Job Description

Main purpose

The Application Development Manager is responsible for overseeing the development, deployment and maintenance of the enterprise applications that support the organization's operations. This role ensures that the application development aligns with business objectives, complies with regulatory requirements and follows published standards and industry best practice. The manager will lead development teams, interact with stakeholders and ensure the delivery of high-quality, scalable and secure solutions.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Leadership

Define & implement the application development strategy in alignment with the defined enterprise architecture & organisational objectives
Lead, mentor and manage a team of technical leads & developers
Collaborate with senior management & cross-functional teams to define and execute the technical roadmap, prioritise projects & allocate resource effectively
Identify & mitigate for skills gaps within the development team

Project Management

Oversee the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) including requirement gathering, analysis, design, coding, testing, deployment and support
Ensure timely delivery of projects within scope and budget
Implement Agile, Scrum or other methodologies as appropriate

Technical Oversight

Drive the development, and optimization of our platforms, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security
Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies, evaluating their potential impact and relevance to our business
Partner with Product managers and stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions, driving alignment and execution
Implement best practices, processes, and tools to streamline development workflows and improve efficiency
Monitor and analyse platform performance metrics, identifying areas for optimization and improvement to enhance the customer experience
Ensure robust integration of applications with core systems (e.g. CRM, risk tools etc.)

Stakeholder Engagement

Act as the liaison between the business units, architects and the development teams to translate design & requirements into technical specification
Communicate project status, risks and issues to stakeholders in a timely fashion

Risk & Compliance

Ensure all applications adhere to regulations, data privacy laws & standards and internal policies (e.g. SOX, GDPR, POPI, PCI-DSS etc.)
Implement secure coding practices and ensure regular reviews are performed
Document all required Standard Operating Procedures
Implement all BNP procedures
Ensure a robust control plan is in place
Perform controls and provide results and evidence to the local OPC

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

Establish coding standards, code review practices and quality assurance protocols
Promote continuous integration/ continuous delivery (CI/CD) and automation testing practices
Identify areas for process improvement and drive the adoption of development best practices

Key competencies

Business Acumen
Communication Skills (oral and written)
Decision Making
Accountability
Ability to manage complexity
Ability to develop others & improve their skills
Creative Problem Solving
Adaptability
Leadership
Ability to inspire others & generate people's commitment
Continuous Improvement/Optimization

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Relevant IT / Computer Science certification / qualification
At least 10 years of software development experience, with 5 years in a leadership role
Proven experience in the financial service industry (banking, retail finance, insurance etc.)
Deep understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and best practices
Strong knowledge of programming languages (eg Java, C#, SQL, SSIS, SSRS); frameworks (.NET); relational databases (MS SQL sever); Source code Management (MS Teams Foundation server)
MS SharePoint & Active Batch highly advantageous