Solutions Architect

Position Summary

Join our dynamic team as a Solutions Architect where you'll play a pivotal role in driving business solutions for our organization. As part of our dedicated team of Technology professionals, you'll maintain and enhance existing applications while spearheading the implementation of innovative new systems. Leveraging your expertise in software solutions, you'll actively contribute to Technology­ driven initiatives that advance the City's Strategic Priorities. In addition to your responsibilities, you may oversee the work tasks of Solutions Analysts. Reporting to our Business Solutions Coordinator, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our organization's success.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the Deliver new systems of medium to high complexity to client departments by performing systems needs assessments, providing systems analysis services, developing requirements definitions and high-level systems designs, AND:
• Acquiring automated systems (includes working with the acquisitions business unit by facilitating or assisting in the preparation of Requests for Proposal as well as in the analysis and evaluation of industry responses) to meet the requirements (and customizing if applicable, with the support of programmers), OR

• Developing automated systems (includes detailed design, development of programming specifications, and programming), with the support of programmers, to meet the requirements, and then implementing (includes configuration, system testing, and acceptance testing,) the systems into production.
• Support existing systems by providing maintenance, analyzing requirements and leading development of enhancements, and providing related training and system support.
• The Solutions Architect educates and influences clients; helping them identify and address the technology related solutions that will improve business effectiveness.
• Provide project management on projects of extensive scope, using project management principles and processes to plan, deliver, and provide status on work, and ensure adherence to industry accepted project management methodologies.
• Ensures software modifications are executed in accordance with service management standards by following established change management procedures and presenting them to the Change Advisory Board for approval.
• Perform analyst functions, concurrently, on several projects and / or systems and manage software vendor relationships.
• Formulate testing procedures, and conduct/arrange for appropriate testing, provide direction and mentor assigned analysts as required to deliver new systems and support existing systems.
• Contribute to the formation of strategies for application development. Maintain current knowledge of technological advancement as they pertain to application development.

Key Qualifications

• Typically, the education and experience are obtained through completion of a university degree in Computer Science or other related discipline or completion of a two (2) year diploma/certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution in Computer Information Systems, combined with a minimum six (6) years of progressively responsible experience acquiring, implementing, and providing ongoing support for corporate business solutions with at least two (2) of those years in an analyst role.
• Process improvement and project management experience would be an asset, information processing hardware and software.
• Knowledge of the system development life cycle, current Information Technology Service Management processes.
• Knowledge of current Project Management Standards and Procedures.
• Knowledge and experience of various development technologies, with an emphasis on .NET platform.
• Knowledge of procedural programming, with an emphasis on PL/SQL., Oracle and Microsoft SQL database platforms.
• Knowledge of typical public organization purchasing policy, specifically related to requests for information and requests for proposals, software vendor management practices.
• Ability to work effectively with limited supervision by being able to plan and organize work assignments and demonstrate initiative and maintain effective working relationships with various levels of Divisions, Departments and Technology staff.
• Ability to improve work processes through the effective application of technology.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, prepare and conduct presentations.

Working/Other Conditions

• This position may be required to do onsite visits to non-office environments, i.e.: Weight Scales, Landfill, Rec Centers, etc.