Position Purpose

The purpose of this position is to manage and oversee the Application Development team by executing strategic plans that align with organizational goals and to manage the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC). This position is responsible for budgeting, resource optimization, and vendor relationships. The Senior Manager will lead and develop a high-performing team, foster innovation, implement best practices and maintain partnerships with stakeholders to translate business needs into effective technology solutions and to ensure effective project delivery.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Managing developers and their responsibilities related to software architecture strategy, initiating and supporting YRP’s goals, and aligning development practices with modern software engineering best-practices.
Overseeing daily application development operations, including monitoring application performance, managing code repositories, and overseeing deployment pipelines and production application health.
Training and development of the Application Development and Quality Assurance teams, encompassing the complement of up to 12 members. The role is responsible for building and leading a high-performing development team, including hiring and training personnel, delegating development tasks, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and technical excellence.
Establishing and maintaining relationships with external partners, such as other law enforcement agencies using similar software, software vendors, development contractors, and technology associations.
Software and Application Lifecycle Management, which includes the following phases:
Requirements and Planning: Conducting needs assessments with business units and procuring or planning the development of software solutions that align with organizational requirements and technological advancements.
Development and Deployment: Manage project teams that build, test, and deploy new applications and features, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.
Maintenance and Monitoring: Implement monitoring tools to track application performance and health, and proactively identify potential bugs or performance issues.
Upgrades and Modernization: Develop roadmaps for application enhancements or replacements to prevent technical debt and maintain operational efficiency.
Decommissioning and Data Archiving: Ensure the secure decommissioning of outdated applications and the proper archiving of their data.
Developing and implementing a comprehensive software and application architecture strategy that includes assessing current application capabilities, identifying areas for modernization, and planning for future technology needs. This involves ensuring high availability, scalability, and maintainability of custom-built applications, APIs, and integrated systems. This includes assessing the organization's cloud computing requirements for applications and implementing cloud-native or SaaS solutions where appropriate.
Evaluating and selecting vendors for software solutions and development services, and managing those vendor relationships. This includes negotiating contracts, monitoring service level agreements (SLAs), and ensuring the delivery of high-quality software and services. This also includes, but is not limited to, budgeting and resource allocation for software development projects, both capital and operating budgets. This involves analyzing costs, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and optimizing software investments to achieve maximum value.

Education, Licensing & Certifications

Successful completion of a four (4) year degree in Computer Science, Management of Information Systems or a related field such as Information Technology, Software Engineering, or Data Science, BCom.

Experience

Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in Information Technology, with a clear focus on the software development lifecycle. This must include a minimum of five (5) years in a Supervisory or Technical Lead role, with demonstrated experience leading development teams, overseeing software projects.

Skills

Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) preferred.
Solid experience in integrating project management methodologies into management practices to drive strategic initiatives within complex and diverse projects.
Experience leading technology transition and application upgrade projects, developing and implementing change management strategies to ensure smooth adoption of new software solutions by end-users.
Proven experience managing or supervising teams in application architecture, database design, and modern software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, DevOps).
Experience should include working with web and mobile application frameworks, API development, cloud-based application deployment models (e.g., SaaS, PaaS on Azure/AWS), and integrating with enterprise systems using technologies like Microsoft Active Directory and Entra ID for authentication.
Proven experience managing, leading, and mentoring a team of software developers, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
Demonstrated ability to lead the full lifecycle of software development projects, from requirements gathering and design to deployment and post-launch support, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Ability to develop and execute a strategic roadmap for the application portfolio, aligning project requirements, resourcing, and budget constraints with emerging technology trends and organizational goals.
Proven skills in evaluating, selecting, and managing relationships with software vendors, development contractors, and service providers, including contract negotiation and SLA monitoring.
Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and negotiate effectively using persuasive techniques.
Working knowledge and understanding of enterprise application architecture, including mobile application development, secure coding practices, and modern API standards.
Practical knowledge of modern application security principles, including secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) practices and the integration of security testing into the development pipeline.
Proven ability to develop and implement effective strategies to prioritize incoming development requests, manage technical debt, and align project requirements with the organization's strategic priorities.