JOB DESCRIPTION
REPORTS TO: EA Applications Support Lead
RESPONSIBLE TO: EA Applications Support Lead
Key Purpose of Role
The Application Support Specialists will be responsible for supporting and maintaining the business applications for EA as a whole.Providing a core service that is critical for all other services in EA.
The Applications Support Specialists will support on the analysis, implementation, performance reporting and end user support of the following services:
Application Support Specialist
•Capita One
•Admissions Backoffice
•Admissions Parent Portal
•Admissions Schools Portal
•Grants & Benefits
•Transport Backoffice
•ESRI Transport interface
•Version One (Post Primary Admissions)
•Tranman
•Unitas
•Netsweeper
•JAMF
•Paxton
•Badgemaker
•O365
•Finesse
•Capita One
•Governors
•Psychology
•SEN
•Welfare
•CIEE
•Exclusions
•BACS
•KACE
•Identity Manager
•Accident Reporting
•Complaints
•AccessNI
•Eclipse
•Manhattan
•FEAST
•EA One
•iProcure
•Protocol
•NISTR
•CCMS/CCSC
This generic job description is intended to provide an outline of the Support areas that the post-holder will be expected to undertake across a number of functional areas (detailed above) within ICT Support. Although the post-holder may be assigned to specific functional areas on appointment, in view of the nature of work the post-holder may be required to undertake duties in other functional areas to cover peak periods of work or vacancies.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Technical
1.As an Application Specialist for the Education Authority in respect of ICT Applications Support, appraise trends and developments in the ICT industry to ensure that EA is exploiting the potential and opportunities provided by new and existing technologies.The post holder will be an EA ICT representative on relevant panels within and will be required to cultivate and maintain appropriate links to the ICT industry.
2.Contribute to the design and review process for new systems, develop and document the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of any new hardware and software, working across IT Services.
3.Liaise with ICT specialists to ensure that service provider ICT solutions for the delivery of service are relevant within the wider EA ICT Strategy and contribute to the development of this strategic process.
4.Monitor the effectiveness of service provider ICT solutions for the delivery of service and ensure that they remain responsive to Education Authority needs.
5.Produce technical evaluations of proposals from service providers with regard to Application Support change, refresh and enhancement and provide recommendations to the Application Support Lead as to feasibility and suitability.
6.Provide evaluations in respect of applications support for any solution and discussion papers produced by service providers or any other source impacting EA services.
7.Provide an ongoing assessment of application risks impacting on the Service.In this regard, develop and manage appropriate mechanisms for identifying application risks and constraints and mitigating their impact.This will include risks associated with the service and all service providers and also with the wider ICT environments.
8.Ensure that appropriate application protocols and standards are being observed and implemented by the service and service providers.This will involve an ongoing appraisal of developing ICT standards and contributing to the development of appropriate policies.
9.Develop and manage procedures for conducting appropriate periodic market testing and benchmarking studies with regard to Application Support services.
Technical Quality Assurance
1.Develop and manage the mechanisms for ongoing design Application testing.This role will include the provision of advice and recommendations as to the suitability and adequacy of Applications solutions in meeting the Education Authority’s service requirements.
2.Manage the testing protocols and procedures for the formal acceptance of applications and the sign off on the services implemented.
3.Assess and make recommendations to ICT Support Service Leads with regard to the achievement of meeting Service Level Agreements within budget.
4.When required work with project teams to ensure that all project requirements, deadlines, budget restrictions and schedules are on track.
5.Contribute to the Design and analysis of Application projects, creating operational reports, recommending improvements to existing solutions, testing, User documentation and manuals relating to solutions configuration.
6.Ensure that service providers achieve compatibility and inter-operability in the provision of application solutions.Liaise with Education Authority departments and other agencies and act as the Education Authority’s point of contact with the Service Provider in this regard.
7.Advise and assist the ICT Support Leads with regard to the utilisation of appropriate and effective computer applications in the development of service monitoring systems.
8.Manage and maintain test systems for Software releases and evaluate testing reports and proposals.
9.Provide technical expertise and support in relation to development and testing processes.
10.Monitor and provide quality assurance to ensure the effective delivery of the services.
11.Assist in the management of Application support requirements and advise senior management with regard to any requirement for specialist input.
12.Devise and develop reports required to assess the effective delivery of service.
13.lead a team of technical staff within the service, managing employees across all EA offices and ensure that training and professional development requirements with regard to new and existing Applications are met.
14.Assist in the management of transitional arrangements for new applications.
15.To promote the corporate vision, values and culture of EA as a single regional organisation, in all processes linked to maintenance, development and implementation of assignments within their areas of responsibility.
16.Ensure that employees within the Application Support Specialists team are provided with clear structure, strategies, policies and processes for their service.
17.Foster a culture that supports achievement of the authority’s Strategic Plan by role modelling core values and leadership behaviours to staff.
Travel across EANI sites may be required in order to fulfil the full range of duties and responsibility and work may occasionally be required outside of standard working hours.
On-call support may be required out of normal hours subject to remuneration payment.