Platform Architect

Job Information
Job Title: Platform Architect 
Job Requisition ID: 58899
Ministry: Technology and Innovation
Location: Remote across Alberta
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: June 28, 2024
Classification: Systems Analyst 3 (Opted Out and Excluded)
Salary: ​Salary: $3,199.50 to $4,237.85 bi-weekly ($83,507 - $110,608/year)

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx

The Digital Design and Delivery (DDD) division within the Ministry of Technology and Innovation (TI) leads the development of the next-generation of digital public services for the GoA. DDD partners with other departments to deliver products, platforms, and services that are better, faster, and easier, through modern user-centered agile processes. DDD offers potential candidates a unique opportunity to work on meaningful challenges that transform government and positively impact Albertans.  

The Platform branch within DDD is accountable for supporting ministry programs through the planning, development, delivery, and operations of user-centered common platform services. The branch builds and develops common platforms and data services that enable product teams to deliver working software that meets the needs of their users.

Role Responsibilities

The Platform branch is looking for multiple Platform Architects. These positions report to the Director of Platform Strategy.

The responsibilities of these role include:

• Providing the overall architectural vision and guidance to multidisciplinary product team(s), including leading the overall software design, development, and implementation. 
• Providing technical expertise, advice, and recommendations related to software architecture and continuous improvement. 
• Ensuring that investments in software systems are aligned to the department priorities, applicable application policies, standards, principles, and guidelines.
• Research industry trends and new technologies, identifying technology opportunities and making recommendations.
• Proactively engaging and representing the Platform branch with a wide variety of both internal and external stakeholders.
• Developing and advancing ideas, concepts, and opportunities into high-level business cases for new or improved shared services.
• Working collaboratively with team, unit, and branch staff to ensure appropriate coordination and integration of branch functions and delivery of products, tools, processes, and services.
• Developing content for reports, responses to queries etc.

To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate:

• A practitioner's understanding of software architecture, including topics like domain-driven design and cloud-native architecture.
• Experience leading technical teams.
• A track record of iterative, user-centered, data-driven digital delivery.
• Strong technical understanding of current and emerging technologies. 
• Strong business acumen and project leadership skills.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in-depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, manage resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.

Drive for Results: Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.

Develop self and others: A commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of yourself and others.

Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.

Develop Networks: Proactively building networks, connecting, and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.

Systems Thinking: The work done within the APS is part of a larger integrated and inter-related environment. It is important to know that work done in one part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.

Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• University Degree in a Computer Science or a related discipline, plus a minimum of four (4) years of related progressively responsible experience is required. See below for equivalencies.
• Software architecture experience – either as a software architect or related role or technical team lead.
• Agile software development experience – either within a software team applying agile methodology, or directly managing software team(s) applying agile methodology.
• Experience leading and mentoring teams on design and implementing best practices.

Equivalencies:

• Directly related education or experience considered based on:
• A related two-year diploma in related discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution and six (6) years related experience; or
• A related one-year certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution and seven (7) years related experience.

Assets:

• Experience working with teams that also apply UX design, service design, design thinking, or human-centered design approaches.
• Experience in developing systems related to access management or digital credentials.
• Experience working with open-source ecosystems such as but not limited to: Python, JavaScript, Node.js/NPM, React, MySQL, MongoDB, Drupal, Twig, and Elasticsearch.
• Experience developing supporting technologies with a focus on platform services.
• Broad understanding of enterprise level services, and more specifically of the needs of client-ministries to inform and shape the development of data models.
• Advanced troubleshooting skills.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Term of Employment: Permanent, Full-time and Part-Time positions    

Hours of Work: 7.25 hours daily / 36.25 weekly - Monday to Friday

Location: Remote across Alberta

This position is eligible for remote work. You must reside in Alberta to work remotely.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level. 

Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies. 

Additional Information:
In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Pension plans:
  • Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
• Leadership and mentorship programs

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/job-application-resources#before for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)(https://www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment.aspx) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information (https://canalliance.org/en/default.html).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Sam Thomas Mathew at Sam.Thomasmathew@gov.ab.ca.