Smart Solutions Development Director (priority for UAE Nationals)

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University seeks a Smart Solutions Development Director to lead a team delivering business and e-learning software, ensuring high availability, security, and user satisfaction.

You will collaborate with university stakeholders, plan strategic roadmaps, manage budgets, and promote best practices in cloud-native development while aligning with institutional goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or related field; master’s preferred.
• 7+ years in software development; at least 5 years in a management role.
• AWS Certification (Associate/Professional) and PMP; TOGAF is a plus.
• Expertise in cloud-native solutions, security, databases, and software delivery.
• Strong leadership, planning, budgeting, and stakeholder communication.
• Excellent English; Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise software development staff, including planning, performance evaluation, and problem resolution.
• Plan and manage departmental budgets, ensuring effective resource allocation and monitoring.
• Consult with university stakeholders to analyze, recommend, and implement software solutions for business, academic, research, and training needs.
• Anticipate future software requirement and develop strategic plans to meet evolving institutional needs.
• Ensure continuous availability, security, and usability of all applications through effective technology implementation.
• Adopt and promote best practices and world-class standards in software development and architecture.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation in software development processes and technologies, including cloud-native services.
• Ensure high levels of user satisfaction among learners, staff, and faculty.
• Implement and monitor Information Security Management System (ISMS) guidelines and ensure compliance with security standards.
• Collaborate with relevant committees and divisions to assess and mitigate information security risks.
• Ensure adherence to health and safety laws, regulations, and institutional policies.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Team management

Stakeholder communication

Cloud security

Problem solving

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer science

Master’s degree advantageous

Tools

AWS Certified

PMP

TOGAF (advantage)

Job description

Smart Solutions Development Director (priority for UAE Nationals)

About the Role

The Smart Solutions Development Director is responsible for leading a team of software development professionals focused on business and e-learning software application development, support, maintenance, database administration, and project management. This role ensures high levels of system availability, usability, security, and client service for the university. The Director routinely consults with university stakeholders to analyze, recommend, and implement software solutions that meet business, academic, research, and training needs. The position requires strategic planning, leadership, and continuous improvement of software development processes and technologies to deliver world-class solutions aligned with institutional goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise software development staff, including work allocation, training, performance evaluation, and problem resolution.
• Plan and manage departmental budgets, ensuring effective resource allocation and monitoring.
• Consult with university stakeholders to analyze, recommend, and implement software solutions for business, academic, research, and training needs.
• Anticipate future software solution requirements and develop strategic plans to meet evolving institutional needs.
• Ensure continuous availability, security, and usability of all applications through effective technology implementation.
• Adopt and promote best practices and world-class standards in software development and architecture.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation in software development processes and technologies, including cloud-native services.
• Ensure high levels of user satisfaction among learners, staff, and faculty.
• Implement and monitor Information Security Management System (ISMS) guidelines and ensure compliance with security standards.
• Collaborate with relevant committees and divisions to assess and mitigate information security risks.
• Ensure adherence to health and safety laws, regulations, and institutional policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or a related field from an accredited university; a master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant software development experience, including at least 5 years in a management position.
• AWS Certified Associate or Professional level certifications; PMP certification required; TOGAF certification is an advantage.
• Proven expertise in at least four of the following areas: native cloud solutions, application security, open source technologies, database technologies, business process modeling and automation, mobile software development, or software delivery solutions.
• Strong knowledge of software development architecture, e-business and e-learning solutions, and IT trends.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and project management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities.
• Effective communication skills in English; Arabic language proficiency is an advantage.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and provide operational guidance to technical teams.
• Demonstrated skills in planning, budgeting, and fiscal management, with a customer service-oriented approach.

About HBMSU

Established in 2002, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) is a pioneer of online and blended learning in the Middle East. Our mission is to lead the digital transformation of higher education by providing flexible, high quality academic programs that empower the next generation of innovators. We value excellence, lifelong learning, and a learner centric approach. Headquartered in Dubai, we are a global community dedicated to reshaping the future of education through technology and smart solutions.