Solutions Designer in Toronto

Manages and provides technical input to the day-to-day execution of delivery teams who are implementing technology solutions to address Metrolinx business needs. The Technical Solution Manager also validates Service Provider outputs and manages incremental releases to ensure business stakeholder outcomes are realized and works closely with the I&IT Architecture team to ensure application solutions are aligned with the overall technical roadmap.

KEY CONTRIBUTIONS

• Functional/Technical Leadership/Management
  • Supports the definition of the I&IT team's yearly operating plan and performance objectives to monitor for quality and excellent delivery of services.
  • Manages I&IT teams towards successful technical delivery, release, governance and validation of outcomes for assigned I&IT applications.
  • Delivers expertise, advice and direction to I&IT team and Service Provider resources responsible for the delivery of related projects and services across the portfolio.
  • Collaborates with Enterprise Architecture teams to support the development of the I&IT technology roadmap.
• Application Validation/Roadmaps
  • In consultation with Enterprise Architectural, translates overall decision records into application level solutions to deliver business needs.
  • For I&IT's most complex initiatives, confirms solution designs and tracks progress through development, resolving problems, managing changes, in collaboration with stakeholders and I&IT team, and addresses business expectations in the event of development issues.
  • Collaborates with Delivery team to translate 12 – 18 month roadmaps into shorter initiatives (i.e. 3 month delivery plans with 4 week sprints).
  • Leverages technical expertise to validate that I&IT solutions meet and/or exceed business expectations.
• Solution Delivery and Release/Issue Management
  • Supports quarterly production releases by providing inputs to the delivery schedule and provides oversight to solution maturity through execution of the plan (i.e. from technical requirements to successful release) and makes corrections as needed.
  • Provides oversight to confirm alignment with technical design at key checkpoints during the delivery process and assumes the required responsibility for artifact development, attendance at governance mechanism and measurement of key metrics.
  • Validates and confirms that the solution design, configuration/development artifacts and quality control results meet the expectations of I&IT stakeholders and business users who use the product.
  • In partnership with Enterprise Architecture, identifies and manages the integration points between solutions within various applications and interfaces.
• Risk Management
  • Proactively manages risks pertaining to product project delivery and release management for Metrolinx.
  • Identifies, assesses and communicates technical delivery risks and contributes to product project delivery and release management and planning.
• Service Provider Relationship Management
  • Supports managing the relationship with Service Providers, which includes reviewing the most complex Provider statements of work, proposals, and providing input to the I&IT Commercial Office for Value for Money analysis and Service Provider performance reviews.
  • Provides guidance and support to Service Provider teams and confirms they are equipped to deliver successfully.
• Foundational Technology & Infrastructure Engineering
  • Designs and builds foundational technology and infrastructure solutions at scale.
  • Integrates and enables product application monitoring, automation and orchestration in solutions.
  • Collaborates with I&IT teams and stakeholders to perform system capacity, performance, availability and health management to meet business needs.
• Customer/Stakeholder
  • Collaborates with stakeholders across I&IT to support the successful planning and delivery of products projects and confirm product outcomes final solution meet I&IT standards and policies.
  • Liaises with all stakeholders and I&IT teams to confirm product technical designs, track progress through development, resolve problems, manage changes and address business expectations in the event of development issues.
  • Provides input to and identifies dependencies in the technology roadmaps and provides oversight to product solution development through execution of business requirements and makes corrections as needed.
  • Collaborates with I&IT Service Providers and internal delivery teams to develop and implement effective knowledge capture and sharing processes, models and ideas.
• Operational Excellence
  • Keeps current, advises the Senior Manager, I&IT Product Operations regarding the direction of emerging tools and products that would improve the technology maturity of the organization.
  • Provides input to the development of product technology roadmaps that utilize current tools and formal methodologies to oversee and support product development and eventual delivery to production.
  • Provides resolution to escalated team issues.
  • Manages the alignment of activities with overall I&IT and corporate governing frameworks, standards and methodologies that support business requirements and enterprise-scale efficiencies.
  • Identifies and recommends the practical application of emerging technology to improve business performance and reduce risk.
• Financial Stewardship
  • Supports Senior Management on creating annual and long-term budgets and staffing plans that adhere to corporate standards and applicable legislation.
  • Tracks initiatives, reviews progress and endorses scope, time or cost changes, escalates severe problems as required and informs business and Project Product Managers if there is an impact on business' requirements.
  • Strives to minimize costs and seeks methods to increase service delivery effectiveness and improve end-user productivity and training.
  • Identifies opportunities to streamline processes that may lead to cost and/or time savings.
• People Leadership
  • Creates a working environment that is aligned with the organization's desire to be an employer of choice.
  • Leads virtual teams of vendor project managers, technical experts, Project Delivery and production support resources responsible for delivering initiatives on assigned product roadmaps.
  • Manages employees and a varying number of contractor and vendor resources and delivers timely feedback to ensure a cohesive operational unit and the optimum use of team skills.
  • Develops working relationships with strategic Service Providers and their leadership teams.

Requirements

• Completion of a post-secondary degree or diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and progressive experience in solution delivery leadership positions deemed equivalent.