Group Application Development Manager

Job Type: Permanent Job Sector:
Management Region:
Yorkshire

Location:

Doncaster Salary

Description:

Competitive salary based on skills and experience Posted: 13/11/2025 Recruiter: DFS Job /TP/113835/2990 Job Views: 1

This is a hybrid role based at our Doncaster Group Support Centre, with 2-3 days a week onsite. Our Application Development Team works closely with the Test Team and plays a vital role in delivering high-quality software solutions across the DFS Group supporting projects, resolving bugs, and managing business-as-usual enhancements, driving innovation and maintaining system excellence. In this role, you’ll manage incoming development requests and queries from across the Group, ensuring work is prioritised effectively and delivered to a high standard.

You’ll also champion best practice and compliance with key frameworks and processes including software development methodologies, coding standards, security compliance, and change management.

We’re home to DFS, Sofology, and The Sofa Delivery Company - three distinctive brands with a shared mission to bring great design and comfort into every home, affordably, responsibly, and sustainably. At DFS Group, everyone plays a part. Whether you’re supporting our brands or serving our customers, you’re helping shape the future of furniture retail. Each brand has its own identity and creative direction, but we’re united by a culture that puts people and purpose at the heart of everything we do.

Across our Group, we're committed to a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and can thrive  celebrate diverse voices, champion inclusion, and support each other through our growing colleague networks. We invest in partnerships that drive change, from supporting Doncaster Pride and introducing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, to partnering with Carers UK and developing leaders with Diversity in Retail.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to building a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. So, if your experience doesn't quite match the specification, we'd still really love to hear from you.

In this role, you’ll:

• Provide leadership and line management for the Group Software Development team.
• Contribute to the Group Software Development & Test strategy and drive the delivery of the team’s road map and objectives.
• Serve as the first point of contact within the business for all software development matters.
• Ensure software development policies and procedures are up-to-date, compliant, and aligned with industry best practices.
• Oversee the delivery of all work including project initiatives, bug fixes, and the BAU development backlog — ensuring high quality and timely completion.
• Implement KPIs and reporting to monitor team performance, workload, and support effective performance management.
• Lead change initiatives, simplifying processes and improving routes into the team to enhance efficiency and performance.
• Build and maintain strong cross-team relationships to create opportunities and overcome challenges benefiting the wider department.
• Drive team development, including coaching, long-term training plans, and addressing skills gaps.
• Plan and manage sprints: oversee backlogs, sprint planning and reviews.
• Manage third-party relationships: ensure service levels are met and attend service reviews as needed.
• Standardise ways of working: define consistent processes, reporting, and delivery across the business.
• Monitor and maintain quality: track working standards, identify issues, and implement improvements.
• Maintain the knowledge base: keep software development documentation up-to-date.
• Resource management: monitor availability, capacity, and skills gaps to meet operational demand and SLAs.
• Team development: provide coaching, training, and cross-skilling to improve responsiveness, retention, and succession planning.
• Risk management:
  
  identify, mitigate, and manage risks across the function and business.
• Foster continuous improvement: drive problem‑solving, efficiency, and a culture of innovation.
• Remote team management: effectively lead and support remote team members.