Head of R&D

SDS is the leader in development software tailored to the housing industry, delivering market-leading solutions and consultancy services to optimise the development of both affordable and commercial homes. In the UK, our tools are valuable to those navigating the complexities of social housing, supporting local authorities, housing associations, and private developers in meeting the growing demand for council homes and other affordable options. 
 
Our software suite, designed by experts with deep experience in both the UK social housing sector and private markets, empowers you with enhanced control and visibility over your development program, ensuring efficient delivery and management of housing projects. 

The Role 

As the Head of Development, you will be the P&L owner for R&D, responsible for the commercialization of the product roadmap. This role includes managing embedded third-party software components, negotiating with suppliers, and overseeing cloud environments to support development and testing. 

You will occasionally support tender responses and deliver executive-level customer presentations, which may require travel. Additionally, you will take responsibility for special software delivery projects within the Professional Services (PS) or Managed Services (MS) teams as needed, ensuring accountability for project outcomes. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Business Planning 

• Strategic Contributions: 

• Develop and maintain long-term, annual, and quarterly goals for R&D, incorporating financial and non-financial objectives. 

• Plan for team succession and mitigate succession risks. 

• Operations Planning: 

• Prepare quarterly forecasts and long-term P&L projections for departmental review. 

• Investment Planning: 

• Create and update annual and quarterly product roadmaps with customer sponsorship and commitments. 

• Identify investment opportunities, aligned with customer needs, upon achieving Rule of 40 targets. 

• Talent Management: 

• Ensure cascading objectives are in place for all team members. 

• Develop high-potential talent to sustain growth and scalability. 

Operational Responsibilities 

• Roadmap Development: 

• Define and execute a strategic roadmap for product modernization aligned with the company’s vision. 

• Shape and execute the R&D strategy in collaboration with the CEO. 

• Make architecture decisions to ensure a stable, scalable, and modern product. 

• Technology Leadership: 

• Stay informed on emerging technologies and trends to drive continuous improvement. 

• Lead the R&D team in designing, developing, and deploying innovative solutions using cloud-native, AI, and serverless technologies. 

• Mentor and provide technical leadership to foster a culture of excellence. 

Operational Efficiency: 

• Maintain an optimized structure for SaaS revenue growth and product expansion using cost-effective resources. 

• Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle, ensuring quality and timely delivery. 

Collaboration and Compliance: 

• Work with internal teams to define roadmaps, features, and delivery schedules aligned with customer needs. 

• Ensure adherence to industry standards, security protocols, and quality assurance processes. 

• Build and maintain partnerships with vendors, partners, and clients to enhance competitiveness. 

Business & Financial Reporting: 

• Metrics and Reporting: 

• Track and publish key financial and non-financial metrics to support decision-making and problem-solving. 

• Present Quarterly Business Reviews. 

• Ensure departmental KPIs and OKRs are met consistently. 

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