of large, complex systems applications. To provide systems consulting expertise to clients and advise on use of information technology to meet Ministry and program business goals and objectives.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Job requires:
1) Providing team leadership on development teams engaged in the analysis, design, development, testing and implementation of large, complex Ministry applications.

2) Coordinate and conduct the analysis of business and information requirements in order to design and develop applications which meet the stated business requirements.

3) Performing programming tasks using various industry standard programming languages and operating systems for the more complex programs in a business application.

4) Participating in the definition of clients' Business Requirements and using these requirements to design and develop business applications which satisfy these requirements.

5) Overseeing the development and maintenance of program, systems, user, and operational documentation.

6) Leading or assisting with the implementation of new and enhanced systems including ensuring the promotion of all system components into the appropriate staging areas.

7) Providing technical support to end users by identifying and debugging problems encountered with hardware, software, communications, and Ministry applications including providing on site expertise to end users.

8) Maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of testing tools, environments and databases.

9) Providing lead programmer or lead tester expertise to a team of programmers.

Staffing and Licencing :

N/A

Knowledge :

1) This position requires knowledge of standard methods and techniques for systems analysis (including process and data modelling, and design and development techniques) in order to:

- Identify and evaluate the feasibility of various options and assessing the impact of options on service delivery,
resources, costs, and the production and testing environments.
- Conduct feasibility studies and cost benefit analyses on complex business and systems initiatives.
- Review client business and information requirements;
- Evaluate costs and benefits and recommend appropriate, cost effective solutions;
- Investigate and recommend alternative solutions to meet business and systems requirements.
- Assist clients in identifying information requirements and collecting data;
- Assess information technology, data, and systems requirements;
- Interview users regarding business, information, and system testing needs and document these needs to fit established divisional standards.
- Develop complex data and process models.
- Lead the review of options for complete systems development and testing solutions.

2) This position requires knowledge of various mainframe, mid-range, and personal computer systems technologies including operating systems, networks, and applications development and testing software in order to:
- Provide technical expertise in all aspects of systems analysis and design for large complex systems;
- Develop recommendations and identify opportunities for maximizing technology to improve the efficiency of the clients' business or testing practices.
- Gather information on programs, services and business objectives and design systems or testing pecifications to meet these objectives.
- Recommend systems development and testing solutions that meet client needs and promote overall Ministry IT strategies and objectives.
- Evaluate vendors' system design solutions and proposals to ensure business requirements are met.
- Evaluate vendors' system design solutions and proposals to ensure a sound data, technical, and integrated architecture is developed and maintained.
- Provide advice to branch and program staff on appropriate use and efficient application of information technology.
- Conduct hardware and software product renders, evaluation, and selection and negotiate acquisition and service contracts within defined parameters.
- Provide advice and expertise in the acquisition of hardware, software and other technology including conducting searches for products to meet specific business needs.

3) This position requires knowledge of a variety of industry standard concepts, languages, and testing tools and protocols in order to:
- Code and test large, complex business applications;
- Provide lead programmer or lead tester expertise to other members of the project team;
- Lead a team of programmers in performing unit, system, and user acceptance testing tasks;
- Coordinate and/or develop complete testing documentation including detailed test cases including expected and actual results, automated test scripts and comprehensive audit materials.
- Conduct system testing by executing online and batch test scripts, and manual online and batch jobs.
- Provide practical, technical input to innovative applications design and development;
- Recommend and arrange technical training for staff;
- Provide recommendations to project leader as to the acceptance or rejection of system components.
- Establish and maintain tools, techniques, standards, documentation and performance criteria required for developing and/or testing corporate and local applications and ensuring quality.

4) This position requires knowledge of commonly used business software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database management in order to:

- Prepare and document a wide variety of requirements including: business, systems, software, and systems testing.
- Develop complete systems, user and operations documentation.
- Develop complete testing documentation including detailed test cases, expected and actual results, automated test scripts and comprehensive audit materials.

5) This position requires knowledge of standard testing and query tools and protocols in order to:

- Examine test databases to ensure that the integrity of the production databases will be maintained after implementation of the application.
- Maintain the integrity and effectiveness of regression test databases;
- Monitor for problems to ensure ongoing availability of systems.

6) This position requires knowledge of standard problem logging techniques and tools in order to track problems and ensure accuracy and completeness of problem documentation ensuring follow-up or corrective action.

7) This position requires knowledge of standard debugging and testing techniques and practises in order to:

- Identify and debug problems encountered with software usage.
- Provide hardware, communications, applications, and network support including providing on site expertise to end users.
- Resolve complex technical problems.
- Participate in, prepare, and facilitate JAD sessions.

8) This position requires knowledge of the clients' business in order to:

- Collect information on business requirements, analyze information, system, and testing needs and participate in developing recommendations on appropriate solutions;
- Provide experienced application knowledge to requirements and development teams in walkthroughs and design consensus meetings;
- Provide input to business and systems analysts as required for problem resolution.
- Assist clients in identifying Information Technology priorities;
- Liaise between Ministry clients and vendors to ensure the development of quality systems.

9) This position requires knowledge of team leadership techniques and practices in order to:

- Coordinate and oversee the analysis, design, development, testing, and implementation activities of a team of programmers.
- Coordinate the development of all systems documentation.
- Coordinate and direct the development of complete system and systems testing specifications.

10) This position requires knowledge of standard project management methodologies and tools in order to:

- Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, cost and resource estimates, and staffing requirements.
- Monitor team member activities against previously agreed to deliverables and dates and report on status of self and team members.
- Prepare development and system testing plans.
- Coordinate issue management and resolution throughout the business requirement definition and development process.
- Present, review, and rationalize project plans and design solutions to senior management.
- Provide high level planning information to the senior management business planning process.
- Organize, plan, and manage small projects or assigned portions of larger projects.

11) Knowledge of theory and principles of systems design and development, systems testing and related methods, techniques, practices and standards, in order to lead a team in: analysis and definition of clients' business and information technology requirements;

12) This position requires knowledge of client/server, Internet/Intranet and other emerging, state-of-the-art technologies in order to lead a project team in the identification and evaluation of information technology options for clients.

13) This position requires knowledge of Ministry and Government administrative policies and directives to ensure compliance of recommendations on acquisition of technology and services and negotiation of contracts.

14) This position requires knowledge of Ministry Information, Application, and Technology architectures in order to design and develop business applications which adhere to these architectures.

Skills :

This position requires considerable analysis to determine the nature of issues or problems including conducting considerable research for and interpretation of information and evidence.

This position responds to issues or problems by drawing inferences from research and reevaluation of issues
or problems.

This position uses existing alternatives as a starting point for developing different alternatives or solutions for review by senior management.

This position requires writing and speaking skills to convey, fully grasp and explain detailed information which may involve specialized information technology terminology and to present, discuss, and explain highly complex information and arguments in a field of expertise where precise language is critical.

This position requires interpersonal skills to provide clarification and explanation to deal with problems or complaints and to assist with others' understanding of computer hardware and software.

This position also requires the skills necessary to encourage compliance, promote acceptance and secure cooperation for a course of action, recommendation or proposal.

Freedom of Action :

This position works within ministry and government policies, guidelines and directives for the use and development of information technology and within established practices and procedures for computer systems design, development and management. Work is performed with considerable latitude in making decisions in the application of methods, procedures, and practices. Results are reviewed for overall adherence and effectiveness with detailed review as required. Situations clearly outside policy or subject to varying interpretations are referred to the supervisor or manager.