Head of Development

The role

Lead and oversee our team of software development leaders and developers to build scalable solutions, with a focus on the initiatives that are prioritised from the sponsoring business areas. This role encompasses an understanding and execution of a compliant software development lifecycle, fostering innovation, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality and reliable software solutions that align with business goals and our A&G technology vision and roadmaps.

This role can be based at our Toowong, North Lakes or Kawana offices.

Responsible for building and managing a proficient team, the Head of Development provides leadership, mentorship, and guidance to drive efficiency, foster a culture of collaboration, and promote excellence in software development practices.

Position accountabilities

Technology Delivery Leadership:

• Support delivery of business initiatives in alignment to our technology roadmap and the skills, resourcing, team composition and processes required to deliver on that vision.
• Contributor to Divisional Roadmaps for system & process transformations, including Insurance products.
• Ensure technical alignment across responsible business development teams, allowing for continued efficiency through our reusability and consolidation approaches.
• Engage in and contribute to priority conversations across business projects from a development capability perspective to align with our strategic initiatives and other deliverables.
• Act as a key Technology SME, providing input into your aligned divisional strategy on how technology can be leveraged best to achieve desired business outcomes.
• Ensure all business-led technical solutions meet compliance and risk standards.
• Manage incidents, root cause assessment and remediation within your area or in association with recently delivered solutions.
• Work collaboratively as a peer with Heads of every division that is part of the role's enablement function and delivery portfolio.
• Support and engage with HoDs and GMs within technology, providing input into strategic plans.
• Occasionally present or co-present with business counterparts on portfolio progress, challenges and/or proposals.

People Leadership:

• Lead by example, fostering a positive team culture and empowering individuals to develop, deliver and excel at their craft.
• Promote diversity, equity and inclusion, ensuring all team members feel valued and respected.
• Provide accomplished mentoring and coaching through guidance and feedback to support professional growth across all roles under your remit.
• Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and peer-to-peer mentorship within both your leadership and delivery teams.
• Develop the next line of leaders for our future as a conscious process of leadership and mentoring.

Stakeholder and Sponsor Engagement and Communication:

• Engage with various stakeholders, including GMs of business units, GMs of Development, and heads of different functional units (Architecture, Testing, Security, DevOps).
• Understand and align with sponsors' objectives and priorities, ensuring that solutions and deliverables correspond effectively to their strategic goals and desired outcomes.
• Communicate effectively, manage expectations and provide progress updates to stakeholders, ensuring alignment with delivery timelines and objectives.
• Provide input into steering committee packs and other organisational delivery reporting.

What experience you'll bring

• Broad and deep business domain knowledge required, working in partnership with respective business GMs within the role's remit.
• A high level of commercial acumen, essential for crafting effective solutions to address intricate business challenges and attaining optimal results.
• Deep understanding of industry best practices in software analysis, architecture, design and development.
• Strong ability to see patterns and solutions across multiple business verticals, allowing for increased collaboration and reduced silo behaviours.
• Extensive experience across multiple disciplines of an insurance business, with a strong focus on customer experience and outcomes.
• Competent design thinking and capability to align business objectives with fit-for-purpose solutions that also support the organisation's long-term technology roadmap.
• Strong decision-making skills, enabling autonomous operation within a predefined scope, while knowing when to seek guidance or collaborate with others.

Our perks

Location – Toowong, North Lakes or Kawana

• Toowong: Conveniently based at Toowong Village with city views, retail, restaurants, transport links and modern collaborative office spaces.
• North Lakes: Easy access north of Brisbane with plenty of parking, retail and family-friendly amenities nearby.
• Kawana: Just minutes from the Sunshine Coast beaches with a relaxed lifestyle and local café/retail options.

The benefits of working at A&G

• Be rewarded – we recognise high performance and reward our people for their hard work through bonuses and other perks.
• Work flexibility – with options to work from home one day per week.
• Options for leave – life happens, so we've got volunteer days, an additional paid 'ME' day, paid parental leave and the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Grow with us – learning and professional development opportunities to suit everyone.
• Give back – our A&G Difference program gives you the power to make a difference through volunteering, fundraising and donations.
• Take care of yourself – wellbeing hub, mental health support and fitness discounts.
• Celebrate the wins – on-site events, family fun days and annual celebrations.
• Save money – discounts on insurance products and from leading retailers and hospitality providers across Australia.

About us

Auto & General (A&G) is the fastest-growing major Motor and Home insurer in Australia, providing insurance products and solutions to safeguard a brighter future for our customers and community.

Our range of general insurance products – including Car, Motorcycle, Home, Contents, Pet and Travel – are delivered through our multi-award-winning brand Budget Direct and partnerships with ING, Qantas, Virgin Money and Coles Insurance.

We're excited about the future and always on the lookout for talented, passionate individuals who can help us achieve our goal of being Australia's best insurer If this sounds like you, apply today.

Auto & General values individual differences and believes in fostering an inclusive culture that creates a great place to work for all.

Note to recruitment agencies: Please avoid making approaches or sending unsolicited resumes to our Recruitment Team or Hiring Leaders. Auto & General is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.