HomeMy Public PortalAboutDirector of Information Services_Job Description_2018-11-05
Municipality of the District of Chester
Position Description
Position Title: Director of Information Services
Reports to: Chief Administrative Officer
Location: Municipal of the District of Chester, Subject to change
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
May be subject to change. Overtime as may be required.
Status: Regular Full-Time
Classification: Administrative
Salary Band: Directors 1
Updated: November 5, 2018
OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER LEGISLATION
1. The Municipality of the District of Chester is committed to workplace safety and all
employees are expected to actively participate in the Municipality’s Occupational Health
and Safety Policy and Program and Occupational Health and Safety Legislation as well as
Regulations of the Province of Nova Scotia.
2. The Municipality of the District of Chester complies with the Employment Legislation of
Nova Scotia and all employees are also expected to act in accordance to the appropriate
Legislation as well.
QUALIFICATIONS
1. B.Sc. in Computer Science or an Advanced Diploma in Computer Technology.
2. Five years’ experience in a similar role.
3. Certification in the following IT tracks would be considered an asset:
a. Security, Microsoft, VMware, Cisco.
SUMMARY OF FUNCTION
Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
Director of Information Services (continued) 2
Management and Leadership
1. Day-to-day supervision of contractors, consultants, suppliers, vendors and support staff as
required.
2. Preparation and submission of the annual budget (operating and capital) for the
Information Services Department; participation as required in the review and approval
process with Council.
3. Monitoring of the performance of the Information Services Department against budget;
review of variance reports with initiation of corrective action as necessary.
4. Development and recommendation of new or revised policies for the Information
Services Department.
5. Act as a project leader (when assigned) on municipal-wide improvement project(s).
6. Identification and tracking of best practices and trends/advances in the information
technology field re: applications development, virus protection, computer operations,
networks, GIS databases and supporting technology for possible application by the
Municipality.
7. Forecasting of internal and external customer needs and requirements for information
technology applications, hardware, networks and supporting technology as well as user
training.
8. Coordination of the development of an Information Services long term capital budget
for the Municipalities Departments; key management representative responsible for the
rationalization and integration of the Municipalities databases, software, hardware and
networks to maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness.
9. Establishment of operating procedures, work methods and standards covering
application development, virus protection, file/data backup, data security access,
equipment operations and maintenance, and user training; monitoring of operations
against standards with initiation of corrective action as necessary.
10. Acts as Project Manager for the implementation of initiatives/improvements in the
Municipalities Information Technology Infrastructure; also acts as GIS Manager covering
collection, integrity of GIS data and its deployment as related to municipal infrastructure.
11. Completion of “buy or lease”, ROI, cost/benefits studies for new/revised information
technology hardware/software and networks.
12. Provision of technical problem-solving assistance to Municipal Departments re:
communications (radios, phone systems), information technology and
telecommunications applications, hardware, networks and supporting technology; also,
provision of technical assistance as requested in the design and layout of office space
and ergonomic planning.
Director of Information Services (continued) 3
13. Interpretation and explanation of information technology policies, procedures/standards,
programs and trends/development to Directors, the CAO and Council.
14. Development and implementation of an ongoing schedule for user training to ensure
that the Municipality delivers full and greater benefits from its information technology
investment/expenditures.
15. Establishment and implementation of a quality assurance program covering service
delivery by the Information Services Department; ongoing review of feedback with
follow-up on user complaints.
16. Provision of leadership in communications with the public and promotion of the services
delivered by the Information Services Department; development of public and private
sector partnership to improve IT services and/or lower costs.
17. Development and maintenance of a contact network with contractors/suppliers,
information technology professionals in the field and counterparts in other
municipalities; investigation of the feasibility of shared services and programs with
neighboring municipalities.
18. Liaison with regulatory officials/agencies related to the Information Technology functions
at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
Knowledge and Skills
Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the professional/technical discipline related to the
Information Services Department, i.e.:
1. Technical details.
2. Current trends in hardware, peripherals, networking and related equipment pertaining to
systems applications and their integration.
3. Knowledge of principles and techniques for applications development, software
customization and software interfaces.
4. Knowledge of pre-packaged/off-the-shelf systems software (current and forecasted)
pertinent to municipal operations and administration.
5. Up-to-date practices re: information/data security and confidential access.
6. Principles and techniques for quality control and maintenance of systems equipment,
software and networks.
7. Current techniques as applied to municipal administration and operations for systems re-
start, disaster recovery and virus protection.
8. Present techniques and practices for the recording, tracking and reporting of systems and
information technology inventories including provisions for file back-up and updating.
Director of Information Services (continued) 4
9. Techniques for defining/updating user needs for system and information technology
applications.
10. Content details of the Municipal Government Act as it pertains to information technology
applications.
11. Knowledge of sources of information for each of the above disciplines; ability to research
information from appropriate sources and to track/monitor trends and developments.
12. Ability to develop and maintain technical/professional contacts with counterparts in the
municipal field as well as professional associations/groups.
13. Knowledge of Municipal Operations and Administration.
14. Knowledge of technical terms, functions, activities and key contacts for each of the
Departments below:
a) Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
b) Engineering and Public Works
c) Fire Services (Incident Response, Fire Secretary)
d) Community Development (Planning & Building Services)
e) Municipal Clerk/Director of Quality Management
f) Financial Services
g) Solid Waste Department (Landfill Operations)
h) Shared Municipal Services
i) REMO
Public and Customer Contact Skills
1. General knowledge of the services offered/provided to citizens by the Municipalities’
various Departments.
2. Familiarization, “key players” (e.g., representatives of citizen associations, business
associations, special interest groups, etc.).
3. Customer contact skills (e.g., telephone answering, “customer-centered” problem-solving,
etc.).
4. Full appreciation of “how the Municipality works” (i.e., key functions/sub-functions, work
process/flow within and between Municipal Departments Council-Staff interaction,
important players and their roles, financial implications/sensitivities, etc.).
5. Requirement for occasional travel within the municipality.
Management and Leadership Skills
Director of Information Services (continued) 5
1. Ability to evaluate specific work situations and to decide appropriate action based upon
decision-making principles and sound judgment (i.e., distinguishing between facts and
perceptions, anticipating consequences, etc.).
2. Task management skills (planning, organizing, controlling) as applied to own work, the
work of subordinates and outsourced professionals/technicians.
3. “People management” skills (work direction and follow-up, coaching/counseling,
performance appraisal, etc.).
4. Coordinating skills, i.e., obtaining inputs/participation of other Departments while making
effective use of their time and resources.
5. Project management capability, including knowledge of relevant techniques (e.g. Project
Evaluation & Review Techniques, Critical Path Methodology, etc.).
6. Working knowledge of strategic planning processes and techniques including goal setting,
work planning, integrated budgeting, monitoring performance, etc.
7. Leadership skills in motivating/directing the work of others (subordinates, co-workers), e.g.
leading by example and/or technical competence.
8. Working knowledge of effective training techniques and the ability to apply them in
training/developing subordinates, co-workers.
9. Change management skills (e.g., understanding of the need for change, consideration of
various change strategies/approaches, selection of the optimum change approach,
anticipation of changes, effective response to changes, etc.).
Support Skills
1. Effective in written communications (concise, to the point, well-organized, etc.):
a) Correspondence, letters, memos, short reports.
b) Medium-size to major reports, based on thorough staff work.
2. Effective in oral communications (concise, articulate, persuasive, etc.):
a) One-on-one, small group settings.
b) Large group presentation settings.
3. Ability to grasp problem essentials quickly and to identify cause-effect relationships; ability
to anticipate/identify problems and propose solution alternatives.
4. Interpersonal skills (e.g., empathic listening, descriptive vs. judgmental feedback, etc.) and
the ability to apply them in contacts with subordinates, co-workers, outside
suppliers/contractors, members of Council.
5. Ability to represent the Municipality effectively in contacts with government officials,
suppliers, contractors, general public, etc.
Director of Information Services (continued) 6
6. Negotiating skills (i.e., ability to clearly identify pertinent contract terms and conditions,
evaluate trade-offs and reach agreements reflecting a win-win situation for the
Municipality and the parties concerned).
7. Conflict management/resolution skills (i.e., ability to arbitrate/mediate differences of
opinion among staff, peers, senior managers).
8. Ability to handle/cope with on-the-job stress (i.e., simultaneous handling of “hot files”,
ambiguities/,” grey” areas, conflicting views among senior Municipal Staff and/or Council,
changing priorities, etc.).
9. Ability to handle confidential information; familiarity with procedures to secure such
information in Municipal files/data system.
CONTACTS
1. General Public
2. Members of Council
3. Contractors
4. Suppliers
5. Municipal Staff