At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of developers while actively coding and shaping new features.
- Company: Join a friendly tech team dedicated to empowering charities and churches.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, learning days, birthday off, and professional development.
- Other info: Hybrid role with excellent career growth and a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact by building software that supports communities across the UK.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in development, leadership experience, and strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 53000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid (3 days in our Solihull office per week)
Contact: 0121 651 11 25 careers@iknowchurch.co.uk
Salary: £53,000 - £60,000
Full Time: 8.30 - 17.00 Monday to Friday
Holidays: 26 days per year + Bank Holidays
About iKnow and Edit
Our iKnow and Edit platforms are trusted by thousands of organisations across the UK to help them communicate, stay organised, and support their mission. They range from small single location churches and charities up to charities with over £70m a year in income. Our software includes our Edit website builder and our iKnow admin software that is available in a number of different brands. This past year we have launched safeguarding software that we are told is market leading for managing concerns and checks. We want to continually build new features and support our growing customer base. At our heart, we’re a small, dedicated team who care deeply about creating tools that empower our charities to flourish.
Job Description
We’re looking for an experienced Development Manager who is a true all-rounder - someone who combines strong technical ability with excellent people skills, and who enjoys both leading a team and building software. This is a hands-on leadership role. You’ll guide our development team while continuing to contribute high-quality code yourself. You’ll play a key part in shaping the future of our platforms, maintaining high standards, and fostering a positive, collaborative team culture. As leader of our development team, you’ll work on our two major platforms:
- Edit - our website platform
- iKnow - our management, donations and safeguarding software with companion mobile app and contactless app
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading and supporting a small team of developers, helping them grow and do their best work
- Planning and shaping new features, from whole-team UI discussions through to task allocation
- Ensuring code reviews are thorough and maintain a high standard of quality
- Actively coding and contributing to the platform alongside the team
- Refining existing features and developing new modules that solve real customer problems
- Working closely with other teams to ensure our software meets the needs of churches and charities
- Being part of an on-call rota for urgent hosting or software availability issues
About You
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has at least 5 years’ experience in a commercial development environment
- Has previous leadership or management experience
- Is technically strong and comfortable remaining hands-on
- Has strong emotional intelligence and enjoys empowering and supporting others
- Cares deeply about software quality and user experience
- Is motivated by building products that make a meaningful difference
- Demonstrates a high level of integrity
Technical Environment
Our software is hosted on AWS, so experience with cloud-based hosting is essential. Our stack includes:
- PHP (Laravel)
- React
- Legacy system in CodeIgniter and jQuery (this still has some development but will be migrated to Laravel over time)
Why Work With Us?
Joining Edit means being part of a very friendly team committed not just to building software, but to serving churches and charities and helping them have greater impact in their communities. You’ll also enjoy:
- 1 Day per Month Dedicated to Learning - A paid Friday each month to explore new technologies, skills, or passion projects.
- Your Birthday Off - If it falls on a working day, it’s yours to enjoy.
- Subscription to Online Training - Access to professional learning resources.
- Complimentary Car Valet (Every 2 Months) - Professional car cleaning at our car park.
- Annual Eye Test - Plus a £49 contribution towards glasses if required.
Your work will support organisations across the UK, helping them communicate better, care for their contacts, and fulfil their mission. This role is Hybrid with 3 days per week based in our Solihull Office.
Software Development Manager employer: IKnow Church Software
As a leading software company dedicated to supporting charities, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees. With a hybrid work model, generous vacation days, and numerous opportunities for professional development, we ensure that our team members can thrive both personally and professionally while making a meaningful impact in the charity sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Development Manager
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at IKnow Church Software or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to IKnow Church Software.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like IKnow Church Software.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like IKnow Church Software that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at IKnow Church Software.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at IKnow Church Software and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at IKnow Church Software
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If IKnow Church Software uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
