Job Purpose:

To drive the efficient development, enhancement, and support of both regional and global applications across our organization. You will oversee the complete lifecycle of application development projects, ensuring they align with business objectives, as well as provide robust support for global and regional applications. The role involves meticulous planning, communication, coordination, and a deep commitment to quality, standardization, and ongoing improvement.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Global Applications

- Lead global application rollouts and change management.

- Collaborate with the first-level support team during global application releases.

2. Regional Applications

- Manage regional application planning, development, and support.

- Collaborate with the first-level support team during regional application releases.

- Lead digital transformation efforts to enhance Kumon Office productivity.

- Implement and promote the adoption of digital solutions.

3. Team Building

- Plan and execute initiatives to enhance team capabilities.

- Provide mentorship, training, and performance evaluations.

4. Supporting and Leading Subsidiary ICT Members

- Guide subsidiary ICT members in following development governance.

- Conduct training, knowledge sharing, and performance monitoring.

Additional Tasks & Responsibilities (if applicable):

• Budget Management: Manage the budget for application development and support activities, including budget planning, cost control, and resource allocation.
• Vendor Management: Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and service level agreements for third-party vendors involved in application development or support.
• Quality Assurance: Implement and oversee quality assurance processes, including testing, code reviews, and performance evaluations, to ensure that applications meet quality standards.
• Risk Management: Identify and manage risks associated with application development and support, such as security vulnerabilities, data breaches, and compliance issues.
• Performance Metrics: Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the division's activities, ensuring continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder Communication: Establish clear communication channels with stakeholders, including business leaders, to understand their requirements, provide updates on project status, and gather feedback.
• Compliance and Security: Ensure that applications adhere to regulatory requirements and industry standards, with a focus on data security, privacy, and compliance with relevant laws.
• Technology Trends Research: Stay updated on emerging technologies and trends in application development and support to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Change Management: Comply change management processes to ensure smooth transitions during application updates, upgrades, or migrations.

Knowledge and Skills Requirements:

• IT and Software Development: A deep understanding of information technology and software development processes, methodologies, and best practices.
• Application Lifecycle Management: Knowledge of the complete application development lifecycle, including requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• Project Management: Proficiency in project management principles and methodologies to effectively plan, execute, and oversee projects.
• Quality Assurance and Testing: Understanding of quality assurance practices, including testing, code reviews, and quality control to ensure application reliability and performance.
• Security and Compliance: Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and compliance requirements relevant to the organization's industry and region.
• Vendor Management: Knowledge of vendor management processes, including contract negotiation, service level agreements, and performance monitoring.
• Business Analysis: Ability to gather and analyze business requirements to ensure that application development aligns with organizational goals.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact with team members, stakeholders, and vendors effectively.
• Problem Solving: Strong problem-solving skills to address complex issues, make decisions, and find innovative solutions.
• Team Building: Ability to build and manage high-performing teams, provide mentorship, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Technical Proficiency: A good understanding of the technologies and tools used in application development and support.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing technologies and business needs and implement necessary adjustments.

Credentials and Experience:

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or Business Administration
• 5-10 years of experience in a leadership role, such as a manager or team lead, overseeing application development and support teams
• Strong background in application development, including experience with various software development methodologies, programming languages, and technologies relevant to the organization's needs
• Proven experience in managing complex IT projects, including planning, execution, and delivery
• Experience in leading digital transformation initiatives, implementing digital solutions, and driving productivity enhancements through technology
• Demonstrated success in building and managing high-performing teams, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management
• Experience in managing third-party vendors and contracts for application development and support services
• Experience in aligning technology strategies with business objectives and developing long-term IT plans
• Experience in managing organizational change and facilitating smooth transitions during application updates and changes
• Proven ability to manage budgets and allocate resources effectively for application development and support initiatives
• Familiarity with industry-specific compliance requirements and experience in ensuring that applications meet security and regulatory standards
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, including senior management, business leaders, and technical teams
• Experience in identifying and mitigating risks associated with application development and support activities
• Demonstrated ability to identify areas for performance improvement and lead initiatives to optimize processes and increase efficiency
• Relevant certifications, such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), ITIL, or industry-specific certifications would be advantageous
• Experiences in managing Application development using low-code/no-code platform would be advantageous
• Familiarity with cloudnative architectures (Azure/AWS), CI/CD and DevSecOps would be advantageous

Special Requirements:

• Passion for Education: Embrace a genuine passion for the education sector, as your role involves overseeing the development and support of applications that impact educational processes and outcomes.
• Effective People Management: Apply strong people management skills to lead and guide your team, ensuring that they work efficiently to enhance the organization's application development and support capabilities.
• Proficient Project Management: Utilize proficient project management skills to oversee the entire lifecycle of application development projects, aligning them with the organization's educational objectives.
• Business Acumen: Possess a business acumen mindset, which is crucial for preparing business and financial-related proposals, providing a strategic advantage when aligning application development with the organization's financial goals and sustainability.