Head of Software Development

Overview

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the planning, design, implementation, testing, and delivery of software development projects.

This role is critical in managing a team of developers, ensuring adherence to best practices, standards, and methodologies in software development.

You’ll demonstrate experience in collaborating with various stakeholders, including product managers, customers, and senior management, to align software development projects with business goals and expectations.

Additionally, this role is pivotal in identifying opportunities for process improvement and addressing new business requirements through the development of effective software solutions.

Main Accountabilities :

• Establish the vision, strategy, and roadmaps for the software development projects and share them with the team and other stakeholders.
• Work with peers in the IT Management team to keep the Technology Strategy updated, including the applications roadmap and translating it to key business stakeholders in simple terms.
• Create strategic and tactical solutions for complex problems to fulfil business requirements.
• Be the subject matter expert for all of ’s application estate (both internally developed and 3rd party provided), including how they interface and the processes they underpin.
• Manage the development and operation of the robotic processing programme of development, delivering process automation and efficiency improvements across the business.
• Distribute resources, set priorities, and assign tasks to the software developers and track their progress and performance.
• Stay informed with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in software development and adopt them as appropriate.
• Adopt artificial intelligence where appropriate
• Co-own and maintain the technical design authority, ensuring that all application designs align to it.
• Work with lender clients on relevant solutions.
• Manage and own relationships with external providers.
• Ensures all solutions adhere to and LSL’s information security standards, including security by design.
• Ensures solutions are adequately handed over to the IT Operations team in order that the solutions can be smoothly transitioned into production.
• Being an ambassador for the IT Department.

Knowledge, Expertise and Qualifications :

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Proficient in one or more programming languages, such as Java, React, Python; and skilled in using various tools and platforms for software development, such as Git, GitHub, Azure DevOps.
• Strong data engineering skill exposure including Azure ADF, Postgres and SQL Server; including experience of cloud platform and tools.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills with a strong intellectual curiosity.
• Passionate about software development and eager to learn new skills and technologies.
• Models and cultivates behaviours that achieve business success, including collaboration, accountability, and ownership;

whilst showing ability to work under pressure, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines.

• Relentless commitment to authentic relationships and continuous improvement of those relationships.
• Strong experience of managing the full software development lifecycle of projects is essential.
• Strong application architectural skills including good experience of technical design authority principles.
• Excellent experience of working with and managing 3rd party suppliers, with experience of using 3rd party development resources.
• Ability to generate good quality metrics and being able to clearly articulate business value.
• Knowledgeable in various software development methodologies, such as agile, waterfall, or scrum.
• IOS application development is highly desirable
• Ideally a good working knowledge of AI principles, concepts, and techniques, such as supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, natural language processing, computer vision, and deep learning.

Experience & Qualifications :

• A degree or higher in computer science, software engineering, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years of experience in leading software development teams and projects.
• Good working knowledge of ITIL framework
• Experience of TOGAF is desirable

Reward & Benefits

• Career progression opportunities
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Share schemes (SAYE & BAYE)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity
• HSF, subsidised health fund
• Private healthcare, Critical illness cover and Health assessments via salary sacrifice
• Life assurance
• Wellbeing support - subsidised gym membership - cycle to work scheme - health assured employee assistance scheme
• Dental insurance - subsidised
• Discounted mortgage advice, estate agency fees and home surveys
• Cycle to work scheme
• Charitable giving scheme

About us

The UK’s number one residential surveying brand, Chartered Surveyors and Walker Fraser Steele have been providing property risk expertise and residential surveying services for over 35 years.

We are the trusted partner for a variety of stakeholders ranging from high street mortgage lenders and building society’s to national landlords and equity release brands.

Every 12 seconds, one of our 600 RICS accredited surveyors completes a property inspection from Land’s End to John O’Groats and across Northern Ireland.

Apply

If you feel you match our requirements and are looking for your next career chapter, or for a confidential discussion on the full details of this role please contact Matthew Siddons;

alternatively apply with your CV and covering letter for a quick response.

We're part of the LSL Property Services Group PLC, which includes household names Your Move and Reeds Rains as well as the mortgage network PRIMIS.

LSL Property Services are dedicated to protecting your data - our Recruitment Private notice can be viewed HERE.

PRE EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - All of our employees have to pass a Criminal Records Disclosure and Credit Referencing Process in order to work with our lender clients, if you are unsure on this, ask the team and we'll be happy to explain the process.