Software Development Manager

Role Purpose

The Software Development Manager is responsible for overseeing the software development process and ensuring that it is completed efficiently, effectively, and to the required quality standards. They manage the software development team, plan projects, allocate resources, and monitor team performance to ensure the successful delivery of software products.

Role Description 

Team Management:
• Manage and mentor the software development team, including recruiting, training, and development of team members.
• Set performance goals for the team and provide regular feedback to ensure they meet or exceed expectations.
• Foster a positive and collaborative team environment to increase productivity and ensure team satisfaction.
Project Management:
• Plan and prioritize software development projects, determine resources needed and allocate accordingly.
• Monitor project progress, identify and mitigate risks, and ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards.
• Ensure project goals align with the company's strategic objectives.
Technical Guidance:
• Stay up to date with new software development technologies and best practices, and ensure they are implemented in the development process.
• Provide technical guidance to the team, review code and architecture to ensure that it aligns with industry best practices.
• Collaborate with other managers to align development priorities with business objectives.
Communication:
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, other teams, and management to ensure the project is progressing as planned.
• Keep team members informed of project status, milestones, and issues.
• Maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications and experience

• Degree/Diploma in IT, Software Development, Information Systems, Computer Science or related field - (essential).
• +7 years’ experience as a Team Manager or similar role, with experience leading and managing the project teams’ delivery of system/software development solutions in a structured environment - (essential).
• Proven experience as a software development manager or equivalent leadership role.
• Expert level understanding of software development., including knowledge of software architecture, coding practices, and development methodologies.
• Solid project management skills, including experience with Agile development methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience in an agile environment, particularly delivering strategic roadmaps and owning specific agile events such as backlog refinement and sprint reviews – (essential).
• Experience applying agile analysis techniques for creating user stories and acceptance criteria – (essential).
• Experience leading and coaching a multi-disciplinary team whilst taking ownership for specific project outcomes – (essential).
• Solid experience in IT project management and design and development of software solutions for digital commerce - (essential).
• Solid understanding and experience of IT business analysis processes, collaboration, stakeholder, and supplier engagements to integrate business needs with IT solutions and whilst understanding holistic impact on the business its customers - (essential).
• Experience in a retail, commercial, or IT environment – (highly desired).
• Strong proficiency in Office 365 skills with a strong focus on project management, business analysis and presentation tools - (essential).
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

Key competencies and work ethic

• Strategic focus - Understands how an organisation must change in light of internal and external trends and influences. Keeps the big, long-range picture in mind. Builds a shared long-range organisational vision with others. Committed to course of action to achieve long-range goals and influences others to translate vision into action.
• Delivering results with a strong customer focus - Focuses on customer needs and satisfaction; sets high standards for quality and quantity; monitors and maintains quality and productivity; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals.
• Self-motivated & driven with strong integrity - take accountability for actions and mistakes.
• Strong leadership – a positive leader who serves the team and shows an appreciation for team morale and a healthy happy culture. Ability to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues; display a strong team spirit. Ensure that all individuals, team members, and stakeholders feel valued, motivated and equipped to deliver, develop and build a meaningful career.
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking - Keeps up to date with competitor information and market trends; identifies business opportunities for the organisation; maintains awareness of developments in the organisational structure and politics; demonstrates financial awareness; controls costs and thinks in terms of profit, loss and added value.
• Collaborative partnering – build relationships both internally and externally. Open, honest and direct, is comfortable in giving and receiving constructive feedback. Think and act independently as well as collaboratively.
• Change/Transformation Management - energized by working both independently and interdependently within the digital network and cross functions, motivated to work agile and being open to the change, collaborative effort of self-organizing cross-functional teams.
• Operational efficiency – someone who can spread themselves across multiple tasks simultaneously by working smartly, efficiently and effectively. Diligently staying on top of the details and understanding how they fit into the big picture.
• Strong project management, planning, and organization skills, including the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Time management - ability to prioritize a high volume of projects simultaneously in a fast-paced unpredictable environment. Identify the urgent & important tasks and priorities to ensure delivery to client and other stakeholders.

• Innovative and solution orientated – thinks outside of the box. Sound judgment, quick decision-making and the ability to generate both short- and long-term solutions that serve the flow of work and meeting deadlines. Technical expertise and the ability to question, understand and challenge technology and related software implementation decisions and priorities.
• Exceptional communicator - approachable, adopt a range of influencing and negotiation styles to facilitate and deal with challenges internally and externally.
• Presentations and reporting - ability to present complex ideas simply, communicate actionable analytical findings verbally, visually and in writing in an inspirational way to a non-technical and business audience. Synthesize information to develop recommendations, and ability to persuade/influence organization pursuit of the recommended path.

Our Group and all its operating companies is committed to creating, embracing, and preserving a diverse workplace that values the unique talents, perspectives, backgrounds, and abilities that enrich our organisation. A place where everyone matters and feels included.

We are committed to Employment Equity when recruiting internally and externally.

Please take note that by responding to this application and providing your personal information, you confirm your express and informed consent for Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd and all its subsidiaries and affiliates companies to process your personal information for the Company to consider your application for this position. All Personal Information which you provide to the Company will be used and/or retained only for the purposes for which it is collected, whereafter it will be permanently destroyed. Your information is only retained if it is required by law or where you have given consent to us to retain such information for an extended period.

If you don’t hear from us within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful. Any personal information collected as part of your application will be destroyed, securely, in accordance with South African legislation.