Senior Manager – IT Development Manager in London
Senior Manager – IT Development Manager

Senior Manager – IT Development Manager in London

London Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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RiverStone Management Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic software development team and drive IT modernisation projects.
  • Company: Join RiverStone International, a global leader in non-life insurance with over 25 years of expertise.
  • Benefits: Enjoy private medical cover, generous holiday, and a supportive work environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on innovative projects while developing your skills in a collaborative setting.
  • Qualifications: 10-15 years in software development, with strong leadership and technical skills.
  • Other info: Flexible working with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

RiverStone International is an established global non‑life run‑off insurance business specialist with more than 25 years of experience. Operating in the UK company and Lloyd’s of London markets, Bermuda, U.S., and Europe, RiverStone International has transacted a wide variety of deals – from insurance and reinsurance portfolio transfers to company purchases, acquiring over $17.7 billion of gross liabilities since 2010 and with around $6.4 billion of liabilities currently under management.

We’re looking for an IT Development Manager who will lead the core internal software development team across all of the technology stack and will be responsible for the build workstream of our IT modernisation project, known as Riva. This role arises at an exciting time, with the Group’s in‑house policy administration system undergoing a significant front‑end modernisation in partnership with the help of an external vendor, leveraging the existing Oracle back‑end. The vendor is supplying the majority of the React and C# .NET development capability for Project Riva, along with architecture and UX design expertise. In parallel, the RiverStone development team is working closely alongside the vendor and being upskilled in anticipation of the vendor involvement ending on completion of the programme.

The role will work closely with the Riva Programme Manager and will ensure the delivery of a high‑quality, secure and scalable application, aligned to the RiverStone target architecture, programme objectives and timelines. The role holder will have line management responsibility for developers, development leads and business analysts across multiple locations. They will set and enforce development standards and delivery methodologies and will ensure a controlled and effective transition of the solution into BAU. Given the collaborative delivery model, a critical aspect of the role is managing the relationship with the vendor delivery manager and ensuring strong technical governance, quality control and knowledge transfer throughout the programme.

Responsibilities

  • Delivery & Execution
    • Oversee the core development team workslate across the RiverStone development stack
    • Ensure the delivery of the Riva technical workstream to scope, cost and time as agreed with the Riva Programme Manager
    • Ensure effective integration between Riva, legacy platforms and external systems, with strong quality governance.
  • People & Vendor Management
    • Lead and manage the internal development team, driving performance, accountability and delivery discipline
    • Set and enforce development & quality standards, engineering practices and delivery methodologies
    • Manage the vendor relationship at a technical level, ensuring consistent quality, timely delivery and effective skills transfer to permanent staff during the Riva programme
    • Provide active coaching and mentoring to development team members and create an environment that encourages collaboration, open communication and continuous learning, as well as ensuring staff feel supported during an intensive delivery project
    • Support skills development and knowledge transfer to permanent staff
  • Architecture & Governance
    • Ensure delivery aligns with agreed architecture, design principles and security standards
    • Maintain control over code quality, non‑functional requirements and overall technical integrity of the solution
  • Stakeholder Engagement
    • Work closely with Product Owners, Programme Management and senior stakeholders to align delivery with business outcomes
    • Provide clear, timely reporting of progress, risks, dependencies and decisions
    • Coordinate across IT Operations, Data and Security to ensure production readiness
  • Change & Transition
    • Support testing, release planning and deployment into production
    • Ensure a controlled transition into BAU, including documentation, training and support handover
    • Establish post‑go‑live monitoring and handover arrangements to ensure stability and continuity

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related discipline
  • 10‑15 years of experience in software development within large, regulated organisations (ideally financial services or insurance) – at least 5 years’ experience in hands‑on development and at least 5 years’ in a Development Manager role
  • Strong foundational knowledge gained in hands‑on roles in development languages and development patterns
  • Strong experience working with SQL databases (Oracle is desirable)
  • Proven track record delivering complex system redevelopment or modernisation
  • Strong understanding of enterprise software engineering practices, including:
  • Cloud‑native and API‑driven architecture
  • CI/CD pipelines and DevOps tooling
  • Agile delivery
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple teams across geographies.
  • Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
  • Knowledge of React and C#.NET
  • Experience modernising or replacing legacy platforms.
  • Familiarity with core insurance systems, including London Market experience.
  • Working knowledge of data migration, API management and cloud integration patterns.
  • Experience of unstructured & structured data solutions, e.g. data warehouses
  • Benefits

    • Private Medical and Dental cover – Comprehensive Private Medical and Dental Insurance schemes with Bupa
    • Health and Wellness – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Headspace subscription, Mental Health First aiders at each site, up to five funded counselling sessions per year, annual health check‑up and eye test voucher
    • Wellbeing Allowance – Can be used towards either physical or mental health wellbeing activities
    • 25 days’ holiday per year – plus bank holidays and office closure on Christmas Eve. Holiday entitlement increases with length of service
    • Bonus scheme – dependent on achieving individual, department and company goals
    • Pension – a non‑contributory defined contribution pension scheme
    • Life Assurance – provides a lump sum 10 x your salary
    • Permanent Health Insurance Scheme – scheme pays benefits during a prolonged period of illness or disability lasting more than 26 weeks
    • Parental Leave – Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Shared Parental Leave policy
    • Training and development – Company funding for professional qualifications that would be beneficial for your role
    • Volunteering and charity – triple matching donations made independently or via our Give As You Earn scheme, and two paid volunteering days per year to help give back to our local communities
    • Cycle To Work Scheme – a tax efficient way to purchase a bicycle
    • Interest Free Travel Loan – to assist with commuting costs
    • Travel Insurance – business and personal travel
    • Sports and Social – active sports and social committee that organizes subsidised events

    Our standard working hours are from 09.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Full‑time employees are to be in the office for 3 days per week, with 2 days working from home.

    Senior Manager – IT Development Manager in London employer: RiverStone Management Limited

    RiverStone International is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a strong focus on collaboration, continuous learning, and a supportive work culture, team members benefit from comprehensive health coverage, generous holiday allowances, and opportunities for professional development. Located in a dynamic industry, RiverStone offers a unique chance to lead innovative IT projects while enjoying a balanced work-life environment.
    RiverStone Management Limited

    Contact Detail:

    RiverStone Management Limited Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Senior Manager – IT Development Manager in London

    Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might have insights into RiverStone International. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.

    Tip Number 2

    Prepare for the interview by diving deep into the company’s projects, especially the Riva programme. Show us you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about what we’re doing and how you can contribute.

    Tip Number 3

    Practice your technical skills! Brush up on your knowledge of React, C#.NET, and SQL databases. We want to see that you can walk the walk, so be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to our needs.

    Tip Number 4

    Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of the RiverStone team.

    We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager – IT Development Manager in London

    Software Development
    Team Leadership
    Vendor Management
    SQL Databases
    React
    C# .NET
    Cloud-native Architecture
    API-driven Architecture
    CI/CD Pipelines
    Agile Delivery
    Stakeholder Management
    Quality Governance
    Technical Integrity
    Data Migration
    Knowledge Transfer

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Manager – IT Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in software development, especially in regulated environments like financial services or insurance. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for RiverStone International. Mention your experience with modernising legacy systems and managing teams, and don’t forget to show your enthusiasm for the Riva project!

    Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Senior Manager, we need to see your leadership chops. In your application, share examples of how you've led teams, managed vendor relationships, and driven performance. We love a good story about coaching and mentoring too!

    Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you get all the updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at RiverStone International!

    How to prepare for a job interview at RiverStone Management Limited

    Know Your Tech Stack

    Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially React and C#.NET. Brush up on your knowledge of SQL databases, particularly Oracle, as this will be crucial for discussions around the Riva project.

    Showcase Your Leadership Skills

    As a Senior Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've managed development teams in the past, focusing on performance, accountability, and fostering collaboration. Highlight any experience you have with mentoring and coaching team members.

    Understand Vendor Management

    Since managing vendor relationships is key for this role, come prepared to discuss your experience working with external partners. Think about how you’ve ensured quality control and knowledge transfer in previous projects, and be ready to share specific strategies that worked for you.

    Align with Business Outcomes

    Be ready to talk about how you’ve aligned technical delivery with business goals in your past roles. Prepare to discuss your approach to stakeholder engagement and how you’ve communicated progress, risks, and dependencies effectively to senior management.

    Senior Manager – IT Development Manager in London
    RiverStone Management Limited
    Location: London
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