System Development Specialist (Open Data Operations Lead)

• Job ID: 56386
• Job Category: Information & Technology
• Division & Section: Technology Services, Technology Standardization Delivery
• Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John St, Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
• Job Type & Duration: Full-Time, Permanent Vacancy
• Hourly Rate: $53.21 - $58.28
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: L79 Full-time
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 12-Jun-2025 to 03-Jul-2025

Job Summary:

To provide expertise and advice in the areas of: initiation, analysis, design, development, implementation and sustainment of enterprise solutions. To contribute in the development of corporate system architecture, methodologies, standards, policies, procedures and guidelines.

Job Description:

We’re looking for someone to help the City of Toronto’s Open Data team interface with the rest of the city bureaucracy. As one of our Systems Development Specialists, you will use both your background in data, paired with your interpersonal skills, to work with City Divisions to get quality data onto the city’s Open Data Portal.

The successful candidate will be someone who can speak the language of data management; who isn’t afraid of getting into technical details nor describing those details to a non-technical audience. The candidate will be expected to manage relationships with these various individuals so to make the Open Data Portal a more comprehensive and useful tool for its users.

This is an exciting position for someone who wants to get a birds-eye view of the city’s data management and use that to enhance government transparency, civic engagement, and government performance. You will be joining the Open Data Team as part of the greater Enterprise Data and Artificial Intelligence directorate, where we’re at the forefront of making new data tools and processes within the city.

Job Functions:

• Liaises and coordinates with internal and external consultants in detailed systems deliverables and technical problem resolution.
• Provides expertise, advice and technical skills for information and application service delivery.
• Recommends, presents and demonstrates system solutions to City management and corporate business clients.
• Provides documentation and instruction/training to users of the system.
• Provides development support to users by providing technical assistance and troubleshooting.
• Develops systems interfaces between enterprise and departmental systems.
• Conducts research and evaluation of hardware/software/framework and makes recommendations.
• Performs analysis and design duties as well as programming, modelling and scripting, testing, documentation and deployment preparation.
• Coordinates and prepares needs analysis and detailed systems design.
• Conducts user interviews to determine detailed systems requirements.
• Completes preliminary analysis, system and functional design, workflow diagrams for quality systems development.
• Designs, codes, tests, implements and maintains enterprise systems.
• Designs and develops systems that comply with access and privacy legislation.
• Coordinates and develops program specifications and documentation.
• Designs and conducts all levels of testing i.e. unit, system, integration, regression, performance, security, usability, optimization/configuration and coordinates user acceptance testing.
• Implements enterprise in-house developed/custom/packaged systems and systems changes.
• Tests integrated systems to ensure system compatibility and proper functional integration.
• Provides application maintenance and enhancement including implementation of vendor systems fixes and patches.
• Conducts quality assurance on departmental and external developments.
• Performs information and application data conversions.
• Designs and develops application security interfaces to enable clients in controlling and administering access to their systems.
• Conducts presentations, system demonstrations and system walk-throughs at project review meetings.
• Participates as a team member in the execution of project plans providing technical expertise and advice re: architecture, development tools, work effort estimates.
• Directs the activities of staff, mentors, and recommends training.
• Contributes to project charters, statements of work and project plans, project status reports and variance explanations, risk identification and mitigation planning.
• Conducts research, investigates and recommends best practices for information and application services.
• Contributes to post-implementation project reviews.
• Recommends improvements to current methodologies, processes, standards, policies and guidelines.
• Contributes in planning of future system growth and provides detailed work plans.
• Participates in enterprise projects.
• Conducts feasibility studies, business cases, RFI/P/Q's, technical reports by researching and participating in evaluations and recommending solutions.
• Determines user training needs.

Key Qualifications

1. Experience in data analysis, sales engineering, software consulting, or in a similar customer-facing technical role
2. Experience communicating technical, data-specific topics with both technical and non-technical audiences
3. Experience in analyzing data and reporting findings to various audiences
4. Experience in leading meetings and managing relationships with various clients and stakeholders

You Must Also Have:

• Knowledge of data management principles, like Glossary, Lineage, and Metadata
• Special consideration will be given to applicants having experience with programming languages like Python, Javascript, or SQL
• Special consideration will be given to applicants having experience with ETL software like Apache Airflow, Apachi NiFi, or FME

NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:

City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.