Head of Solution Development

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The Head of Solution Development will lead the software development and QA and Test teams, transforming and operating technology platforms underpinning critical internal and customer services which will work as part of cross-functional teams. You will be accountable for the technical expertise and running the "factory" of developers and testers.

Key Responsibilities:

Managing a team to deliver complex technology development and solutions that provide business value and meet customer requirements, encouraging team's use of innovative approaches and tools to solve high impact, complex problems.

Contribute proactively to the DDaT transition to high performing cross functional teams that drive business value.

Manage bi-modal solution development resources

Driving transformation to dev/ops and agile, driving maximum level of automation in the SDLC.

Develop and maintain teams of developers

Drive to cloud solutions

Bring operational and delivery teams closer together for shorter development cycles, faster deployments and more dependable releases

Ensure ways of working, standards and tools are consistently applied within practices, across product and delivery teams and are continuously reviewed and improved.

Develop frameworks for ensuring that all practices are mutually supportive and that all are appropriately represented.

Drive forward business discovery sessions to aid in the creation of t-shirt and planning estimates with regard to testing activities

Develop frameworks for the personal development of developers and QA and Test resources operating in those practices.

Recruit, manage and develop the solution development practice leads

Ensure that tooling, technology and culture within the practices are appropriate to support effective teams delivering high quality output in a timely manner.

Ensure continuous improvement of all relevant processes and tooling with a strong focus on automation, continuous integration and continuous delivery in order to improve the effectiveness of the development and test teams.

Establish a centralised QA and Test service focused on test strategy, test management, test data creation, test automation and service virtualisation and environment management

Key Skills and Experience:

Educated to degree level in an information technology discipline (or relevant experience)

Minimum 5 years' experience in a software development role including code source control. The role-holder will have broad technical experience, especially across new technology such as (but not exclusively) microservices, API, Java, open source, web services, Windows OS and strong experience of agile with the maturity to drive culture at Software Development Community level.

Strong stakeholder manager

Ability to work in a high pressure, deadline driven environment managing multiple priorities with a delivery track record (to time/budget/quality)

Experience of working with both Agile and Waterfall methodologies and practices

Previous experience of creating and leading multi-skilled (Software Development, QA, Test, User Interface) Development/ Engineering Teams to deliver the software required for technical change programmes, projects and small changes in line with business expectations

Significant experience of people management, including performance management and development

Financial management/budgeting experience