Here Is Why Our IT Professionals Enjoy Working for the City

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

"Our organization has created a matrix structure that divides our work into Communities of Interest and Communities of Practice. I have been with the City for 11 years, and am a Community of Interest Manager and Coach in Information Technology. Working with team members in group settings and one-on-one coaching sessions, my role centers on the Communities of Interest that I provide oversight to. Some examples include Business Analysts, Project Managers, Emerging Technologies, Database and Storage, Architecture, and Telecommunications, to name a few."
—Jordan Hodges, Community of Interest Program Manager, Information Technology

"I have been with the City since August of 2010. As a Business Process Analyst, I'm responsible for the functional support for SAPHR, implementing functional requirements and maintenance support for the system."
—Ravi Narine, Business Process Analyst, Corporate Services, Information Technology

"When I started with the City, I did not expect to be here 29 years later. I am now a Program Manager and Coach for the Information Technology Branch. This is a new role for the organization, and I am currently building the program and managing 45 IT professionals. We have recently introduced a new matrix structure, and my role is to provide for the training and career development needs of employees, as well as performance-related feedback. I also look to the future needs of the organization to ensure that our skilled resources are trained and able to fill our needs."
—Dana Rees, Program Manager, Information Technology

"I've been working with the City for 9 years, and am part of the Infrastructure Applications Group that support Corporate Collaborative Technologies. This includes email, instant messaging, Citrix, digital faxing, email archiving, SharePoint, anti-spam, anti-virus, Thin Clients, and so forth. We are fortunate to be able to provide the technical support for these applications as well as the maintenance, upgrades and enhancements. We are also called upon to assist on various projects that require subject-matter experts, and that provides us with exposure to all sorts of different things."
—Helene Schulte, Systems Analyst I, Information Technology

SOME OF THE BEST REASONS TO JOIN US

"I joined the City because it's an opportunity for me to live my passion, and earn a good salary. I am also happy to be working with a leadership team that has a vision for the Branch. And I'm in an environment where management is interested in developing its employees in their chosen career paths."
—Ravi Narine, Business Process Analyst, Corporate Services, Information Technology

"The City of Edmonton has no end to its variety of work. You can shape your career through your experiences, as well as be a part of the solution that meets the needs of your neighbours, friends, and family."
—Dana Rees, Program Manager, Information Technology

"It's just that: a career. The City provides the ability for you to grow and advance in endless directions. Whether you always enjoy a new challenge or are happy with familiarity and consistency, the City can provide both of those, and everything in between. I think the City is a great place to make some very significant changes to the culture. We are working under entirely new direction and ideals. It's an exciting time here, and there are huge opportunities to build the culture from the ground up."
—Helene Schulte, Systems Analyst I, Information Technology

"Working with the City, you will be taken care of. I have personally enjoyed the care that the City as an employer has shown me. The pay is good, the work is interesting, and there are many opportunities for growth and challenge."
—Jordan Hodges, Community of Interest Program Manager, Information Technology

QUALITIES THAT DEFINE THE CITY AS AN EMPLOYER

"The City has the ability to provide work/life balance, lots of room for career development, and challenging work that touches the citizens of Edmonton. Our department offers a chance to experience a connection with your passion within a supportive, and innovative environment. The culture in the IT branch is currently evolving, with a large focus on matching employees with their passions and interests."
—Dana Rees, Program Manager, Information Technology

"Three qualities that define the City as an employer would be these: equal opportunities for everyone, long-term employment goals, and the ability to move between departments, if interested. Some qualities that best define IT at the City would be constant change, trust, accountability, freedom, excitement, family, opportunity, celebration and passion. You never get bored around here. We are slowly looking toward more cutting-edge technologies, and starting to network with all kinds of people throughout the country and the world."
—Helene Schulte, Systems Analyst I, Information Technology

"Three qualities would be empowered, supportive and innovative. Every day can be fun working for the City if you are passionate about your work. It's an environment in which you can learn and develop yourself in whatever career pathway you choose. The culture is very integrated and encourages learning at every level of the organization."
—Ravi Narine, Business Process Analyst, Corporate Services, Information Technology

"For the City, I would say these qualities apply: stable, reputable, and flexible. For the IT Department, these words come to mind: freedom, fulfillment and opportunity. The culture is one where we focus on aligning people with work that will be both rewarding and fulfilling. We try to create an environment where people want to try new things, and get out of their comfort zone. This kind of culture is essential for the City's IT branch to be a real leader in innovative technology solutions going forward."
—Jordan Hodges, Community of Interest Program Manager, Information Technology

WHY EDMONTON IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

"I have worked in various areas of IT here, and see that there are many different opportunities for learning new things across the different parts of IT, or even beyond that into the business areas. We are aware that we are responsible to the citizens for providing value for their tax dollars, and doing the best job that we possibly can is very important to us. My immediate colleagues take great pride in the knowledge that we hold about the systems we support and of the business areas that use them. My team is so diverse and supportive, I honestly feel that there's nothing we couldn't do together."
—Helene Schulte, Systems Analyst I, Information Technology

"It is an organization filled with possibilities. If you work hard and apply yourself, the possibilities are endless. I like the feeling of pride I get when I tell people what I do and who I work for. I enjoy the work, the people, the culture, the pay, the hours. There are so many excellent things happening at the City right now. Together, we are making Edmonton the place to be."
—Jordan Hodges, Community of Interest Program Manager, Information Technology

"The City of Edmonton is a great place to work because of its people, culture, and compensation and benefits. It offers the opportunity to grow as a professional in your chosen field. The benefits and compensation are on a par with the rest of the market. And it's an environment where you can learn and develop skills in other areas that interest you."
—Ravi Narine, Business Process Analyst, Corporate Services, Information Technology

"There are lots of opportunities to grow. If you have career goals, you will have the support needed to fulfill those goals. You are encouraged to try new things that interest you to enable you to find your true passion. Some of the advantages that keep me here are work/life balance, advancement opportunities, and a diverse work environment. I have been in nine different roles and seven different departments."
—Dana Rees, Program Manager, Information Technology

THE MOST REWARDING PART OF A CAREER HERE

"I have truly developed my career at the City of Edmonton due to great mentors and supportive leaders. I am now able to take all that I have learned through those people that touched my life in positive ways, and give back by making a positive difference for the people who now look to me for leadership."
—Dana Rees, Program Manager, Information Technology

"I find my biggest rewards in the successes of others. My current role as a Community of Interest Program Manager and Coach has me working closely with a number of IT professionals, helping them to progress in their careers and to feel a real sense of freedom and fulfillment. When I see the fruits of my labor in the successes of the people I've been supporting, I personally find that to be so satisfying. It makes all the hard work worth it. One of the recent highlights of my career has been my own transition from a techie to a manager of people. It has been dramatic and exciting."
—Jordan Hodges, Community of Interest Program Manager, Information Technology

"I think my most rewarding moments are yet to come with the City, as I'm excited about what the future may hold. However, leading up to now, I have had the opportunity to be on a couple of award-winning projects. One was for TTY, and we got the Mayor's Award for implementing a system that would allow TTY devices to connect and talk to all City departments. And just recently, a group that I was a part of put together a 'Working Alone' plan, and received an Occupational Health and Safety Award."
—Helene Schulte, Systems Analyst I, Information Technology

"I have only been with the City for a short time, but the most rewarding part thus far would be the ability to motivate others around me and be positive about the initiatives we're working on. Professionally, I'm happy to work with customers and help them to use the system in the most optimal way, and solve their problems."
—Ravi Narine, Business Process Analyst, Corporate Services, Information Technology