VP, Software Development

Neo Financial; Calgary; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative fintech company is seeking a VP of Software Development to lead a dynamic team in Calgary. This role is pivotal in shaping the future of financial technology in Canada, requiring a charismatic leader with extensive software development and management experience. The ideal candidate will drive the development of cutting-edge products that impact millions of Canadians, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. Join a fast-paced environment where your contributions will directly influence the company's success and help shape a rewarding financial future for all Canadians.

Benefits

Equity through stock options

Flexible work environment

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative team culture

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software development with 6+ years in leadership.
• Experience in mid-size or larger teams, preferably in fintech.

Responsibilities

• Lead the software development team and set clear goals.
• Create and implement talent strategies for attracting top talent.

Skills

Software Development

Leadership

Data-Driven Decision Making

Team Management

Talent Strategy

Emerging Technologies

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field

Master's Degree (preferred)

Job description

Join to apply for the VP, Software Development role at Neo Financial

Join us to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians

At Neo, we’re on a mission to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. Life at a rapidly expanding tech startup isn’t for everyone. It’s complex, fast-paced, high-pressure, but also incredibly fulfilling. Since its founding in 2019, Neo has gained incredible traction and is one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in Canada.

• #1 Fastest Growing Company in Canada for 2024 by Globe & Mail
• Deloitte’s Fast 50 in Canada Winner for 2023 and 2024
• LinkedIn’s Top Startup in Canada for 2022 and 2023
• Top-ranked mobile apps and credit cards
• Team of 700+ people
• 1M+ customers
• 10K+ retail partners

The Role

Neo Financial is looking for a full-time VP Software Development to join our team in Calgary and work directly with our founders and CTO. This is a rare opportunity to build products used by millions of Canadians, to get in the door at Canada’s fastest growing company and to lead the development of one of the most sophisticated fintech platforms on earth! A successful “VP Dev” at Neo is a charismatic, motivating, outgoing leader with proven expertise in management and in building software. We’re looking for someone proactive yet pragmatic, who takes initiative, manages multiple priorities, and is the benchmark for collaboration with other leaders.

What You'll Be Doing

• Share a clear vision for where our team and tech need to be 6 or 12 months from now, and install a work-backwards plan to get there.
• Be opinionated about how technology will be a differentiator for Neo - but also know when it’s not. Propose and navigate “build vs buy” and partnership decisions.
• Keep on top of emerging technologies and trends, assessing their value to Neo and constantly incorporating them into your vision and plans.
• Create talent strategy - not just day to day hiring tactics. Develop and refine strategies and channels for attracting, connecting to, and closing top talent.
• Look under the surface when there are problems to address the root cause, rather than reacting to symptoms.
• Take action on business updates or financial results; be accountable for lowering costs and ensuring software dev at Neo is maximizing the leverage of every dollar.
• Be passionately data-driven, hungering for data and pushing data-driven decision-making and prioritization down to your leaders and teams.

Engineering Leadership

• Manage a team of Director and Principal level reports, giving them clear goals and holding them accountable for the speed and quality of results.
• Proactively plan and then drive transformations to improve- changing not only what we do, but how we’re structured or how we operate.
• Manage the use of time across the department - organizing and aligning how everyone’s time is spent to match ever-changing goals and priorities.
• Raise the bar: add responsibilities, expect bigger things, shoot for the moon, and relentlessly turn tasks into challenges, goals into stretch-goals.
• Work effectively and collaboratively with our People/HR team, leveraging their skills and responsibilities proactively to achieve the best outcomes through a people lens.
• Understand the value of better process, governance, and standards, and be a driving force between maturing these areas if it helps Neo scale.
• Proactively improve the talent density of our teams through not only hiring but also measuring and managing performance, but also education, training and coaching.
• Be a wellspring of motivation and inspiration to others, through the example you set but also through your actions and how you connect with your colleagues.
• Be a builder of culture, and actively take responsibility for the culture, temperature, mentality, attitude, and behavior of all the software developers at Neo.
• Be a learner and teacher, bringing knowledge into Neo and then disseminating it to everyone. Anything you learn, make sure others learn it too.
• Show ownership beyond the quality or delivery of technology; be responsible for what our customers think, the value they get, and the business goals of the company.
• Realize software is not just built, it’s run. Ensure we’re operating our technology and systems well; take targets for reliability, security, or privacy seriously.

Who We Are Looking For

• Over 10 years on software development teams, with 6+ years applicable leadership experience, including building and working through a leadership team.
• History on mid-size (30+) or larger teams; scale-up experience also a plus.
• Enthusiasm for both 0 to 1 work, but also for taking a startup team from 1 to 100.
• Experience as a leader owning production software systems; background with highly regulated or complex industries (finance, health, etc) is a plus.
• Involvement in the tech ecosystem; you have a voice and have experience creating or participating in the communities and events of our industry.
• Appetite to lead from the front, and excitement to participate whenever and wherever necessary to help achieve your goals.
• Ambition to do big things, be the best, and tackle the hardest challenges.
• Located in (or willing to quickly relocate to) Calgary AB.

Working At Neo

The people who thrive at Neo are resourceful, growth-oriented, and driven to win. We hold ourselves to high standards because we’re on a mission that matters: to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. As individuals and as a team, we constantly challenge ourselves and each other to do our best work for our customers. Our commitment to customer success drives everything we do, from building intuitive products to providing exceptional support at every step of their journey. If this resonates with you, keep reading.

We trust, respect, and support each other. This means honest conversations, constructive input, and continuous support. You’ll be surrounded by people who push you to be your best. We primarily collaborate in person across our Calgary, Winnipeg, and Toronto offices. As we evolve rapidly, we’re looking for change-makers who thrive on challenge—people who would rather blaze a trail through uncertainty than follow a well-paved path.

All team members have a stake in Neo’s success and earn meaningful equity through stock options. This ownership mindset is at the heart of everything we do — when Neo grows, we all grow. If you’ve heard that Neo employees work hard, it’s true. We hold ourselves accountable for delivering on our commitments to our customers, partners, and each other. Working at Neo means taking ownership of your work and driving results, knowing that your contributions directly impact the company’s success.

Apply With Us

We believe in equal opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive climate where everyone can thrive. Customers trust us with their finances, so successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a security screening, including a criminal records check and a credit check.

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