Manager, Software Development

Foresters Financial Services, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 89,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Foresters Financial Services, Inc. seeks a Manager of Software Development to lead a team of developers, define development practices, and ensure quality and security of applications.

The role drives timely project delivery, coaching, and alignment with business requirements across the organization. Key work includes building a high-performing engineering organization, establishing modern standards, and delivering architecture-driven solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years managing software teams.
• 10+ years in object-oriented development and enterprise environments (Java preferred).
• Experience in web application development and security practices.
• Experience with API design and development.
• Knowledge of cloud technologies such as AWS/Azure, databases and big data.
• DevOps and CI/CD proficiency.
• Strong time and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day activities of the software development team with coaching and leadership.
• Build a high-performing engineering organization with modern standards.
• Define technology roadmaps and prioritize resources for projects.
• Ensure delivery, quality, security, and realistic schedules for systems.
• Communicate with application staff and management regularly.
• Document deliverables, schedules and progress reports.
• Collaborate with architects on design decisions and translate them into implementation details.
• Recruit staff and conduct performance evaluations.
• Lead and bring in modern software development methodologies and tools.

Skills

People management

Java experience

Web development

Security practices

API design

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Computer Engineering

Tools

AWS

Azure

CI/CD tools

Job description

Career Opportunity Role Title: Manager, Software Development

Purpose of role: The Manager, Software Development, will manage a team of Software Developers and define the Development Practice for Foresters Financial, utilizing their technical and software development experience. This role is accountable for the overall development, quality and security of applications, on‑time implementation of projects, coaching and mentoring the development team and addressing business requirements and expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day‑to‑day activities of the software development team, providing coaching, leadership, guidance and performance management as required.
• Build a high‑performing engineering organization, establish modern software engineering standards, improve delivery practices, and develop people.
• Provide strategic thought leadership, build technology roadmaps, address and remove obstacles for the team, prioritize resource allocation to projects and sustain production support.
• Establish and maintain open and appropriate communication with application staff and management.
• Document development deliverables, schedules and other necessary information, providing progress reports as required.
• Liaise with all relevant organizational departments to plan and execute projects, ensuring project scopes are accurately and adequately defined in relation to software development.
• Perform maintenance of programming for existing versions of the organization's software offerings.
• Ensure the functionality, performance, scalability, reliability, realistic implementation schedules and system architecture for each system.
• Actively participate in team meetings and offer recommendations and ideas on design projects.
• Actively participate in discussions on architecture and design decisions with architects and translate them into implementation details.
• Design, code, and test major features in collaboration with team members, design engineers, documentation specialists, application architects, and other members of the development and technical team to deliver complex changes.
• Recruit qualified staff and conduct performance evaluations.
• Bring leading‑edge software development methodologies, tools and technologies to the software development practice.
• Lead developers in addressing and resolving functional and non‑functional requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Minimum education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent discipline.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience managing application teams.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in an object‑oriented development and enterprise environment (Java preferred).
• Experience in web application development and good security practices.
• Experience with API design and development.
• Knowledge and experience with:
  • Cloud technologies such as AWS, Azure.
  • Relational/non‑relational databases and big data.
  • DevOps and CI/CD.
• Demonstrated time management, project management and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to various parties, including non‑technical members of the organization.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated collaborative work style with the ability to effectively collaborate and work with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to follow through and complete overlapping projects while adhering to strict deadlines.
• High level of critical and logical thinking, analysis, and/or reasoning to identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts.
• Excellent teamwork and team building skills with a proven ability to delegate.

Salary

Salary Range: $89,000.00 - $132,000.00. The actual base salary for this position will depend on several factors, including job-related skills, experience, and education. Eligible employees may participate in a discretionary variable incentive plan.

Equal Opportunity Employment and Inclusion

Equal Opportunity Employment and Inclusion – at Foresters Financial, we are committed to sustaining an equal opportunity environment for all job applicants. We embrace Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) as a core strategic objective for building strong, innovative teams in which all our employees can show up wholly and authentically as themselves. Foresters Financial strives to provide an accessible candidate experience for prospective employees with different abilities.