Job Description

Competition: #40876

Salary: $3,091.70- $3,631.17 Bi-Weekly / $80,384.20 - $94,410.42 Annually (PR 17)

Position Type: Full-Time Permanent (35 hours a week)

Benefits: Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick/Family Leave, Health, Dental, and Defined Benefits Pension

Location: Halifax

Department: Cyber Security and Digital Solutions

Union Status: NSGEU-NSPG

Closing Date: December 17, 2023 @ 11:59PM Atlantic Time

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CYBER SECURITY AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS (CSDS)

Welcome to the Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions (CSDS), the guiding force behind digital transformation within the Government of Nova Scotia. Formerly known as the Nova Scotia Digital Service (NSDS) within the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services (SNSIS), we have evolved into a standalone department with a focused mission.

At CSDS, we support government departments and partners in their digital transformation journeys. We don\'t just implement digital solutions; we navigate the complexities of digital transformation, modernizing outdated systems and ways of working. Our role is to ensure that digital services are user-centered, efficient, and make a real difference to Nova Scotians.

Our team is diverse and passionate, championing innovation and embracing the richness of multiple perspectives. We believe in user-centered iterative digital service design, and practice . We\'re not just an IT department; we\'re a community dedicated to enabling digital transformation and bolstering cybersecurity across the province.

Join us at CSDS as we shape the future of digital services in Nova Scotia, supporting our partners in their journey towards a digital future

Who You Are

You are passionate about people\xe2\x80\x99s experiences and want to make people\xe2\x80\x99s lives better. You\xe2\x80\x99re curious, and your humbleness helps you learn and grow. You love to collaborate across roles and organizations, and you can create a path forward from uncertainty. You are comfortable inspiring others with your communication skills whether they be senior leaders or technical teams.

You share our values of Respect, Integrity, Diversity, Accountability & The Public Good, have a passion for service excellence and actively promote and encourage the importance of people, teams, diversity, and culture.

Your Role & Its Impact

As the Senior Applications Architect, you\'ll report to the Agile Delivery Manager within the Digital Trust & Credentials (DT&C) division. Our mission is to simplify, accelerate, and secure user-centered services across the Province, embodying a \'build once and use many times\' philosophy.

You\'ll be a key player in sustaining our established platform, My NS Account, an Identity and Access Management system facilitating single-account access to various government digital services. Additionally, you\'ll contribute to the exploration and planning of a new digital credentials platform aimed at issuing secure, privacy-centric digital versions of currently paper or plastic-issued credentials. Another crucial aspect involves managing Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) services, ensuring secure and trusted data exchanges through certificate issuance to web servers and applications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Offer technical guidance on platform modifications per governmental standards.

• Lead in designing, developing, and enhancing our digital identity platform.

• Ensure efficient availability, deployment, and maintenance of supported platforms.

• Collaborate with IT groups to meet their technical requirements.

• Spearhead the development and support of the new digital credential platform.

• Troubleshoot application integrations and provide viable technical solutions.

• Manage and troubleshoot provincial Public Key infrastructure.

• Recommend procedural and support process improvements.

• Engage with peers to share information and understand user needs in the digital trust and credentials domain.

• Stay updated on industry developments concerning Digital Trust and Credentials.

• Mentor, coach, and foster the development of team members.

• Collaborate on policy, guide, and standard reviews related to Digital Authentication/Trust & Digital Credentials.

This position involves engagement with external and internal partners, requiring strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and adaptability to new technologies. Building meaningful relationships characterized by mutual trust and respect with management, peers, clients, and operational staff is also a key aspect of this role.

What You Bring to the Table

The successful candidate will possess a bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree in Information Technology or Computer Sciences plus a minimum of 5 years\xe2\x80\x99 experience, or graduation from a recognized Information Technology program plus 5 years and six months of experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Programming Skills: Proficiency in C# .Net, Javascript, and Python.

• Digital Identity Authentication Protocols: Experience with OpenID Connect (OIDC) and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML).

• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): - Knowledge of Public/Private Key Cryptography and x.509 Certificates including

- Certificate Lifecycle Management (Issuance/Renewal/Revocation).

- Public Key Infrastructure Design.

- Templating, Policy, and Automation.

• Digital Signatures (considered an asset): Understanding of Secure Digital Signatures (XML, PDF).

• Cybersecurity: - Familiarity with best practices (NIST, DIACC, OWASP, CATS, iGov, CA/B Forum) and TLS/SSL protocols (both considered assets).

- Knowledge of Cryptography:

- Symmetric (AES) / Asymmetric (RSA / Elliptic Curve) cryptosystems.

• Emerging Standards for Digital Credentials: Understanding of BBS and signatures, Secure Cipher suites, Keystore/Container, Java Web Key Sets/Java Web Tokens/PKCS#12, and Secure Hashing/HMAC.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Demonstrated excellence in troubleshooting and problem-solving.

• Organizational Skills: Ability to prioritize and manage high-level tasks under tight deadlines, exhibiting sound judgment under pressure.

• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with a knack for conveying technical concepts effectively to clients, peers, and leadership.

• Adaptability: Flexibility to quickly adapt to new technologies.

Assets

The following qualifications are considered assets:

• Tool Proficiency: Experience with Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS), OpenSSL, KeyTool, Let\xe2\x80\x99s Encrypt, Azure Key Vault/App Service/APIM, OpenShift/Containers/Cloud Environments, or similar tools.

• Self Sovereign Identity and Digital Credentials Understanding: Knowledge of Verified Credential Data model, Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), OpenID for Verifiable Credentials (OIDC4VCI / OIDC4VP), Digital Wallets, Trust over IP (TOIP), Hyperledger AnonCreds, and European Digital Identity Architecture and Reference Framework.

• Cybersecurity Training/Experience: Formal training or experience in the cybersecurity space.

• Enterprise Environment Experience: Experience in supporting complex enterprise environments, with knowledge of the Province\xe2\x80\x99s IT and Cybersecurity policies and procedures.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of related training and experience may be accepted in place of education requirement. Applicants relying on equivalencies must must demonstrate such equivalencies in their resume and cover letter.

We recognize that everyone brings different skills and experiences to the table.

If you don\xe2\x80\x99t \xe2\x80\x9ccheck all the boxes\xe2\x80\x9d, we encourage you to apply anyway and tell us why you\xe2\x80\x99re the right fit for the job.

We value diversity of thought and believe that the best teams are those that bring together people with a range of experiences and perspectives

Benefits & Perks

At the CSDS with the Government of Nova Scotia, we are committed to providing a fulfilling work environment with numerous benefits and opportunities:

• Work-Life Balance: Maintain a healthy work-life balance with a 35-hour work week.

• Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our defined benefits pension plan for a stable retirement.

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy all national/civic holidays, 18 sick days, and family leave provisions.

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Accommodate your needs with various options for flexibility, such as hybrid schedules.

• Employee and Family Support: Access our Employee and Family Assistance Programs for resources and guidance.

• Support in Times of Need: Receive short- and long-term disability assistance when required.

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Experience the power of collaboration as you engage with various government departments. Unlock a world of knowledge, expertise, and connections, contributing to the betterment of our province.

• Growth & Development: Open doors to professional growth within the CDSD and beyond. Explore diverse career paths in specialized areas such as digital service design, cybersecurity, enterprise risk, digital platform services, and mission IT.

• Lifelong Learning: Continuously expand your knowledge and skills through training and development programs.

• Professional Advancement: Immerse yourself in the government landscape and discover endless opportunities for learning, advancement, and making a meaningful impact.

Join the Department of Cyber Security & Digital Solutions and experience the benefits of a fulfilling career, supported by comprehensive perks, career development opportunities, and a diverse range of paths to explore within our department and across the government.

Pay Grade: PR 17

Salary Range: $3,091.70 - $3,631.17 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.

Government of Nova Scotia