Department:     Corporate Support Services

Division:          Information and Communication Technology

Location /Work Station:         Nairobi, Times Tower

Department:     Corporate Support Services

Division:          Information and Communication Technology

Location /Work Station:         Nairobi, Times Tower

Job Summary 

The job holder is responsible for;

• Designing major aspects of the architecture of an application, including components such as user interface, middleware and infrastructure


• Providing technical leadership to the application development team


• Performing design and code reviews


• Ensuring that uniform enterprise-wide application design standards are maintained


• Collaborating with other stakeholders to ensure the architecture is aligned with business requirements

Key Responsibilities  

• Define and implement application architecture for diverse business processes, projects, and function


• Develop software solutions and strategy to meet the architectural goals and needs of a client


• Liaise with programmers and software development team to design and implement an architectural system


• Design the interface between multiple applications, databases, and middleware systems


• Carry out assessments to identify operational limitations and gaps in functional coverage


• Upgrade architectural systems and software life cycle to ensure improved processes


• Monitor the performance of architectural systems to ensure seamless interaction between components


• Conduct tests to ensure an application conforms to fundamental application standards and meets the requirements of the end user


• Ensure proper documentation of software design and developing processes in order to produce appropriate procedures for application use


• Design applications according to specific architectural design to improve overall system performance


• Develops the unit’s Annual Work Plan and draft budget and coordinates their implementation;


• Prepares monthly, quarterly, annual and ad hoc reports for the unit;


• Develops, mentors and coaches staff in the unit;


• Conducts performance management in the unit;


• Coordinates implementation of the work plans for the following corporate initiatives in the unit: Audit, Integrity, QMS and Risk Management.


• Ensure conformity to ISO (9001:2015 and 27001:2013) and data security requirements.

Academic and  Professional Qualifications   

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Electrical / Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications or any other IT related field.


• Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Electrical / Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications or any other IT related field will be an added advantage.

Required Certifications/Trainings

• Professional Certification or Training in any one of the following areas is required:


• Enterprise or Solution/Software Architect Certification


• Systems Development i.e. Java Programming, Web Design and Development, Oracle Developer etc.


• Business Systems Analysis i.e. CBAP Certification / Training


• Systems Modelling and Design Techniques


• Process Modelling and Design Techniques

Desired Certifications

• Certification or training in any of the following areas will be an added advantage:


• Training in middle level management / Supervisory Skills courses.


• IT Governance i.e. ITIL or COBIT 4/5


• Project Management i.e. PMP or Prince 2.


• Training or Certification in Database Administration i.e. Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server.


• Training in operating systems i.e. Windows, Linux or Unix.

Technical Skills Required:     

The Job holder must have:

• Proven skills in Oracle development and database management tools


• Proficiency in Java programming language and PL/SQL


• Expert knowledge of scripting languages (PHP, ASP, CSS, JAVASCRIPT, etc.)


• Working knowledge of structured programming and database design concepts


• Expert knowledge of web based technologies (HTML, XML, XHTML, DHTML, SOAP, JSON, etc.)


• Working knowledge of internet and messaging protocols i.e. HTTP, FTP, SOAP and REST


• Working knowledge of web development tools (Dreamweaver, Microsoft.NET, Drupal, Joomla, etc.)


• Working knowledge of Linux/Unix and Windows operating system platforms


• Working experience with relational databases (Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server)


• Knowledge of system design and modelling techniques


• Working knowledge of systems design and modelling tools (Enterprise Architect, TraceCloud, etc.)


• Basic knowledge of the following tools: process modelling (MS Visio, etc.), Project Management i.e. MS Project and Presentation i.e. MS PowerPoint

Relevant Work Experience Required

• Proven experience in design, development and implementation of enterprise business systems. Experience in design and development of systems for tax administration will be an added advantage.


• Proven experience in integration of business systems in a similar large organization.


• At least four (4) years’ post qualification experience as an application architect in a large enterprise organization, which includes at least one (1) year at supervisory level.

Competencies 

The Job holder must:

• Have good understanding of the KRA’s goals and objectives.


• Be resilient, focused, results oriented and a team player.


• Have strong analytical, diagnostic, decision making and problem solving skills.


• Have strong abilities to conduct research affecting business and propose suitable solutions/products.


• Have ability to pay attention to details and work under minimum supervision and for long hours within constraints.


• Have strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.


• Have good negotiation skills.


• Be able to build and maintain strong relationships with contracted parties, third party organizations, users and staff.


• Have Change management skills.


• Ability to interact confidently with users to establish what the problem is and explain the solution


• Ability to prioritize competing work commitments and deliver on time


• Passion for innovation and creativity


• High levels of integrity


• Ability to work under minimum supervision

• Designing major aspects of the architecture of an application, including components such as user interface, middleware and infrastructure


• Providing technical leadership to the application development team


• Performing design and code reviews


• Ensuring that uniform enterprise-wide application design standards are maintained


• Collaborating with other stakeholders to ensure the architecture is aligned with business requirements

Key Responsibilities  

• Define and implement application architecture for diverse business processes, projects, and function


• Develop software solutions and strategy to meet the architectural goals and needs of a client


• Liaise with programmers and software development team to design and implement an architectural system


• Design the interface between multiple applications, databases, and middleware systems


• Carry out assessments to identify operational limitations and gaps in functional coverage


• Upgrade architectural systems and software life cycle to ensure improved processes


• Monitor the performance of architectural systems to ensure seamless interaction between components


• Conduct tests to ensure an application conforms to fundamental application standards and meets the requirements of the end user


• Ensure proper documentation of software design and developing processes in order to produce appropriate procedures for application use


• Design applications according to specific architectural design to improve overall system performance


• Develops the unit’s Annual Work Plan and draft budget and coordinates their implementation;


• Prepares monthly, quarterly, annual and ad hoc reports for the unit;


• Develops, mentors and coaches staff in the unit;


• Conducts performance management in the unit;


• Coordinates implementation of the work plans for the following corporate initiatives in the unit: Audit, Integrity, QMS and Risk Management.


• Ensure conformity to ISO (9001:2015 and 27001:2013) and data security requirements.

Academic and  Professional Qualifications   

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Electrical / Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications or any other IT related field.


• Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Electrical / Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications or any other IT related field will be an added advantage.

Required Certifications/Trainings

• Professional Certification or Training in any one of the following areas is required:


• Enterprise or Solution/Software Architect Certification


• Systems Development i.e. Java Programming, Web Design and Development, Oracle Developer etc.


• Business Systems Analysis i.e. CBAP Certification / Training


• Systems Modelling and Design Techniques


• Process Modelling and Design Techniques

Desired Certifications

• Certification or training in any of the following areas will be an added advantage:


• Training in middle level management / Supervisory Skills courses.


• IT Governance i.e. ITIL or COBIT 4/5


• Project Management i.e. PMP or Prince 2.


• Training or Certification in Database Administration i.e. Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server.


• Training in operating systems i.e. Windows, Linux or Unix.

Technical Skills Required:     

The Job holder must have:

• Proven skills in Oracle development and database management tools


• Proficiency in Java programming language and PL/SQL


• Expert knowledge of scripting languages (PHP, ASP, CSS, JAVASCRIPT, etc.)


• Working knowledge of structured programming and database design concepts


• Expert knowledge of web based technologies (HTML, XML, XHTML, DHTML, SOAP, JSON, etc.)


• Working knowledge of internet and messaging protocols i.e. HTTP, FTP, SOAP and REST


• Working knowledge of web development tools (Dreamweaver, Microsoft.NET, Drupal, Joomla, etc.)


• Working knowledge of Linux/Unix and Windows operating system platforms


• Working experience with relational databases (Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server)


• Knowledge of system design and modelling techniques


• Working knowledge of systems design and modelling tools (Enterprise Architect, TraceCloud, etc.)


• Basic knowledge of the following tools: process modelling (MS Visio, etc.), Project Management i.e. MS Project and Presentation i.e. MS PowerPoint

Relevant Work Experience Required

• Proven experience in design, development and implementation of enterprise business systems. Experience in design and development of systems for tax administration will be an added advantage.


• Proven experience in integration of business systems in a similar large organization.


• At least four (4) years’ post qualification experience as an application architect in a large enterprise organization, which includes at least one (1) year at supervisory level.

Competencies 

The Job holder must:

• Have good understanding of the KRA’s goals and objectives.


• Be resilient, focused, results oriented and a team player.


• Have strong analytical, diagnostic, decision making and problem solving skills.


• Have strong abilities to conduct research affecting business and propose suitable solutions/products.


• Have ability to pay attention to details and work under minimum supervision and for long hours within constraints.


• Have strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.


• Have good negotiation skills.


• Be able to build and maintain strong relationships with contracted parties, third party organizations, users and staff.


• Have Change management skills.


• Ability to interact confidently with users to establish what the problem is and explain the solution


• Ability to prioritize competing work commitments and deliver on time


• Passion for innovation and creativity


• High levels of integrity


• Ability to work under minimum supervision