Qualifications Wales

IT Senior Developer

Post QW0021

Job title: / IT – Senior Developer
Employer: / Qualifications Wales
Location: / Q2, Imperial Park, Newport, NP10 8AR
Contract: / Permanent, full time. Requests for alternative working patterns, including part time, job share and secondments, may be discussed at interview
Salary: / Band 4 – salary range £36,000 - £43,950
Appointment may be near or at the maximum of the band for an exceptional candidate (demonstrated at both application and interview)
Hours of work: / 37
Department: / Finance and Corporate Services Directorate
Reporting to: / Head of ICT
Closing date for applications: / 26 November 2015
Contact: / Sean Gaffney - 03330772707
Background
Qualifications Wales is a Welsh Government Sponsored Body that is the independent regulator of qualifications and the qualification system in Wales. The body is responsible for ensuring that qualifications and the qualifications system are effective in meeting the reasonable needs of learners in Wales, and for promoting public confidence in these.
Qualifications Wales has a publicly appointed Chair and Board who are accountable for the fulfilment of Qualifications Wales’ statutory functions and of its obligations to Welsh Government as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body. The Board therefore agree the strategic direction and governance of the organisation and the Executive Team (comprising the Chief Executive and the three Executive Directors) are responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic and operational plans.
Job purpose
The postholder is the lead systems development resource for the organisation, working as part of the small IT team, with personal responsibility for applications development - developing, enhancing and maintaining business applications, including a bespoke system for managing our database of qualifications eligible for funding - Qualifications in Wales (QiW); the corporatewebsite (Qualificationswales.org) and intranet.
The post holder is a senior developer with full stack experience in a broad range of Microsoft Technologies.A generalist who is comfortable with all layers of the system from Web Development to Database Administration and reporting.
The postholder will also provide support and maintenance of other in-house supported applications and provide cover for the ICT Systems Manager.
Main duties

Take the lead development role within the organisation, undertaking small scale development work or engaging additional external resource to deliver larger or more complex development needs.
Monitor, maintain and enhance our regulatory database Qualifications in Wales (QiW)
Monitor, maintain andenhance our new website Qualificationswales.org
In conjunction with the ICT Systems Manager, ensure application environments for Development, Test and Live are managed appropriately.
Where development work is contracted out, in liaison with the Contracts Manager ensure that suppliers deliver to time, meet quality targets and deliver value for money, undertaking code reviews where appropriate.
Ensure application documentation and user guides are accurate and kept up to date by those responsible.
Help to develop business cases for change and to monitor benefits.
Assist ‘Product Owners’ to capture user requirements and perform business analysis to define functional and non-functional requirements for new applications or enhancements, ensuring compatibility with existing enterprise and system architectures.
Work closely with the ICT Systems Manager to be able provide cover as first line support to the organisation where necessary responding to staff queries and issues in a timely manner and contacting ICT providers as necessary. Provide 2nd and 3rd line application support, escalating to third parties where appropriate.
Work with the Data and Systems Manager to investigate, evaluate, interpret and classify data, and enhance reporting.
Provide technical direction for complex application development activities, proposes technical development protocols and standards.

Person specification

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications / Excellent Programming/software development capability likely to be evidenced by industry certifications or equivalent experience. / Degree in an IT discipline
Microsoft certificationon the Database or Development track
Experience / Significant experience in a full stack Senior Developer role with generalist experience ina broad range of Microsoft technologies covering:

Web development
Database design and administration
Systems design
Management of systems development life-cycle
Management of source code

Able to demonstrate a pragmatic approach to delivering software that optimises architecture activities across company needs, business constraints and technological realities. / Code review
Agile development
Testing
Familiarity with other Microsoft products including Azure, SharePoint Online or Dynamics
Knowledge / An excellent working knowledge of the Microsoft technology stack in a development capacity.
Working knowledge of a variety of systems: from website development, Windows clients and mobile devices, through to SQL Server / SharePoint Online administration / development or a willingness to learn.
Skills / Able to work independently and as part of a team – delivering excellent customer service
Excellent analytical skills able to manipulate data
Good problem solving skills able to apply critical thinking
Always keen to keep abreast of the latest technologies
Good project management skills
Good communicator able to explain technical issues to non-technical users and transfer knowledge / Business Analysis and gathering user requirements.
Testing
Business intelligence and reporting
Ability to communicate and work in the Welsh language