Director of Software Development

Position: Head of Department
Division: Information Technology
Level: Director
Department: Software Development & Integration
Reporting to: Chief Technology Officer
Units: Software & Apps Development / Integration & Support

Job Summary
The Director of Software Development & Integration Department is a senior leadership position with the primary responsibility of overseeing and managing the department's units. This department comprises two vital units: "Software & Apps Development" and "Integration & Support." The Director plays a pivotal role in driving the organization's technology strategy, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring the seamless operation of all systems and applications. The selected candidate reports directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and plays a crucial role in aligning IT strategies with the overall business objectives. The role combines strategic thinking, leadership, and technical expertise to drive innovation and contribute to the company's overall success.

The Director of Software Development & Integration Department is responsible for not only leading and empowering the developers and integration team but also for effectively managing vendor relationships
to ensure that the organization leverages technology solutions and services to their fullest potential.
These responsibilities are critical for the department's success in delivering high-quality software solutions and maintaining efficient operations. In fact, the Director of department must encompass the leadership
and guidance of a diverse group of IT team members, including software developers, systems integrators,
support specialists, and project managers. This role involves setting clear performance expectations, promoting collaboration, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture of innovation. Effective team management is essential for optimizing project outcomes, ensuring seamless integration of systems, and
driving continuous improvement within the department, all in alignment with the organization's strategic goals. In other hand, by overseeing the vendor management process in a comprehensive manner, the
Director of Software Development & Integration Department ensures that ZainCash Softwares vendors relationships are effective, efficient, and aligned with the organization goals. This approach encompasses
various aspects, including change management, cost control, quality assurance, and timely deliveries, to maximize the value derived from vendor partnerships.

I. Key Responsibilities and Duties
       Leadership and Strategy

• Develop and execute the Software Development & Integration department's strategic plan in alignment with the company's overall business goals.
•  Provide visionary leadership to Unit 1 (Software & Apps Development) and Unit 2 (Integration &Support) teams.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Collaborate with other departments and business units to understand their technology needs and provide solutions that enhance their operations, this is by acting as a technology advisor to senior leadership and business units, translating business requirements into technology strategies.
  
  Project Management
•  Oversee and prioritize the projects within the department, and ensure they are completed on time and within budget.
•  Collaborate closely with project managers, ensuring that projects are well-defined, on schedule, and within budget.
•  Mitigate project risks and issues, making data-driven decisions to maintain project momentum.
•  Develop and manage the department budget, ensuring efficient resource allocation and cost control.
  
  Departments Teams/Units Management
•  Lead, mentor, and manage diverse team members, including software developers, systems integrators, and production support officers.
•  Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that encourages creativity, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing.
•  Set clear performance expectations of the team, conduct regular performance reviews, and develop individualized growth plans for team members to enhance their skills and career progression.
•  Facilitate effective communication and collaboration within the department, ensuring that team members work cohesively to achieve departmental goals.
•  Establish a talent acquisition and retention strategy, including recruitment, onboarding, and talent development.
• Direct the development and maintenance of software applications that align with business requirements.
• Ensure the adoption of best practices in software development, coding standards, and quality assurance.
• Manage the integration of systems and applications, ensuring seamless data flow and system interoperability.
• Provide technical support and ensure the timely resolution of issues and service requests.
• Vendor Management
• Ensure that the Software vendors relationships are efficient and are managed effectively to deliver valuable software solutions and aligned with the organization goals.
• Encompass various management aspects to maximize the value derived from vendor partnerships including change requests management, cost control, timely deliveries, and quality assurance.
• Assess the effectiveness of vendor relationships by monitoring vendor performance, adherence to SLAs, and cost-effectiveness.
• Security and Compliance
• Implement and enforce IT security policies, procedures, and best practices to protect the organization's data and assets.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and deliver regular reports to the CTO and company Management on the department's performance, project status, and key metrics.

II. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Project Delivery Timeliness and Integration Success Rate.
• Quality of Software, System Downtime, Innovation Rate and Customer Satisfaction.
• Team Productivity, Resource Development and Utilization.
• Budget Adherence, Cost Savings and Organization Strategic Alignment.
• Compliance and Security.
• Update of IT and Management knowledge.
• Acting with precision, method, and rigor
• Collaborate, Communicate, Be creative.
• Discipline and Punctuality
• Embody the corporate culture.
  
  

III. Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field (masters degree preferred).
• A proven track record of successful leadership in a senior IT management role, ideally with at least 8-10 years of experience.
• Demonstrated project management and budget management skills.
• Experience in software development, integration, and support.
• Strong understanding of software development best practices, emerging technologies, and industry trends.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Knowledge of IT security and compliance. Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, ITIL, CISSP) are a plus.

IV. Qualifications

• Good level of English writing is a must.
• Good listener, ability to work among various skills and knowledge teams.
• Ready to extensively work in a demanding environment 24/7.
• Consistent experience in implementation, integration and testing of web and mobile applications.
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask while keeping focus on main company goals.
• Maintain a level of knowledge that is useful and necessary to meet the challenges of its activity.