Head of Development

Spectrum IT Recruitment; Lower Blandford St Mary; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectrum IT Recruitment is seeking an experienced software development leader to shape engineering standards, strengthen delivery practices and build high-performing SaaS teams. You will lead managers and senior developers, aligning people development with operational effectiveness and technical decision-making across multiple workstreams.

As Head of Development, you will promote consistent standards, drive Agile delivery, and collaborate with senior tech leadership and customers to implement

Qualifications

• Five+ years of experience managing SaaS development teams.
• Experience delivering cloud-based products.
• Experience managing large enterprise customer implementations.
• People management across delivery and operations teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and customer communication skills.
• Practical knowledge of Agile delivery (Scrum & Kanban).
• Ability to balance commercial priorities with technical and team needs.
• Experience coaching technical leaders through complex delivery challenges.

Responsibilities

• Set and promote consistent development standards across the software function.
• Improve development processes and Agile delivery practices (Scrum and Kanban).
• Ensure Jira workflows support effective planning and delivery.
• Help teams achieve sprint and project objectives across multiple workstreams.
• Coach Development Managers and Senior Developers; develop leadership and problem-solving capabilities.
• Create an environment where developers and testers raise concerns and learn from outcomes.
• Work with customers and stakeholders to resolve issues and develop practical solutions.
• Represent the development function in senior customer and planning discussions.
• Collaborate with technology leadership on technologies, frameworks and architectural decisions.
• Lead recruitment for development roles from job definition to candidate selection.

Skills

People management

Stakeholder management

Agile delivery

Leadership

SaaS development

Tools

Jira

Job description

An opportunity for an experienced software development leader to shape engineering standards, strengthen delivery practices and build high-performing teams within a SaaS environment.

As Head of Development, you will lead managers and senior developers while improving how software is planned, built and delivered. You will work closely with delivery and technology leadership, balancing people development, operational effectiveness and technical decision-making across several concurrent workstreams.

Key Responsibilities

• Set and promote consistent development standards across the software function.
• Improve development processes and Agile delivery practices, including Scrum and Kanban.
• Ensure Jira workflows support effective planning and delivery.
• Help teams achieve sprint and project objectives across multiple workstreams.
• Coach Development Managers and Senior Developers, developing their leadership and problem-solving capabilities.
• Create an environment where developers and testers can raise concerns, take considered risks and learn from outcomes.
• Work directly with customers and stakeholders to resolve issues and develop practical solutions.
• Represent the development function in senior customer and planning discussions.
• Collaborate with technology leadership on technologies, frameworks and architectural decisions.
• Lead recruitment for development roles, from job definition through to candidate selection.

You will bring:

• At least five years' experience managing SaaS development teams.
• Experience delivering cloud-based products.
• Experience managing large enterprise customer implementations.
• People management experience across delivery and operational teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and customer communication skills.
• Practical knowledge of Agile delivery, including Scrum and Kanban.
• The ability to balance commercial priorities, technical considerations and team needs.
• Experience coaching technical leaders and guiding teams through complex delivery challenges