Development Manager

The Position

The Development Manager role is to provide leadership across technology, people and resource allocation. This is a role that needs someone that wants to be hands-on with their team and passionate about engineering excellence (including quality and security).

This role’s key accountability is to manage all development work undertaken for Auto and General Insurance and supporting systems, ensuring the development of solutions are completed within expected timeframes and of high quality plus secure.

This role is also responsible for the management and personal development of all developers within their remit. This is a leadership role requiring a natural mentor with a desire to nurture and grow an effective team. This role shares the architectural responsibility within their allocated area and has an important role to play in all development efforts undertaken within the department.

A&G runs a number of different delivery models, which means Development managers will need to lead work that is completed within teams directly under their reporting structure and also lead teams that fall part of relevant multi-function “Ring Fence Teams”. Accountabilities and responsibilities will apply to both teams, other than the HR items, which will only apply for direct team members

Your Role

Responsible for quality and secure code

• Ensure relevant development processes and standards are adhered to by their teams
• Embrace and deliver a "shift left" quality and security culture across their development teams
• Responsible for delivering code that is below, or at a minimum, meets accepted defect rates
• Responsible for meeting relevant security metrics around resolving and preventing vulnerability and pen test items.

Responsible for engineering excellence

• Drives their team to be passionate around engineering excellence
• Responsible for the AI adoption and effectiveness across their development teams
• Responsible for the relevant documentation, supportability and maintainability of their teams code and relevant platforms
• Contributes to relevant development frameworks
• Ensures their team meets or exceeds relevant development metrics and objectives. Plus where teams are not, working with their HoD, to set and execute clear plans to uplift the performance to the required standard in a timely manner.
• Leads their team to contribute and improve development of AI assets
• Coaches their team on their engineering skills and demonstrates uplift across their team
• Get hands on with the team to problem solve and where needed contribute to code
• Responsible for managing and maintaining relevant solutions/platforms, so that they meet performance and end of life requirements

Assist teams in finding a solution for technical and non-technical roadblocks

• Contribute to SDLC efficiency improvements and own the delivery of those improvements within the team.
• Assist in the development, planning and delivery of a portfolio of work for the team
• Support and uplift Technical and Non-technical competencies of the team
• Build strong, trusted relationships with business and customer groups and within the team
• Responsible for ensuring secure and scalable solutions are delivered that meet the business need
• Plan and lead technical fortnightly showcases
• Ensures burn charts are accurate and issues are identified early

People leadership - provide direction, leadership and support to a team of software developers

• Working with the developers to form and execute individual personal development plans
• Working with the developers to form and execute individual career plans
• Working with the Head of Development to facilitate required professional training
• Working with the Head of Development to develop and execute performance measurement tools (KPIs) for the development teams
• Actively encourage a team environment and knowledge sharing throughout the Development, Build and Technology teams.
• Actively promote inter-team collaboration and lead by example by fostering strong relationships with other teams within and external to Technology

Technology leadership - provide leadership in software development processes, continuous improvement in delivery processes and technical architecture

• Together with the Head of Development and Architecture Group, own relevant system architecture, along with frameworks/guidelines to allow their development teams to deliver a majority of work without Architecture support
• Together with the Head of Infrastructure own relevant system architecture, along with frameworks/guidelines to allow their development teams to deliver a majority of work without Architecture support
• Work with testing to embed and refine developer owned testing processes and frameworks
• Consistently review and improve the development processes in order to streamline the throughput of delivered work
• Ensuring the development team have appropriate supporting infrastructure to enable more effective delivery of work
• Ensuring that all development work performed leverages and conforms to the agreed technical architecture(s)
• Ensuring that all development work performed meets the Information Security Policy, current legislative and best practice security (e.g. PCI) requirements

Resource coordination/allocation

• Working with Agile delivery team, allocate personnel to work based upon the priorities set by the business and responsibility for the overall delivery of work to the required timeframe
• Management of planned leave, and contingency planning for unplanned leave
• Succession plans for key development skills
• Working with other Development Managers to allow resourcing requirements to "flex" across areas, where necessary
• Working with Developers to ensure any resource constraints are identified and reported in a timely manner
• Stakeholder management/communication for all development that occurs within their remit

Risk and Compliance

This role plays a vital part in ensuring A&G'S adherence to the stringent regulatory framework overseen by APRA. You will be responsible for:

• Understanding and interpreting APRA's prudential standards and guidelines, ensuring their effective implementation within the organisation.
• Identifying, assessing, and mitigating operational, financial, and reputational risks associated with the organisation's activities.
• Developing and maintaining a robust risk management framework, including policies, procedures, and controls.
• Monitoring and reporting on key risk indicators and compliance metrics to senior management and the Board.
• Collaborating with internal stakeholders to embed a strong risk and compliance culture across the organisation.
• Proactively identifying and responding to emerging risks and regulatory changes.
• Supporting the organisation in responding to APRA audits and examinations.

This role requires a strong understanding of risk management principles and a commitment to upholding the highest standards of compliance and operating within the standards of the A&G Code of Conduct. You will be a key contributor to A&G's success by ensuring its operations are conducted in a safe, sound, and responsible manner.

What experience you’ll bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Information Technology majoring in Software Development or equivalent industry experience.
• A minimum of 5 years management experience in a software development environment or equivalent, demonstrating a strong understanding of the software development life cycle
• Extensive experience leading enterprise-scale systems and solution design in alignment with established Architecture and Infrastructure guidelines
• Experience with AI development to accelerate delivery plus lift quality and security, both hands on and leading a team
• Proven commercial experience with Spec Driven Development and Config Driven Development
• Knowledge of relational databases, preferably MySQL
• Demonstrated experience in the use of Confluence and JIRA or similar tools
• Significant experience creating documents that are both technical and business focussed in nature
• People leadership skills and the ability to engage deeply with a diverse and large workforce
• Self motivated team player who is well organized, with effective communication and reporting skill;
• Effective problem solving skills and a strong "nonsense" filter
• Demonstrated time management and personal efficiency skills, with the ability to work well under pressure and to help others to do the same
• A good understanding and exposure to coaching techniques
• Effective relationship skills supporting a collaborative and trusting stakeholder engagement approach
• Familiarity with a number of standard SDLC's
• Influencing and collaboration skills
• Conceptual, analytical and problem solving skills, and a background of dealing with complex business models
• Experience in developing estimates and schedules for software development projects

Education and Experience required for the role includes:

• Minimum 3 years managing teams providing support to end users in application software.
• Strong understanding of SDLC and application deployment practices.
• Strong experience with Splunk, New Relic or similar support and workflow applications
• 2+ years managing development teams highly desirable
• Formal tertiary qualification in technology desirable with BSC or Development focus preferred.

Location

Close to a variety of public transport and easy parking options, the Toowong office has excellent end of trip facilities (including secure bike storage and showers), outdoor spaces and plenty of modern collaborative areas to work and connect with colleagues.

Conveniently based at Toowong Village tower with views of the mountains and the Brisbane River, our location is only 4 km from the city and provides access to retail, restaurants and other amenities.

The benefits of working at A&G

• Be rewarded - we recognise high performance and reward our people for their hard work through bonuses and other perks.
• Work flexibility - with options to work from home two days per week.
• Options for leave - life happens, so we’ve got volunteer days, an additional paid ‘ME’ day, paid parental leave and the opportunity to purchase additional leave to cover all of the big stuff.
• Grow with us - we’ve got learning and professional development opportunities to suit everyone.
• Give back - our A&G Difference program gives you the power to change our community for the better through volunteering, fundraising and donation opportunities for causes that you’re passionate about.
• Take care of yourself - your wellbeing is important to us and our healthy mind and body hub, mental-health support and fitness discounts will help you be your best self.
• Celebrate the wins - we love sharing our successes and celebrating together - join us and you’ve got a ticket to our many on-site events throughout the year, family fun days and annual celebrations.
• Save money - as well as discounts on insurance products, we’ve teamed up with some incredible retailers, hospitality providers and others to bring you discounts on your purchases, no matter where you are in Australia.

About us

Auto & General (A&G) is the fastest-growing major Motor and Home insurer in Australia, providing insurance products and solutions to safeguard a brighter future for our customers and community.

Our range of general insurance products including Car, Motorcycle, Home, Contents Pet and Travel products are delivered through our multi-award-winning brand Budget Direct and partnerships with leading brands - ING, Qantas, and Coles Insurance.

We’re excited about the future and we’re always on the lookout for talented, passionate individuals who can help us achieve our goal of being Australia’s best insurer! If this sounds like you, apply today.

Auto & General values individual differences and believes in fostering an inclusive culture that creates a great place to work for all.

*A note from Auto & General to recruitment agencies: We politely ask that you avoid making any approaches or sending any unsolicited resumes to our Recruitment Team or Hiring Leaders across our business. Auto & General is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.