Group Application Development Manager

Salary: £63,000 - 103,000 per year

Requirements:

• Proven experience leading and developing teams within a Software Development or IT environment, ideally within a retail organisation.
• 3-5 years management experience, with the ability to build high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring and clear direction.
• Strong understanding of software delivery, workflow management, prioritisation and managing competing demands based on risk, impact and urgency.
• Experience managing budgets, costs, resources and supplier relationships within an IT environment.
• Experience of managing risk, workloads and operational challenges through structured processes and frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels and build trusted relationships across the business.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach, with the ability to take ownership of issues, resolve complex problems and make timely decisions.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and delivering high-quality customer-focused services against agreed measures.
• The ability to manage challenging situations, negotiate effectively and resolve conflicts.
• Experience developing talent, identifying skills gaps and supporting recruitment, succession planning and team capability.
• A degree or equivalent in Computing, IT or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong knowledge of IT asset management, cost control and service delivery practices.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop our Group Software Development team, providing coaching, support and direction to build a high-performing function.
• Deliver our Application Development and Test roadmap, overseeing projects, enhancements, bug fixes and BAU requests to agreed quality standards and timescales.
• Act as the key point of contact for Software Development across DFS Group, managing demand, priorities and stakeholder relationships.
• Manage backlogs, sprints, workload planning and resource capacity to support effective delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement by simplifying processes, standardising ways of working and improving team efficiency.
• Ensure software development policies, procedures and standards align with industry best practice, security requirements and governance.
• Establish KPIs and reporting to monitor performance, delivery, capacity and risks.
• Manage third-party relationships and support effective service delivery.
• Coach and develop the team through training, succession planning and cross-skilling to build capability and resilience.
• Create a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement across the function.

Technologies:

• Support
• Marketing
• Security

More:

We are DFS Group, home to DFS, Sofology and The Sofa Delivery Company, and we help people create spaces they love to live in. Our Group functions across Finance, Technology, People, Marketing and Supply Chain provide the foundations that allow our brands to thrive, innovate and grow. We offer a structured induction, access to our online Learning Hub, leadership workshops, skills-based training and apprenticeship programmes. Our benefits include 25 days holiday plus the option to buy up to 5 more, car or cash allowance, annual bonus, enhanced parental leave, health cash plan, employee assistance support, pension with company contributions, life assurance, Sharesave, colleague discounts, retailer discounts, SmartTech, Cycle to Work, electric vehicle lease scheme and one paid volunteering day each year. We are an equal opportunities employer committed to building a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and supports different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.

last updated 38 week of 2026