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- Tasks: Lead developer productivity initiatives and implement AI-powered tools for engineering teams.
- Company: Arbor Education transforms school operations, enhancing staff wellbeing and productivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days holiday, flexible working, wellness support, and a dedicated training budget.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team making a real impact in education while fostering a joyful work culture.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in developer productivity and expertise with Internal Developer Platforms required.
- Other info: Remote role with a commitment to diversity and equal opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
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At Arbor, we’re on a mission to transform the way schools work for the better.
We believe in a future of work in schools where being challenged doesn’t mean being burnt out and overworked. Where data guides progress without overwhelming staff. And where everyone working in a school is reminded why they got into education every day.
Our MIS and school management tools are already making a difference in over 7,000 schools and trusts. Giving time and power back to staff, turning data into clear, actionable insights, and supporting happier working days.
At the heart of our brand is a recognition that the challenges schools face today aren’t just about efficiency, outputs and productivity – but about creating happier working lives for the people who drive education everyday: the staff. We want to make schools more joyful places to work, as well as learn.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Head of Developer Productivity to join our Engineering team and help us design, implement, and own metrics-driven approaches to productivity; drive process and tooling improvements; and introduce an Internal Developer Platform (IDP) to enable engineers to deliver value quickly, consistently, and with high quality. The remit and focus of the role is to define and lead the strategy to improve engineering productivity, developer experience, and adoption of AI-powered tooling across Arbor’s product and platform teams. It’s a broad and exciting role, so we’re looking for someone up for a challenge – if you’re a highly technical and collaborative candidate, this is the role for you.
Core responsibilities
- AI Tooling & Process Integration
- Lead the adoption of AI-powered developer tools and embed AI-assisted workflows into engineering processes, collaborating with Engineering Managers and Tech Leads.
- Identify, pilot, and scale AI tooling to improve productivity, velocity, and code quality across teams.
- Productivity Metrics & Continuous Improvement
- Define and implement productivity metrics; develop dashboards and regular reporting for leadership and teams.
- Design and execute strategies to systematically improve developer productivity and flow.
- Identify sources of developer waste and remove bottlenecks through automation, better tooling, and process re-engineering.
- Developer Experience & Internal Platform
- Own the strategy and implementation of our Internal Developer Platform (IDP), likely Atlassian Compass, to provide self-service tooling, templates, and documentation for engineers.
- Develop and maintain a service catalogue within the IDP in partnership with the platform team.
- Build and maintain templates, frameworks, and tools for rapid, consistent bootstrapping of new services and components.
- Utilise the Atlassian platform to provide joined up developer experiences
- Partner closely with Platform Engineering to deliver foundational changes, before growing an autonomous DevX function.
- Advocate for a culture of continuous improvement, sharing best practices internally and externally.
- Over time, hire and lead a small team of Developer Experience (DevX) specialists.
- Accountability
- Be accountable for delivering a 12-month roadmap focused on measurable productivity gains through AI tooling adoption and platform improvements.
Requirements
About you
- Significant experience leading developer productivity, Developer Experience (DevX), or Platform Engineering initiatives in a SaaS environment.
- Proven expertise with Internal Developer Platforms (e.g., Atlassian Compass, Backstage, or similar) and experience implementing/operating IDPs at scale.
- Deep familiarity with developer productivity metrics (DORA, SPACE, custom frameworks) and using them to drive change.
- Demonstrable track record of introducing and scaling AI-assisted tooling within engineering workflows.
- Experience designing and delivering templates, developer tooling, and service catalogues.
- Strong technical background in software engineering (hands-on coding experience required).
- Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- SQL/BI experience (ideally with platforms like Snowflake) to query metrics and data
- Prior experience in EdTech or other regulated SaaS environments.
- Experience leading or managing small technical teams.
- Familiarity with modern DevOps, CI/CD, and cloud-native patterns (AWS preferred).
- Track record of driving change in organisations scaling from legacy processes to modern DevEx platforms.
What we offer
The chance to work alongside a team of hard-working, passionate people in a role where you’ll see the impact of your work everyday. We also offer:
- A dedicated wellbeing team who champion initiatives such as mindfulness, lunch n learns, manager training, mental health first aid training and much more!
- 32 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays). This is made up of 25 days annual leave plus 7 extra company wide days given over Easter, Summer & Christmas
- Life Assurance paid out at 3x annual salary
- Comprehensive wellness benefit provided by AIG Smart Health, which provides a 24/7 virtual GP service, Mental health support, Counselling, and personalised Health Checks
- Private Dental Insurance with Bupa
- Salary sacrifice Pension provided by Scottish Widows
- Enhanced maternity and adoption leave (20 weeks full pay) and paternity (6 weeks full pay) pay
- 5 free return to work maternity coaching sessions, helping you adapt to this new exciting time of life!
- Access to services such as Calm and Bippit (financial wellbeing coaching)
- All of our roles champion flexible working and we are happy to discuss what this means to you
- Social committees that plan team, office and company wide events to bring people together and celebrate success
- Volunteer with a charity of your choice for a day each year
- Dog friendly offices!
- Phone screen
- 1st stage
- 2nd stage
We are committed to a fair and comfortable recruitment process, so if you require any reasonable adjustments during your application or interview process, please reach out to a member of the team at (emailprotected) .
Our commitment is also backed by our partnership with Neurodiversity Consultancy, Lexxic who provide us with training, support and advice.
Arbor Education is an equal opportunities organisation
Our goal is for Arbor to be a workplace which represents, celebrates and supports people from all backgrounds, and which gives them the tools they need to thrive – whatever their ambitions may be so we support and promote diversity and equality, and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
Refer a friend
Know someone else who would be good for this role? You can refer a friend, family member or colleague, if they are offered a role with Arbor, we will say thank you with a voucher valued up to £200! Simply email: (emailprotected)
Please note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
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Head of Developer Productivity employer: Arbor Education
Contact Detail:
Arbor Education Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Developer Productivity
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest AI-powered developer tools and platforms, especially those related to Internal Developer Platforms like Atlassian Compass. Understanding these tools will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your proactive approach to improving developer productivity.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the EdTech and SaaS sectors, particularly those who have experience in developer productivity roles. Engaging in discussions on platforms like LinkedIn can provide insights into industry trends and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific metrics and frameworks you've used to measure developer productivity, such as DORA or SPACE. Being able to articulate how you've applied these metrics in past roles will showcase your expertise and strategic thinking.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Arbor Education's mission and values thoroughly. Tailoring your conversations during interviews to align with their goal of creating happier working lives in education will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the company.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Developer Productivity
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in developer productivity, AI tooling, and platform engineering. Use specific examples that demonstrate your expertise in these areas.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for improving developer experiences and how your background aligns with Arbor's mission. Mention any specific projects or achievements that showcase your ability to drive productivity improvements.
Highlight Technical Skills: Clearly outline your technical skills, especially those related to Internal Developer Platforms and AI-assisted tooling. Include any hands-on coding experience and familiarity with metrics like DORA and SPACE.
Showcase Leadership Experience: If you have experience leading cross-functional teams or managing small technical teams, make sure to highlight this. Discuss how you've influenced change and fostered a culture of continuous improvement in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arbor Education
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before your interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the Head of Developer Productivity role. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities, especially around AI tooling and developer experience. This will help you articulate how your skills align with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your hands-on coding experience and how it relates to improving developer productivity. Highlight any specific projects where you've successfully implemented Internal Developer Platforms or AI-assisted tooling.
✨Prepare for Metrics-Driven Discussions
Since the role involves defining productivity metrics, be ready to discuss your familiarity with frameworks like DORA and SPACE. Share examples of how you've used these metrics to drive change in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Collaboration Skills
The position requires influencing cross-functional teams without direct authority. Prepare examples that showcase your leadership style and how you've successfully collaborated with engineering managers and tech leads in the past.
