Solutions Designer - Intermediate (HYBRID) JP214

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;

Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture teams to supports 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 Provides 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;

Effective Date - March 2025

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.

Provides input into and maintains I&IT and Vendor Performance KPIs

Provides expert input to support maintenance and continuous improvement of I&IT's Delivery Methodology;

Risk Management

Proactively manages risks pertaining to product project delivery and release management for Metrolinx (e.g. reduce the likelihood and impact of customer, transit and operational system risks and issues);

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 confirm they are equipped to deliver successfully, including pointing Service Providers to the appropriate standards, reference material, and technical validation resources within I&IT and business units;

Foundational Technology & Infrastructure Engineering

Designs and builds foundational technology and infrastructure solutions at scale (e.g. SaaS, public and private managed cloud solutions virtualization, network, storage, compute, hybrid,);

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. This includes developing knowledge repositories to capture and share I&IT product portfolio information and product lifecycle management artifact templates / standards;

Supports relationship management of Service Providers delivering services and products to Metrolinx I&IT as required;

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 (i.e. policies, programs, strategy);

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. This includes bringing innovative ideas forward to satisfy unmet needs and solve existing problems;

Responsible for advancing I&IT capabilities as part of continuous improvement activities and maintaining Project Delivery practice in alignment with I&IT groups.

Financial Stewardship

Supports Senior Management on creating Provides input to annual and long-term budgets and staffing plans that adhere to corporate standards and applicable legislation; meets solution design service delivery objectives and oversees team activities within budgetary limits.

Supports Inputs to the I&IT annual operating and capital budgets and staffing plans by providing inputs.

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.

Provides input to fund allocation of initiatives and ensures expenditures are tracked to meet technology roadmaps plans for their respective portfolios

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, ensuring that people resources possess the required skills, are properly aligned, and are provided with the resources to do the job.

Leads virtual teams (greater than 15 resources) 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; monitors work assignments to ensure adherence to timelines; monitors the achievement of performance objectives;

Provides creative thought leadership with input from others to develop and deploy a strategic vision; connects and aligns projects with strategic corporate goals; demonstrates leadership and core competencies at a high level of development and is an exemplary model of living the corporate Values and Code of Ethics;

Knowledge of Human Resources legislation (e.g. Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, etc.) to monitor employees and contractors, including experience in the application of collective agreement provisions, and develop and manage staffing plans that adhere to corporate standards and applicable legislation

Advises other staff and provides expertise on product project delivery issues;

Advises the client on how they can leverage technology more effectively to realize their business objectives;

Provides senior technical leadership oversight and direction to staff and delivers timely feedback to ensure a cohesive operational unit and the optimum use of team skills; manages staff and monitors work assignments to ensure adherence to timelines; monitors the achievement of performance objectives; develops and implements action plans to address performance gaps.

Develop working relationships with strategic Service Providers and their leadership teams. Section 3: Requirements

Education

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.