Job Description
Position Overview:The Head of Development in a banking organization is responsible for leading the development team to design, build, and maintain the software and technology solutions required to support the bank’s digital transformation and business operations. This senior leadership role involves overseeing the development lifecycle, ensuring the delivery of high-quality banking applications, integrating new technologies, and aligning development processes with business goals. The role requires deep expertise in banking systems, software development practices, and managing large-scale development teams.Key Responsibilities: Leadership & Strategy: Lead and manage the development teams, including software developers, technical architects, and project managers, ensuring effective collaboration and high performance. Develop and implement the software development strategy aligned with the bank’s goals and digital transformation initiatives. Collaborate with executive leadership and business stakeholders to define the bank’s development roadmap and ensure alignment with overall business objectives. Banking Software Development: Oversee the design, development, and implementation of key banking applications, including core banking systems, payment platforms, mobile banking apps, and digital banking services. Ensure software solutions are secure, scalable, and compliant with banking industry standards, regulations, and security policies (e.g., PCI-DSS, SAMA, NCA). Implement development best practices to ensure high-quality code, efficient software architecture, and timely delivery of solutions. Project Management & Delivery: Manage multiple development projects simultaneously, ensuring that deadlines are met, and that deliverables are within budget and scope. Lead agile development teams, utilizing scrum or kanban methodologies to ensure iterative and continuous delivery of banking applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, business analysts, and IT infrastructure teams, to deliver integrated solutions. Establish clear KPIs and success metrics to measure the performance of development teams and project outcomes. Technology & Innovation: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and trends in the banking, fintech, and software development industries to ensure the bank’s technology solutions remain competitive. Evaluate and recommend new technologies, platforms, and tools to enhance development processes and improve product quality (e.g., cloud computing, AI, blockchain, machine learning). Lead initiatives to migrate legacy systems to modern, cloud-based, or microservices architecture to improve flexibility, scalability, and operational efficiency. Security & Compliance: Ensure all banking applications are developed in adherence to security standards, including data encryption, identity and access management (IAM), and secure coding practices. Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks like SAMA regulations, ISO 27001, GDPR, and other applicable local and international banking regulations. Conduct regular security assessments, including penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, to ensure application security. Team Development & Management: Lead recruitment efforts to build and maintain a highly skilled development team capable of delivering cutting-edge banking technology solutions. Provide mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities for team members to ensure continuous growth and a high level of expertise. Conduct regular performance reviews, set development goals, and foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Collaboration with Other Departments: Work closely with product management, operations, and security teams to ensure that banking applications align with business needs and industry requirements. Collaborate with the IT infrastructure and network teams to ensure the stability, performance, and scalability of applications and platforms. Coordinate with business analysts to understand business requirements and translate them into technical specifications and development plans. Client & Stakeholder Communication: Act as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders, both internal and external, regarding the development of banking applications. Provide regular updates to executive leadership on the progress of development projects, risks, and opportunities. Engage with clients (internal business units or external customers) to ensure the bank’s products meet user needs and expectations. Budget and Resource Management: Manage the development budget, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively across various projects. Implement cost-effective development practices without compromising quality or performance. Optimize the use of both internal and external resources to meet project deadlines and maximize output. Key Skills and Qualifications: Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field. A Master’s degree or MBA is a plus. Experience: At least 10 years of experience in software development, with 5+ years in leadership roles in the banking or financial services industry. Proven experience in agile software development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.), with the ability to manage and lead cross-functional teams. Hands-on experience with banking systems, such as core banking platforms, payment systems, and digital banking solutions. Experience in managing large-scale development projects and teams, with a track record of delivering high-quality software products. Strong experience in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), API integration, and modern development frameworks (e.g., Java, .NET, JavaScript). Technical Skills: Expertise in developing applications using modern programming languages (Java, C#, Python, etc.). Experience with database management systems (e.g., SQL, NoSQL, Oracle, MongoDB). Familiarity with microservices architecture, DevOps practices, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Knowledge of cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure) and cloud-based development (Serverless, Containers, Kubernetes). Security & Compliance Knowledge: Knowledge of banking and financial services regulations (e.g., SAMA, PCI-DSS, GDPR, ISO 27001). Strong understanding of software security best practices, including secure coding, data privacy, and identity management. Leadership & Soft Skills: Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage a diverse team. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with business leaders, clients, and team members. Ability to solve complex problems, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Desired Certifications: Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO). Project Management Professional (PMP). AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) (preferred for security-related roles).
