Software Director

Overall Responsibility:

To manage all aspects of the software lifecycle and build a highly capable, but lean software team that you will lead; work with internal customers and a third-party software development team to build a cost-effective platform that can scale rapidly as well as maintain best-in-class systems that capture the business' product and operational requirements. This platform will need to be able to scale to support millions of customers across multiple countries as part of the company’s plan to expand beyond Kenya and provide internet connectivity to the underserved in Africa. 
    

Key SMART Results for A-Player Success

• Design, implement and operate all aspects of Poa's software development process to ensure that requirements are accurately captured, scheduled, and transitioned into high-quality implementation that meets business needs.
• Assume responsibility for all budgetary aspects of the software department - both internal and external. Ensure software is developed efficiently and cost-effectively, in line with Poa’s low operating cost business model.
• Design, hire and provide ongoing management of a small internal team of business analysts, systems analysts, quality controllers and project managers.
• Assist in the identification and contracting of a third-party outsourced software development partner. Once in place, manage all day-to-day aspects of the outsourced partner including scheduling, ensuring timely and quality delivery and budgetary adherence.
• Take overall responsibility for the management of the relationship between the software department and its key internal customers, the product and operational management teams.
• Build a strong relationship with the CTO. Understand (and contribute to) Poa's wider technology strategy including architecture, network, roadmap etc. Ensure that the software systems and development align with the company’s technology strategy.
• Run a project that will transition the company's existing systems to a new set of technologies to better support the company's rapid scaling. Use the project to transition utilising outsourced development and to train the software team on the company's systems and business model
• Ensure that the software department provides third line operational support for software related issues.
• Build a solid understanding of the company's wider commercial goals and strategies. Ensure that the company's software systems are built to support these goals. Proactively propose ways that
• software department and systems may be able to accelerate and support the company's mission
• Level of Management Experience required (Mandatory & Nice to Have)
• Mandatory - Senior Experience of full-stack development in a high-volume transaction processing environment, ideally within Telecommunications, Banking, Payments, or another applicable industry.
• Department stage of development where this role sits (starting, preparing for scale, scaling, mature)
• Prepare for Scale / Systemisation / Team Building / Growth

Key Competencies Criticality (H,M,L)

• Solid technical background. Good knowledge of state-of-the-art software development tools, processes, and methodologies -H
• Must have owned the software lifecycle, from end to end in a high-growth business. Had responsibility for delivery of large-scale complex software projects with multiple stakeholders -H
• Had full budgetary responsibility and experience of managing software teams -H
• Be able to communicate well with technical and non-technical staff -H
• Able to translate business concepts into technical concepts and vice versa -H
• Experience of managing 3rd party / outsourced software development -M
• Understanding of the telecommunications industry, business models and systems/platforms -M
• Experience of working in fast-paced and dynamic start-up environment -M
• Mandatory Criteria if Any (e.g. must have directly managed at least ten people) with no exceptions to hire.
• Technical background. Degree in computer science, software engineering, systems analysis or similar.
• Must have managed teams and held budgetary responsibility for the full software life cycle.
• Must have operated in a business with similar aspirational Values and DNA to Poa, to ensure cultural alignment.
• Must have worked in a fast-paced multi-cultural organisation.
• Must be willing to undertake international travel. If not based in Kenya must be willing to travel to East Africa and to travel to meet the outsourced developer.