Head of Software Development

The thing that makes your position so important in Equator, is that you are an experienced people manager capable of directing and motivating the development team to create better work than they thought they were capable of.

Main Responsibilities:

• Leadership
  • Develop close, trusting relationships with the Business Unit Leaders, senior team and other heads of department and ensure the principles of development excellence are integrated into our process and our output.
  • Create a model for success and quality within the team, ensuring that all team members understand their role and contribution to creating successful outcomes for our client and the business.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and trends to evolve and develop our service offering, utilising research activities as a mechanism to encourage innovative thinking within the team.
  • Establish a training plan to help key team members develop transformation consultancy skills.
  • Promote our services and capabilities through thought leadership outputs.
  • Ensure that the quality of the team outputs meets the brief, exceeds the client’s expectations and meets best practices at all times.
  • Present findings, insights and suggestions to company directors, other senior managers and/or clients when appropriate.
  • Discover and implement innovative ways to improve the way we work.
  • Motivate and drive the development team to succeed.
• Performance
  • Define, share, and monitor personal performance targets for all team members (quality, billability, adherence to estimates, etc).
  • Create and maintain a robust team structure that provides appropriate levels of oversight and support.
  • Ensure that appropriate tooling and processes are in place to deliver secure and robust solutions for our clients.
  • Work directly with our Compliance, Legal and IT teams to ensure issues and problems are escalated swiftly, for example; security incidents, breaches, and vulnerability management activities.
  • Plan, manage and support Disaster Recovery testing activities and reporting.
  • Ensure that appropriate actions are taken to maintain our departmental and business certifications (OWASP, ISO27001, ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001 and PCI-DSS).
  • Ensure that a department plan is in place to obtain partnership status as defined by our strategic roadmap and that all training requirements are obtained and refreshed.
  • Encourage and advocate ownership of outputs with an emphasis on efficient, timely delivery without compromising quality and security.
  • Adopt an ongoing evaluation of capabilities versus industry trends and ensure that appropriate training and certification is in place to ensure that our capabilities are current and competitive, for example, OWASP and Privacy by Design Principles.
  • Work with our operations and client-facing teams to understand forecasts and develop resource plans.
  • Ensure that appropriate recruitment, contractor, and partner programs are in place to meet capacity demands.
  • Work with Head of Compliance and Head of IT to ensure the maintenance of our Information Security Management System meets the expectations of the business and external stakeholders.
  • Monitor team annual leave to ensure that appropriate team capacity and capability is available to the business year-round.
  • Support Business Development in pre-sales and pitching.
  • Deliver maximum profitability by ensuring a high level of performance and quality.
• Management
  • Managing a team of 35 Software Engineers, Testers and Architects.
  • Mentor, motivate and support your team to reach their full potential.
  • Manage recruitment for your department with sign-off and support from the relevant Business Unit Leader.
  • Create Personal Development Plans for our team and support your team member to achieve these.
  • Conduct regular appraisals and one-to-ones with your direct reports.
  • Set clear, transparent measurable goals and objectives for your team that can be continuously reviewed throughout the year and at appraisal time.
  • Support your direct reports and Heads of Department on team management including appraisals, one-to-ones, objective setting and performance issues.
  • Develop the skills and expertise of your team in line with business objectives ensuring we strive for the best.
  • Ensure that all team members are completing daily timesheets.
  • Analyse team billability and productivity and ensure that designated targets are being met or exceeded.
  • Support our new business team through the pitch process by providing ballparks, proposal documents and presenting our capabilities to clients.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience in growing teams including extension and expansion to accommodate new capabilities and offerings.
• Proven track record in delivering transformative business systems to customers.
• Track record of reviewing and onboarding new technologies in line with strategic direction.
• Experience in growing and evolving department systems and processes with clear KPIs and outcomes.
• Quality focused approach including experience managing and evolving an integrated QA team.
• Experience dealing with senior stakeholders within business and with clients.
• Skills and experience to pitch to prospective clients.
• Team performance management experience - creating smart objectives for team members and department.

What's in it for you?

• We want a secure future for all our team. Join our Pension Scheme and 10% will be matched by us.
• Lots of holidays: 34 days holidays so we can all relax and enjoy our time off. Also, you get an extra day for every year you work (up to 5 extra days).
• Free Gym Membership: Exclusive membership to the hi-tech Village Gym, or a contribution to a gym of your choice.
• Free Private Healthcare: Every team member gets private healthcare, to make sure you get access to the best treatment.
• Mental health aware: We are passionate about mental health, so everyone gets access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave: We are a family-oriented company. Get enhanced maternity and paternity leave and a huge celebration when you bring in the baby!
• Daily Coffee, Friday Drinks and Mountains of Fruit: Fresh fruit, bottomless caffeine, and celebratory drinks every Friday for a week well done!
• The Best Social Scene: From summer BBQs on a private island on Loch Lomond to Christmas glamour there’s always something to look forward to.
• Long-term service rewards: The longer you stay, the more we celebrate you.

Application process

• The interview: This is a telephone or Teams call to chat about your experience and what the role looks like. It’s your chance to show us what makes you remarkable.
• The task: Take on a small task to let us see your skills in action. Once complete you’ll meet with up to 3 people from your team to discuss the task.
• Meet the team: Our culture is precious to us. So senior and externally facing roles involve an additional meeting with members of the board to ensure the candidate is a good fit for the business.
• You’re in! Now what?
• The Tour: Meet the team, tour the studios and learn how we work. We want you to feel comfortable, and you get to know a few people who can help you out.
• The induction: This dedicated induction with our People and Culture team will make sure you’re fully up to speed with your role and how to get things done.
• The first 3 months: We’ll help you put together a 3-month programme covering key competencies, support and learning outcomes to make sure you’re fully equipped to thrive.
• Get a Buddy: After the induction period, there will still be a lot of new things, so everyone new is paired with a Buddy, who will be your go-to for any questions you have!
• Ongoing support: Our people and culture team conduct regular welfare check-ins to ensure everything is working out the way you’d hoped and ensure you feel supported.
• Breakfast with the Founders: John, JJ and Garry are keen to have the chance to meet everyone that joins the team.