Two major roles have been advertised at the NSW Department of Family and Community Services – one for a general manager of technology services and a second for a director of ICT architecture and innovation. Meanwhile the Department of Education and Communities is seeking a Director of IT services and finance, reporting to the CIO, and commanding a $200,000 plus package.
The general manager technology services is a new role, and is seen as key to the success of NSW Businesslink which has been established as a dedicated provider of shared services to NSW Government agencies. The successful candidate will be required to “Drive the performance and professionalisation of the technology portfolio with a focus on transformation and innovation.”
As part of the June budget the NSW Government announced it was imposing a labour expense cap which was tipped to result in the loss of 10,000 public sector jobs – or even more, as no upper limit has been set - over the next four years. Despite the importance of ICT to the Government (it spends $2 billion a year on ICT) technology professionals have not been spared and some senior executives have already received letters advising them of the need to reapply for their positions.
A number are not expecting their contracts to be renewed as they believe the Government is now seeking a different skills-mix.
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As the Government transitions from an ownership model to more of a cloud based approach, and consolidates from 130 to two data centres, the skills mix is likely to require a considerable overhaul.
In an address last month, DFS Director General Michael Coutts-Trotter noted that the cap imposed on employee related expenses, including contractors would; “Further drive a change from building ICT and employing staff to defining a service, buying or commissioning it and managing a contract to see it delivered.”
DFS has itself needed a skills overhaul and in May listed four plum ICT jobs with salaries of more than $199,000 each.
The Department, which has carriage of the Government’s recently released ICT Strategy, sought a director of ICT services, a director of information, a director of strategy and a director of governance to report to the executive director of ICT policy in the department of finance and services.
