Smart Solutions Development Director (UAE Nationals)

Position Overview

The Smart Solutions Development Director leads and manages a software development team focused on business and e-learning application development, maintenance, support, database management, and project oversight. The role is dedicated to ensuring high system availability, superior usability, robust security, and exceptional client service within the university environment. This position involves continual collaboration with university stakeholders to assess, recommend, and deploy software solutions addressing academic, administrative, research, and training requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead departmental staff by managing workload distribution, facilitating development and training initiatives, enforcing procedures and controls, and resolving operational issues. Evaluate performance and implement actions to enhance productivity and morale.
• Administer comprehensive planning and budgeting processes for the department, ensuring ongoing monitoring and assessment.
• Guarantee that software solutions fully address the university’s needs across e-learning, administration, academic, research, and training domains by consulting closely with stakeholders and delivering tailored technologies.
• Anticipate and strategize for future software solution demands of the university.
• Ensure uninterrupted 100% availability of all applications through implementing effective technological strategies.
• Adopt and promote world-class software development standards and continuously improve processes by integrating modern practices and innovations.
• Oversee the implementation of quality standards in every phase of software development while fostering continuous simplification and improvement of technology stacks.
• Maintain high user satisfaction levels among learners, faculty, and staff.
• Explore, recommend, and operationalize new technological approaches and processes to enhance service quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, including the incorporation of cloud-native services like RDS, serverless computing, and automated deployment.
• Implement Information Security Management System (ISMS) guidelines, adhering to best practices for application and data security, and promptly report security incidents to relevant authorities.
• Comply with applicable health and safety regulations and university policies.
• Supervise and ensure effective ISMS implementation across the unit, regularly evaluating information assets, access controls, risks, and working collaboratively with the Information Security Standing Committee and AIT division to uphold data integrity and confidentiality.

Qualifications and Experience

• This role is specifically open to UAE nationals.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in software development with at least 5 years in a managerial capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline from an accredited university.
• Possession of AWS certifications such as AWS Certified Associate and Professional levels.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• TOGAF certification is considered an advantage.
• A master's degree in a related field is a plus.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated expertise in at least four of the following: native cloud solutions, application security, open source software technologies, database technologies, business process modeling and automation, mobile application development, software delivery solutions.
• Strong understanding of software architecture best practices and development processes.
• Up-to-date knowledge of IT trends.
• Experience in e-business and e-learning solution delivery.
• Proven leadership and management capabilities.
• Competent in planning, budgeting, and fiscal management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with flexibility and a customer service orientation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within diverse groups and deliver operational guidance to technical teams.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency in English communication; Arabic language skills are advantageous.