Software Development Manager

Key purpose:

Responsible for developing a technology development strategy that support the companys objectives and Technology strategy. Accountable for the delivery of complex solutions and leads a team of Developers who design develop test and document applications.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Accountable for the development and implementation of a Technical Implementation strategy and tactical plans aligned with the corporate strategy and goals.
• Lead the development planning and implementation of a functional Technology Development Strategy aligned to the Technology strategy and Roadmap.
• Outline Development projects identified budgets and plans according to market industry and business trends.
• Deliver a roadmap aligned with set budgets resourcing requirements market industry and business trends.
• Examine market trends and leading market best practices in automation and digitisation and to drive ICT transformation.
• Submit forwardlooking solutions to unmet and unrealised business needs positioning SBV as innovative and a trailblazer in the industry.
• Understand and review business processes to improve core development activities from design to release.
• Deliver innovation with new ideas and technology keeping up with the latest methodologies for software development and looking into software that is AI and machine learning enabled to improve the quality of coding and reduce testing and debugging times.
• Plan and manage all services and functionality related to systems development in the context of projects and operations.
• Monitor ongoing Technology Development strategies to maintain that the company delivers quality and excellence through robust testing and balanced policies appropriate to the project scope.
• Develop processes team structures and capabilities for technology implementation such as managing change agile software development and rapid deployment.
• Analyse existing and historical systems identify gaps and propose changes to adapt to the new design considering database structures code structures and code repositories.
• Support project teams with technical documentation and plans including detailed work breakdown structures.
• In accordance with the company Technology Development strategy review proposed software improvements and upgrades.
• Effectively manage project timelines including the scope and budget constraints and perform forecasting where necessary.
• Establish manage and define development standards for robust flexible and stable solutions.
• Work with crossfunctional resources to develop and approve highlevel delivery plans based on objectives for various software development projects.
• Develop database schemas with integrity and scalability and optimise the performance and security of data access layers.
• Accountable for the design development release management and improvement of company technology products.
• Enable and support improvement and development projects.
• Support technology and methodology decisions throughout the team including reusable code base development versions of software tools best practices source control and deployment.
• Develop futureproof reusable shared core code libraries that can be applied to artificial intelligence and machine learning and drive further efficiency throughout the team.
• Establish a tactical plan that the team can follow collaboratively and improve products processes and knowledge sharing in the company.
• Designing prototypes and presenting them for approval to the business.
• Establish and implement custom code base platform definitions and implementations using the software development life cycle (SDLC).
• Strategically decide whether the company can inherit or support existing or legacy code bases and how the company will manage the increasing demand for software support.
• Manage the release of software upgrades enhancements and fixes on a targeted schedule for the company clients.
• Provide support and assistance to the team so that projects enhancements and support are executed smoothly.
• Design evaluate and monitor the deployment of all technical web and mobile services according to approved strategic plans and timelines.
• Develop maintain and update documents such as program specifications impact analyses functional designs technical specifications system specifications and entity relationship models.
• Manage the implementation and compliance with the relevant methodology based on company strategy and best practices.
• Managing and resolving critical support issues as quickly as possible by putting in place the correct process and escalation.
• Conduct independent code reviews of all development work and report on the results.
• Responsible for presenting designs and prototypes for business approval.
• Approve functional and technical specifications and test cases based on sound governance principles and company strategic objectives.
• Responsible for maintaining the quality and uptime of the production systems.
• Manages the quality and technical approach taken by team members verifying that code is developed in accordance with quality and coding conventions and assures ontime and onbudget delivery of projects.
• Define quality criteria and testing methodologies/approaches based on best practices for all software and applications and look at ways to introduce or improve the use of artificial intelligence in developing test scenarios so that bugs can be detected and data can be generated for functional and exploratory testing.
• Maintain the integrity and structure of the code and drive efficiencies by adopting automated testing approaches based on AI models.
• Manage and coordinate the application of software security principles during the development integration and testing of a program or project.
• Keep up to date with the latest data protection and security threats within ones area of expertise working with the Head of Information Security to safeguard company systems and applications.
• Analyse the risks and threats associated with applications and systems and determine the appropriate action to control and/or minimise those risks or threats.
• Maintain clean audit results by conducting monthly selfassessments based on defined internal controls anticipating and documenting risks and reporting on gaps and mitigation activities.
• Maintain compliance with POPI Act requirements and data management privacy regulations.
• Establish a common understanding of the interventions to resolve audit issues by presenting at different customer forums how the application performs.
• Submit weekly and monthly management and status report on the applications performance in accordance with selected Business Unit metrics and requirements.
• Develop business cases that outline alternative solutions to existing applications and assist the business in making the right choice.
• Facilitate communication across business units identify change management interventions and timelines from the projects perspective and present the project status to the steering committee.
• Manage the relationship between company and vendors to meet service expectations.
• Manage the integration of vendor deliverables by tracking and reviewing vendor performance.
• Implement good governance by confirming that SLAs with clients and service providers are in place including contracts for information technology resources i.e. hardware software human resources etc.
• Where necessary source an appropriate vendor after conceptual design.
• Provide technical guidance and support to Project and Programme Managers for smooth interfacing between vendors internal designers and business units
• Address all system challenges escalations from the Service Delivery team to the vendor and confirm that they are resolved or that enhancements align with business requirements.
• Enhance stakeholder engagement to address issues improve relations and provide information on the project status.
• Accountable for the preparation of the operating and capital expenditure budgets.
• Participate in all technical quotes analyses and specifications for accuracy and risk management.
• Manage the budget in accordance with the financial parameters and standards of the projects/programmes.
• Manages the effective use of the departments resources to improve organisational productivity and delivery.
• Provide Subject Matter Expertise in critical support issues where your experience is required to ascertain the issue quickly and to find the more appropriate resolution.
• On a monthly basis manage the headcount in accordance with company principles and policies including notifying HR of team cancellations new business and new initiatives.
• Manage recruitment performance management training career development programs succession planning resource planning and HR processes across the team.
• Lead and manage employees endtoend performance management process inspire and encourage your team to deliver on key performance areas and provide the necessary support coaching and training.
• Manage and lead the Talent Management Process within ones area of responsibility to create value for high value contributors.
• Comply with company Human Resources/Employee Relations policies and procedures and applicable Labour Laws.
• Drive employee training and development maintaining that employees are provided with refresher courses in conjunction with the Training Academy.
• Draw up and conduct disciplinary hearings in accordance with labour law statutory requirements and company ER policies and procedures.
• Provide continuity during times of change by serving as a change management architect.
• Manage the integration of development into a seamless endtoend customer experience.
• Communicate and embed new processes and procedures effectively addressing or escalating concerns to SMEs.
• Communicate consistently and accurately across ones area by facilitating presentations workshops or forums.
• Inspire confidence and generate excitement enthusiasm and commitment to the departments values.
• Support transformation and BBBEE initiatives for sustainable alignment with the companys scorecard.
• Lead employees to the creation of a winning culture and a high morale environment in the organisation.

Qualifications and experience:

• 8 years experience in software development which includes
• 5 years of senior management experience
• 3 years managing projects in a technology environment
• Significant experience in the design of bespoke software solutions at both architectural and implementation
• Bachelors degree in Information Technology Computer Science Engineering or related discipline required
• Certification in relevant Enterprise Architecture or Technology frameworks and methodologies (Advantageous)
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of advanced ICT project management principles (e.g. Agile Waterfall)
• Understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• A strong technical background in applications processes software and equipment or technical management experience