JET Education Services (JET) and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA) have initiated the PSET CLOUD (Post School Education and Training Collaboration and Learning Opportunities and Utilisation of Data), a programme that seeks to develop an integrated national digital ecosystem which is interoperable, can be used for effective skills planning and provisioning, and puts information in the hands of citizens and other stakeholders so they can make informed decisions about education and training.
The purpose of the programme is to enable the government and citizens to make informed decisions related to education, training and work. The programme seeks to ensure that data sets are interoperable, well synchronised and used effectively as sources of information for planning and improving efficiency in the PSET system as well as for individual decisions. In pursuit of this goal, the programme will establish a digital ecosystem that will strengthen, integrate, coordinate, improve efficiencies and solve challenges in the governance and management of the post- school education and training (PSET) system. The PSET CLOUD programme has many different workstreams including governance, partnership, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation and the development of an interactive platform which all support the achievement of the PSET CLOUD goals.
In this context, we are looking to appoint a Solutions Architect on a consultancy bases to lead the development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
Purpose of the Role
To envision, lead and manage the development of a fit-for-purpose, integrated end-to-end technology solution for the PSET CLOUD, through inspirational technical leadership and visionary long-term thinking. Provide leadership across multiple technology initiatives for the PSET CLOUD by guiding the development team to achieve product/programme alignment.
Description
To scope, plan, design, and deliver end-to-end solutions against required standards and timelines. To oversee, quality assure and participate in technical solutions delivery, interpreting business requirements, and defining technical tasks for development team.
Duties
Analyse programme intent and formulate solutions based on programme boundaries, existing architectures, and constraints:
●Needs to be achievable and operational, must push boundaries when required, and continuously push for improvements.
●Design detailed solution architecture using new technologies in consultation with programme partners.
●Design with a holistic, robust, and sustainable mindset. Apply a product management mindset (long-term thinking).
●Collaborate with the development team to identify the right technologies to be used in the PSET CLOUD application.
●Work with the development team to shape, contribute, and integrate a solution across the technology stack, from database and DevOps infrastructure that supports continuous deployment.
●Identify and recommend system integration points between the PSET CLOUD and Programme Phetogo
●Take proposed solutions through relevant governance forums and obtain acceptance of proposed solutions.
● Collaborate and communicate and obtain buy-in from key stakeholders.
●Decomposition of the solution and assisting with the scheduling/sequencing work and identification of resourcing needs.
●Flesh out designs and contribute to functional and non-functional requirements.
●Assist software designers with lower-level designs.
●Troubleshoot issues relating to technical delivery.
●Keep abreast of the technical landscape on how it fits together.
●Understand constraints and risk and make the necessary trade-offs.
●Influence and negotiate with key stakeholders.
●Report on infrastructure capabilities to programme partners.
●Craft the end-to-end solution taking into consideration: people, technology, systems, and data.
●Future proof end-to-end solutions as far as possible within the programme’s constraints.
Qualifications
●Bachelor’s degree in either Information Systems, Informatics or Computer Science, or Engineering (or equivalent work experience).
●Information Technology Architect Certification (ITAC) (Open Group recommended). Togaf Certification, ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), or equivalent will be an advantage
●Must have a South African ID or a valid work permit
Experience
●5-10 years - broad experience in solutions architecture
●Solid practical software engineering, programming, and design experience.
●Experience with the solution engineering of education and training applications
●Strong technical acumen on how the technical landscape fits together: Broad understanding of end-to-end landscape, specialisation in one domain.
●Knowledge of the following technology stacks: CICS, Cobol, JCL, MQ, JSON, REST, DB2 maybe advantageous
●Experience in the end-to-end system, security, integration, and infrastructure design.
●Experience in the management of service providers.
●DevOps experience and exposure to agile methodologies.
●Experience in technical design modelling and methods.
●Require a broad understanding of end-to-end landscape and specialisation in one or more domains.
●Exposure to support and maintenance
●Experience in PSET sector would be an advantage.
Behavioural Competencies
•Developing and executing strategy
• Problem solving
•Communicating insights
•Adopting practical approaches
•Decision making
All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to independent relevant reference checks.
Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a telephonic interview. If you have not been contacted within a month after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
Applications must be done online via this form: https://forms.gle/9dBWpxBbbFrFDCuNA no later than 24th August 2022. Late applications will not be considered.
