Summary
A head of frontend development is an expert practitioner with broad industry experience.
They are an expert in many technical areas, or specialists with very deep knowledge in a particular technical area.
At this role level, you will:
• define and assure best practice while influencing, leading and mentoring others
• influence and develop organisational strategy and priorities, collaborating with counterpart colleagues across government
• ensure the right conditions and environment for frontend developers to work effectively
• develop departmental capability by facilitating internal mobility, shaping career paths and recruiting talent
Background
| Description | Background |
|---|---|
| Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of socio-technical and organisational issues related to an organisation's use of information and communications technology. Is expert in the theory and practice of user-centred systems development. Is expert in the principles and application of ergonomics to IT systems, products and services. Is able to lead others in the implementation of human-system interfaces and the use of relevant tools, standards and techniques. Is expert in presenting technical issues, processes and solutions, both orally and in writing. | Prior Knowledge and Skills |
Work Activity Components
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Generative research (Level 6) | Champions user-centred design and secures organisational commitment to the significant involvement of users in research to achieve a deep understanding of their current and future needs. |
| User-centred design (Level 6) | Ensures that performance analysis data is combined with user research insights to better support design decision making. |
| Design, analysis and iterative development (Level 6) | Plans and leads user experience design activities for strategic, large and complex programmes. |
| Commitment and maturity (Level 6) | Obtains organisational commitment to policies, standards and strategies to deliver required usability, accessibility and security. Undertakes or initiates assessment of organisation's maturity in usability and accessibility, and takes appropriate follow-up action. |
| Content publishing (ICPM)(Level 6) | Develops the overall strategy for the delivery of information and knowledge, including preferred media, overall information structure, and rules for formatting content to meet the needs of the organisation and its desired audience(s). |
| Standards and strategies (ICPM)(Level 6) | Develops strategies for the delivery of support information, including preferred media, rules for format of content, frameworks for the overall information structure, and graphical style for substantial, complex or high-profile web sites. |
| Content assurance (Level 6) | Protects and defends published content, its providence and source information by defining content policies to ensure their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and non-repudiation. Ensures that these policies permit individuals to access only information and network facilities for which they are authorised. |
| Development needs (Level 5) | Determines development needs for a professional practice area. Aligns development activities with organisational priorities, learning and development strategies and career pathways. |
| Communities of practice (Level 5) | Promotes the establishment and ongoing development of one or more community of practice (CoP). Encourages participation and ensures alignment with organisational needs. |
Behavioural Skills
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Conceptual Thinking | Acquiring understanding and insights regarding the underlying issues in complex problems or situations through the development of abstract representations, the identification of patterns and the analysis of hypotheses. |
| Creativity | Taking innovative approaches to problem solving and/or devising inventive and creative solutions. |
| Organisational Awareness | Understanding the hierarchy and culture of own, customer, supplier and partner organisations and being able to identify the decision makers and influencers. |
| Interacting with People | Establishing relationships, contributing to an open culture and maintaining contacts with people from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Effective, approachable and sensitive communicator in different communities and cultures. Ability to adapt style and approach to meet the needs of different audiences. |
| Influence, Persuasion and Personal Impact | Conveying a level of confidence and professionalism when engaging with stakeholders, influencing positively and persuading others to take a specific course of action when not in a position of authority. |
| Leadership | Clearly articulating goals and objectives, and motivating and leading others towards their achievement. |
| Planning and Organisation | Determining a course of action by breaking it down into smaller steps and by planning and resourcing each of these, making allowance for potential problems and escalating if necessary. |
Technical Skills
| Title | Details | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Application Development Tools | Software tools which automate or assist part of the development process. | Proficient in |
| Database Software | Software that enables the user to capture, create, populate and manipulate data structures and where appropriate unstructured data. | Proficient in |
| Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) | Graphical human/computer interfaces that facilitate effective communication between human operator and computer. | Proficient in |
| Corporate, Industry and Professional Standards | Applying relevant standards, practices, codes, and assessment and certification programmes to the specific organisation or business domain. | Proficient in |
| Systems Ergonomics and Iterative Design | Iterative methods and techniques to allocate and optimise the division of functions between the human, machine and organisational elements of IT systems and the functions themselves in terms of ergonomic impact. Systematic and iterative design of the physical and cognitive interfaces to create an effective user experience in a software system, product or service with attention paid to variety of locations and access devices employed by users. | Expert in |
| Programming Languages | A set of codes and syntax (supported by software tools) that enables the unambiguous translation of specified functionality into source code for the creation of computer programs. | Proficient in |
| Graphic Design | The creation of graphical designs that are appealing to the viewer, appropriate to the material and the commissioning organisation and that project the desired 'presence'. | Expert in |
| Web Specifics | Knowledge of web specific file extensions, Web 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 and other latest standards/ practices. Use of multimedia and Active-X controls. Understanding of the nature of browsers and how to design cross-browser layouts. Effective knowledge of metadata (e.g. tags, XML) and related aspects of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). | Expert in |
| Information Architecture | Methods, techniques and technologies for ingesting, securing, processing and using data and information within and beyond an organisation. | Proficient in |
| Information and Data Visualisation/Presentation | The ability to visualise and present information and data in an appropriate format that helps stakeholders understand the significance of the information and data. | Expert in |
| Data Handling | The ability to harvest, clean, curate, manage, process and manipulate data in a variety of formats. | Proficient in |
Other Skills
| Title | Details | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Legislation | Relevant national and international legislation. | Proficient in |
| Techniques for Effective Meetings | Methods and techniques for running effective meetings and for understanding and influencing the roles played by participants. | Proficient in |
| Coaching Techniques | Methods and techniques for coaching individuals or groups by a balanced combination of support and direction, which could include use of virtual learning environments plus add-ons to augment feedback specific to work items, workflow or career plans. | Proficient in |
| Project Planning and Control Techniques | Methods and techniques associated with planning and monitoring progress of projects. | Proficient in |
| Organisational Brand and Culture | Knowledge and understanding of the brand image and personality of the organisation's products and/or services and the overall culture and personality of the work environment. | Expert in |
Training
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Own Organisation's Systems, Products and Services | Understanding of the organisation's systems, products and services to enable selling, support and development activities. |
| Advanced Documentation Tools and Techniques | Specialist techniques and tools used in the production of technical publications. |
| Latest Cyber Security Threats for Senior Execs | Short, high-level, up-to-date and to-the-point briefing on the latest threats and vulnerabilities in cyber security. |
| Data Management | Data management concepts, methods, tools and techniques relating to the planning, development, implementation, administration and curation of data. |
| Advanced Programming Methods and Techniques | Complex methods and techniques for the creation of program code. Typically for use in scientific calculation, for improving operational efficiency of programs or for enhancing the productivity of experienced programmers. |
| Financial Planning and Budgeting | Principles, regulations, procedures and tools for the financial management of both ongoing activities (business as usual) and time-bounded (project) activities. |
| Coaching | Concepts, methods and techniques for providing coaching in subject specialisms to individuals or groups (e.g. GROW model). |
| Mentoring | Methods and techniques for providing mentoring support to less experienced individuals. |
Professional Development Activity (PDA)
| Title | Details | PDA Group |
|---|---|---|
| Job Shadowing and Special Assignments | Undertaking temporary periods or secondments in other roles, particularly those that offer a new perspective on own function or exposure to other environments and cultures. | Broadening Activities |
| Project Assignments | Participating in a project team, working group or task force established to deliver a solution to a specific problem or issue - especially valuable if the group is inter-disciplinary. | Broadening Activities |
| Mentoring | Acting as a mentor, advising those for whom there is no direct responsibility, on matters to do with their job role, career and professional development. | Broadening Activities |
| Gaining Knowledge of Broader IT Issues | Increasing and maintaining currency of knowledge of broader IT issues through reading, attending and participating in seminars or conferences, special studies, temporary assignments etc. | Increasing Knowledge |
| Gaining Strategic Knowledge of Employing Organisation | Developing a comprehensive understanding of the business environment in which the employing organisation operates and its position, policies and direction in relation to health and care, country and global issues. | Increasing Knowledge |
| Gaining Knowledge of Standards and Legislation | Gaining and maintaining knowledge of relevant national and international standards and legislation. | Increasing Knowledge |
| Participation in Professional Body Affairs | Taking an active part in professional body affairs at branch, specialist group, committee or board level. | Participation in Professional Activities |
| Management Development | Undertaking learning and best practice of the skills appropriate to managing all or part of an organisation, including business and financial management, benefits management, people management, management of change and strategic planning. This will require both on and off the job learning and may include participation in an appropriate development programme such as MBA or DMS (Diploma in Management Studies). | Developing Professional Skills |
Organisational Skill Name and Description
| Framework | Skill | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Communicating information Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience. |
Expert Communicating information You can: mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels manage stakeholder expectations and host or moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Community collaboration (frontend developer) Collaboration in the DDaT Profession typically involves working in a multidisciplinary project team, and contributing to working groups and wider professional communities. It requires a broad understanding of the technologies, principles and perspectives of related professions. |
Expert Community collaboration (frontend developer) You can: solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Leadership and guidance (frontend developer) Leadership and guidance involves providing effective leadership and management through team motivation, decision making, risk management, mediation and professional development |
Expert Leadership and guidance (frontend developer) You can: change organisational structures to fixable and sustainable designs lead on the strategy for the whole organisation, marrying business needs with innovative analysis make and justify decisions characterised by high levels of risk, impact and complexity build consensus between organisations (private or public) or highly independent stakeholders solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level understand the psychology of a team and have strong mediation skills coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Programming and build (frontend developer) |
Expert Programming and build (frontend developer) You can: advise on the right way to apply standards and methods to ensure compliance provide technical advice to stakeholders and set team-based standards for programming tools and techniques collaborate with others when required to review specifications use specifications to build, test and document user interfaces of high complexity, using the appropriate standards and tools |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Prototyping Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design. |
Expert Prototyping You can: use a variety of prototyping methods share best practice and coach others look at strategic service design end to end |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Strategic thinking Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives. |
Expert Strategic thinking You can: lead the design and implementation of strategy, directing the evaluation of strategies and policies to ensure business requirements are being met |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Systems design (frontend developer) Systems design involves creating the specification and design of systems to meet defined business needs. |
Expert Systems design (frontend developer) You can: design systems characterised by high levels of risk and technical complexity manage and document technical complexity to make sure work is easily maintained and reusable select the appropriate standards, methods and tools, and make sure they are applied effectively ensure others follow relevant technical strategies, policies, standards and practices work with well understood technology and can identify appropriate patterns to make effective use of technologies’ best features |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Systems integration (frontend developer) Systems integration involves identifying points of connection between different systems and processes, or opportunities to combine them, and designing how the components communicate. |
Practitioner Systems integration (frontend developer) You can: define the static assets build co-ordinate all aspects of the integration and take responsibility for the tests around the user interface configure the part of the system that uses the network and test that it works as expected |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
User focus (frontend developer) User focus involves understanding the user needs to develop a detailed understanding of the problems that need to be solved. |
Practitioner User focus (frontend developer) You can: collaborate with user researchers and interaction designers to represent user needs internally explain the difference between user needs and the desires of the user. You champion user research to focus on all users effectively prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others to do so offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use |
| Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework |
Web performance optimisation Data preparation involves sorting and cleansing information so it's available for more detailed analysis. |
Expert Web performance optimisation You can: act as a recognised expert and advocate for web performance optimisation best practices coach and guide others actively collect data from various tools to monitor and fix web performance issues understand that poor web performance has a negative effect on user experience |
Qualification Components
| Title | Awarding Bodies |
|---|---|
| CDPA Certified Digital Persuasion Analyst | Human Factors International |
| FEDIP Leading Practitioner | The Federation for Informatics Professionals |
| Chartered IT Professional (CITP) | BCS The Chartered Institute for IT |
The Professional Body Responsible for this job family is BCS. This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus.