VP, Software Development

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting to the VP of Engineering, this role leads Enterprise Development, Product Development, and Development Operations. The VP of Enterprise Development oversees all development managers and is responsible for delivering technology solutions supporting the Farm Credit System. This role also leads AI adoption and innovation initiatives across the technology organization.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

·       Lead execution of technology strategy in alignment with business goals and market trends.

·       Manage cross-functional development teams to deliver scalable, secure solutions.

·       Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

·       Facilitate clear communication and alignment between technical teams and business stakeholders.

Product Development & Strategy

·       Lead product development, aligning business needs with technical capabilities and customer requirements.

·       Oversee the development and execution of product strategy, ensuring alignment with customer needs and market opportunities.

·       Drive product roadmap definition, prioritization, and tracking with business stakeholders.

·       Establish product management practices that deliver measurable business value.

·       Define KPIs to measure team performance and product success.

·       Collaborate with Product Development Lead to define and deliver innovative solutions, including credit scoring and loan management features.

Enterprise Application Development

·       Oversee design, development, and implementation of enterprise applications.

·       Lead software development teams using Agile and SAFe methodologies.

·       Ensure architectures support scalability, security, and maintainability.

·       Drive adoption of modern frameworks and cloud technologies including AWS, Node.js, React.js, Kubernetes, and Docker.

·       Lead research initiatives to identify emerging technologies and frameworks for product enhancement.

·       Work with teams to retrofit legacy systems with scalable, modern solutions.

·       Foster an Agile culture, ensuring efficient sprint planning, backlog prioritization, and iterative product development.

Development Operations

·       Optimize processes to reduce delivery timelines and increase product value.

·       Ensure products are delivered on time while meeting customer expectations.

AI & Innovation

·       Lead AI adoption strategy, identifying opportunities to leverage AI/ML for business outcomes.

·       Incorporate AI/ML technologies to enhance predictive analysis, including farm yield predictions and credit risk modeling.

·       Drive evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies.

·       Encourage the development of intellectual property, including patents and proprietary technologies.

Pre-Sales & Customer Engagement

·       Guide team members in developing proof of concepts (PoCs) and validating new product features.

·       Ensure technical requirements from customers are effectively translated into actionable development plans.

·       Oversee creation of pre-sales documentation, white papers, and presentations to communicate product value propositions.

·       Streamline intake processes with internal stakeholders to accelerate customer onboarding and Statements of Work (SOWs).

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

·       Represent the organization in industry conferences, customer meetings, and external engagements.

·       Monitor market trends, competitive products, and emerging opportunities to inform product strategy.

·       Champion a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration across product development and pre-sales teams.

·       Identify and implement process improvements to enhance team productivity and product quality.

·       Develop training programs to ensure technical and professional growth of team members.

·       Other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

·       Bachelor''s or Master''s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or relevant experience.

·       Typically, 15+ years in technology leadership, with at least 5 years in executive capacity.

·       Proven track record leading large-scale technology initiatives in financial services.

·       Strong expertise in Agile/SAFe methodologies, DevOps, and cloud computing.

·       Experience with product management and AI/ML technologies.

·       Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.

·       Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements in financial technology.

MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Oversee daily team operations to ensure alignment with organizational policies while facilitating effective communication, collaboration, continual improvement, and knowledge sharing within the team and across organization. 

• Provide clear direction, goals, and priorities to direct report(s) while mentoring them to enhance their skills and support their professional development 

• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that supports employee engagement. 

• Address conflicts with professionalism and fairness, serving as the first point of contact for employee(s) communication and escalating issues appropriately in collaboration with HR when necessary. 

• Ensure employee(s) adherence to organizational policies and procedures by promoting and modeling compliance with labor laws, workplace standards, and ethical practices in all people management activities. 

• Manage administrative responsibilities, including reviewing and approving weekly timecards, processing time-off requests, tracking compliance tasks, and supporting team adherence to organizational policies and deadlines. 

• Conduct performance reviews by setting and communicating clear expectations and objectives, monitoring performance against goals, providing continuous feedback, and addressing performance issues promptly and effectively. 

• Oversee talent management processes for reports, including hiring, termination, performance evaluations, and pay reviews, ensuring alignment with unit objectives and adherence to company policies and procedures. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

·       Ability to report to work in person and to attend work-related functions/activities.

·       Ability to work at a desk and use a computer for extended periods.

·       Ability to lift, carry, and move objects up to 10 pounds occasionally.

·       Ability to occasionally travel as required.

·       Ability to type and utilize various software programs efficiently and operate general office equipment.

·       Ability to work in an office setting with moderate noise levels.

·       Additional physical demands include, but may not be limited to, frequent talking or hearing, occasional push/pull, stoop/kneel, bend/twist, and reach to retrieve or move items in a typical office environment.

·       Must be able to work scheduled hours and overtime as needed.

·       Hybrid or remote work arrangements:

o   This role has been designated as a Remote role, which means the employee will work entirely offsite.

o   Exceptions to the designated work arrangement may be made based on business needs.

o   Please note that the Company retains the right to change a position’s designation at any time.

·       Ability to concentrate and focus on details when reviewing documents, analyzing data, and performing computer-based tasks.

·       Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining accuracy and efficiency.

·       Ability to problem-solve efficiently and make sound decisions.

·       Ability to manage job-related stress and interactions with clients, colleagues, or external parties.

·       Ability to communicate ideas clearly in both verbal and written form.

·       Ability to work with others in a collegial and collaborative manner.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their position.