Role Description
Principal Application Developer,
Digital
Cluster
Planning & Environment
Agency
Department of Planning & Environment
Division/Branch/Unit
Cluster Corporate Services / Business Information and Services
Classification/Grade/Band
Environment Officer Class 12
Location
Goulburn Street, Sydney
ANZSCO Code
1226465
Role Number
Generic
PCAT Code
262111
Date of Approval
May 2017
Agency Website
www.environment.nsw.gov.au
Agency overview
The Department of Planning & Environment (DP&E) is the lead NSW Government agency in planning for a
growing NSW. The Department’s vision – ‘Planning for growing NSW: inspiring strong communities,
protecting our environment’, provides the benchmark for our partnership and leadership approach to
engaging and working collaboratively with key State and Local Government, community and industry
stakeholders to deliver better outcomes in the areas of planning, local government and the environment.
DP&E also delivers a range of Cluster Corporate Services to partner agencies across Cluster entities and
associated Trusts and Subsidiaries, which include Human Resources, Finance, Governance and
Performance and Business Information Service (IT) functions.
Primary purpose of the role
The Principal Application Developer, Digital works within and across multi-disciplinary project teams,
overseeing the work of Senior Application Developers and Application Developers on the development of
software, web and multi-media applications that facilitate achievement of business outcomes or improve
business efficiencies and processes through the leverage of technology.
Key accountabilities
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Apply broad and thorough technical expertise to multiple, concurrent complex project needs to
ensure optimal solutions are developed and delivered to meet customer and cluster digital needs.
Utilise extensive expertise in requirements analysis phase to enhance the quality of the solution
design.
Oversee the development and implementation of appropriate acceptance testing processes to
improve the quality and reduce operational risk of the developed application.
Deliver feasibility and cost-benefit analysis, including choice of application architecture to enhance
the overall application development process.
Ensure and promote high technical standards for the digital development teams.
Develop and implement standard digital development frameworks for digital team members.
Monitor and review work performance, provide leadership, guidance and promote learning and
development opportunities, to ensure staff are capable of achieving high levels of service delivery.
1
Key challenges
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Identify interdependencies and balance competing demands to ensure project objectives are
achieved.
Ensure technical solutions are robust, repeatable and fit for purpose.
Develop broader knowledge of multiple, complex platforms and technologies to enable development
of more complex solutions.
Key relationships
Who
Why
Internal
Manager/Supervisor
Work team
Clients/customers
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Escalate issues, keep informed, advise and receive instructions.
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Inspire and motivate team, provide direction and manage performance.
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Participate in meetings to represent work group perspective and share
information.
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Support team, work collaboratively to contribute to achieving the teams’
business outcomes.
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Resolve issues and provide solutions to problems.
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Provide information and guidance regarding sector/agency-wide rules
and standards.
Role dimensions
Decision making
The role is expected to operate with some level of autonomy, makes day to day decisions relating to work
priorities and workload management, for themselves and any staff supervised. The role is accountable for
the quality, integrity and accuracy of content of advice provided.
Reporting line
Role reports to the Manager, Digital Design & Production.
Direct reports
Between 2-8 direct reports, comprising of Senior Application Developers, Digital and Application
Developers, Digital.
Budget/Expenditure
Nil.
Essential requirements
Demonstrated knowledge of one or more of the following technologies: Sitecore, Sharepoint or Drupal.
Proven development skills in one or more of the following technologies: Sitecore, Sharepoint or Drupal.
Experience in system analysis and design including in requirements gathering and documenting functional
requirements, understanding business requirements/process, designing web applications, integration and
user interfaces.
Role Description Principal Application Developer, Digital2
Capabilities for the role
The NSW Public Sector Capability Framework applies to all NSW public sector employees. The Capability
Framework is available at www.psc.nsw.gov.au/capabilityframework
This role also utilises an occupation specific capability set which contains information from the Skills
Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). The capability set is available at
www.psc.nsw.gov.au/capabilityframework/ICT
Capability summary
Below is the full list of capabilities and the level required for this role. The capabilities in bold are the focus
capabilities for this role. Refer to the next section for further information about the focus capabilities.
NSW Public Sector Capability Framework
Capability Group
Capability Name
Level
Display Resilience and Courage
Adept
Act with Integrity
Adept
Manage Self
Adept
Value Diversity
Intermediate
Communicate Effectively
Advanced
Commit to Customer Service
Adept
Work Collaboratively
Adept
Influence and Negotiate
Advanced
Deliver Results
Adept
Plan and Prioritise
Adept
Think and Solve Problems
Advanced
Demonstrate Accountability
Adept
Finance
Adept
Technology
Adept
Procurement and Contract Management
Intermediate
Project Management
Adept
Manage and Develop People
Adept
Inspire Direction and Purpose
Intermediate
Optimise Business Outcomes
Intermediate
Manage Reform and Change
Intermediate
Role Description Principal Application Developer, Digital3
Occupation / profession specific capabilities
Capability Set
Category and Sub-category
Level and Code
Strategy and Architecture, Advice and Guidance, Technical Specialism
Level 5 - TECH
Development and Implementation, Systems Development, Systems Level 6 - DLMG
Development Management
Development and Implementation, Systems Development, Testing
Level 5 - TEST
Focus capabilities
The focus capabilities for the role are the capabilities in which occupants must demonstrate immediate
competence. The behavioural indicators provide examples of the types of behaviours that would be
expected at that level and should be reviewed in conjunction with the role’s key accountabilities.
NSW Public Sector Capability Framework
Group and Capability
Level
Behavioural Indicators
Personal Attributes
Adept
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Display Resilience and
Courage
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Relationships
Advanced
Communicate Effectively
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Results
Advanced
Think and Solve
Problems
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Business Enablers
Adept
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Technology
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Role Description Principal Application Developer, Digital4
Be flexible, show initiative and respond quickly when situations
change
Give frank and honest feedback/advice
Listen when ideas are challenged, seek to understand the nature
of the criticism and respond constructively
Raise and work through challenging issues and seek alternatives
Keep control of own emotions and stay calm under pressure and
in challenging situations
Present with credibility, engage varied audiences and test levels of
understanding
Translate technical and complex information concisely for diverse
audiences
Create opportunities for others to contribute to discussion and
debate
Actively listen and encourage others to contribute inputs
Adjust style and approach to optimise outcomes
Write fluently and persuasively in a range of styles and formats
Undertake objective, critical analysis to draw accurate conclusions
that recognise and manage contextual issues
Work through issues, weigh up alternatives and identify the most
effective solutions
Take account of the wider business context when considering
options to resolve issues
Explore a range of possibilities and creative alternatives to
contribute to systems, process and business improvements
Implement systems and processes that underpin high quality
research and analysis
Demonstrate a sound understanding of technology relevant to the
work unit, and identify and select the most appropriate technology
for assigned tasks
Identify opportunities to use a broad range of communications
technologies to deliver effective messages
NSW Public Sector Capability Framework
Group and Capability
Level
Behavioural Indicators
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Business Enablers
Adept
Project Management
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People Management
Adept
Manage and Develop
People
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Understand, act on and monitor compliance with information and
communications security and use policies
Identify ways to leverage the value of technology to achieve
team/unit outcomes, using the existing technology of the business
Support compliance with the records, information and knowledge
management requirements of the organisation
Prepare clear project proposals and define scope and goals in
measurable terms
Establish performance outcomes and measures for key project
goals, and define monitoring, reporting and communication
requirements
Prepare accurate estimates of costs and resources required for
more complex projects
Communicate the project strategy and its expected benefits to
others
Monitor the completion of project milestones against goals and
initiate amendments where necessary
Evaluate progress and identify improvements to inform future
projects
Define and clearly communicate roles and responsibilities to
achieve team/unit outcomes
Negotiate clear performance standards and monitor progress
Develop team/unit plans that take into account team capability,
strengths and opportunities for development
Provide regular constructive feedback to build on strengths and
achieve results
Address and resolve team and individual performance issues,
including unsatisfactory performance in a timely and effective way
Monitor and report on performance of team in line with established
performance development frameworks
Occupation specific capability set (Skills Framework for the Information Age – SFIA)
Category and
Sub-Category
Level and Code
Level Descriptions
Development and
Implementation
Level 6
Systems Development Management - Sets policy and standards for
solution development projects. Promotes the benefits of addressing all
security issues during solution development and ensures secure
development improvement practices. Identifies, proposes, and initiates
software process improvement activities within the organisation,
devising solutions. Takes action to exploit opportunities that will have a
measurable effect on process effectiveness, with associated benefits
to the business. Identifies and manages the resources necessary for
all stages (planning, estimation, execution) of solution development
projects, ensuring that technical, financial and quality targets are met.
Systems Development
DLMG
Role Description Principal Application Developer, Digital5