Smart Solutions Development Director

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University is looking for a Smart Solutions Development Director to lead a team focused on business and e-learning software development. The role includes overseeing planning, managing budgets, ensuring application availability, and implementing best practices in software development.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, along with relevant certifications such as AWS Certified and PMP, and will have strong leadership qualities and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• 7 years of relevant software development experience, including 5 years in a management position.
• Proven expertise in multiple technical areas.
• Excellent communication skills in English, Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead the software development team for business and e-learning applications.
• Manage planning and budgeting for the department.
• Ensure availability and quality of applications.
• Implement best practices in software development.

Skills

Cloud solutions

Application security

Software delivery solution

Leadership skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or related field

AWS certifications

PMP certification

TOGAF certification

Master's degree in a related field

Job description

The Smart Solutions Development Director is responsible for leading a team of software development staff with focus on business and e-learning software application development, support, maintenance, database administration, and project management, with a mission to achieve high levels of system availability, usability, security, and client service for the university. Responsible for consulting routinely with the university stakeholders to analyze, recommend and implement software solutions for business, academic, research, and training needs.

Main Roles & Responsibilities

1. Oversee the supervision of department staff, including work allocation, development and training, enforcement of relevant procedures and controls, and problem resolution. Evaluate staff performance and take the needed actions to address any issues; motivate staff to achieve peak productivity and performance.
2. Ensure full responsibility for all planning and budgeting aspects of the department, including regular monitoring and assessment.
3. Ensure that university software solutions requirements and needs are met in all areas, including e-learning, administration, academia, research, and training. Consult routinely with university stakeholders to analyze, recommend, and implement software solutions they need.
4. Proactively anticipate university future needs for software solutions and plan accordingly.
5. Ensure 100% availability of all applications, by implementing the proper technology solutions.
6. Ensure world-class standards and best software development practices are adopted, and continuously introduce new ways to improve software development processes.
7. Ensure that software development quality standards and best practices are implemented for all stages of the software development process. Champion continuous improvement and simplification of technology and underpinning stacks.
8. Ensure high level of satisfaction among all users including learners, staff, and faculty, regarding the applications they use.
9. Continually explore, propose, and implement new approaches, technologies, and processes, to push the envelope and deliver more, better, and more cost-effective services to the university. Ensure the adoption of the cloud native services (RDS, serverless, auto deployment, etc.).
10. Implement all ISMS manual guidelines. Follow best practices for securing applications and data. Report any security related issues immediately to the management and to the ISM.
11. Adhere to relevant health and safety laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
12. Oversee, monitor, and ensure the effective implementation of Information Security Management System across the unit and periodically assess information assets and their classification, access privileges, controls, and associated risks and implement effective corrective actions and mitigation strategies in collaboration with Information Security Standing Committee and AIT division to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of university information assets.

Required Qualification & Skills

Professional Experience

7 years of relevant software development experience including 5 years of experience in a management position.

Education and Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or a related field from an accredited University.
• AWS certifications like AWS Certified Associate and Professional level certifications.
• PMP certification.
• TOGAF certification is an advantage.
• Master's degree in a related field is an advantage.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proven expertise in at least 4 of the following areas: native cloud solutions, application security, open source software technologies, database technologies, business process modelling and automation technologies, mobile software development, software delivery solution.
• Best practices in software development architecture and processes.
• Information technology trends.
• E-business and e-learning solutions.
• Leadership and management skills.
• Planning, budget preparation and fiscal management skills.
• Interpersonal skills, flexibility, and customer service orientation.
• Problem solving skills; analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to provide operational guidance and leadership to technical staff.
• Strong leadership, organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills in English language; Arabic language is an advantage.