Sometimes also referred to as a Software Development Manager, it is up to the Head of Software Development to deliver and maintain a product that sets out to achieve the business goals of the company and/or client. In order to do so, the development team must be run with a clear direction and efficiency.
Head of Software Development job description
The Head of Software Development is required primarily to lead the software development team and set the team’s strategy.The Head of Software Development is also responsible for:Managing department budgets and resourcesBuilding and managing relationships with clients, vendors, and business unitsProject scoping, planning, and managementTalent recruitment and mentoringSome programming and design, as needed
What skills and qualifications should a Head of Software Development have?
A managerial role, the Head of Software Development should be highly skilled in leadership. Top notch candidates for this particular role are able to see the bigger picture and align development projects with clear business goals.While a tertiary education in computer science, software development and/or engineering, is recommended, it is not strictly necessary. Instead, Heads of Software Development should be able to demonstrate highly developed management skills, and have broad knowledge of software development, IT, and the product development lifecycle. Candidates with specific experience within a relevant industry would be a bonus.Other technical skills include:Relevant programming languagesExperience working with relevant development platformsWriting scriptsAutomation testingBudgeting and auditPerformance and department reviewsSoft skills should include:Leadership and mentoringDelegationProblem solvingCommunicationInterpersonalAbility to work under pressure/deadlinesTime managementOrganisation
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