Head of Digital Front End Technology

Handelsbanken is looking to significantly improve its customer touchpoints and needs a Head of Digital Front End Technology to take technical ownership of these areas. The role will be responsible for building up and then leading a modern software capability in the UK that can deliver outstanding web and mobile offerings at pace.

The successful individual will hire and lead a technical team, take technical ownership of our Digital Front End applications, provide technical strategic direction for both new and pre-existing services, improve the ways of working with Group teams, and support as we move those digital offerings onto the Cloud. The successful individual will need to collaborate with key stakeholders in all areas of the business to achieve this.

In addition, the bank is looking to move to a modern agile mindset and way of operating, so the right individual will also be able to influence and shape that transition.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced technical lead to help shape our digital front end.

• Take system ownership of UK web and mobile services whether Group or UK owned
• Lead the technical designs and oversee all engineering related aspects
• Provide input into technical buy vs build decisions as the mobile / web journeys expand, and ensure they align with our modernisation strategy
• Ensure that we safely and securely incorporate third party solutions and / or Group solutions into our Digital offerings
• Support the move to performant, micro-service based Cloud applications as it becomes possible
• Evaluate technical efficiency, and be able to talk to long term costs, time to market, technical debt
• Ensure all products and services are supported by excellent third line support
• Stay up to date with latest digital technology trends and bring them to bear in our system designs

• Own technical aspects of delivery for our digital customer touchpoints
• Optimise the delivery throughput for web front end and back end components
• Lead technical initiatives to improve delivery efficiency (move away from Athena, control of build pipelines, ways of working improvements)
• Support and enhance the existing agile ways of working
• Be able to marry Agile and Waterfall where necessary

• Build, continuously develop and lead a modern software capability (Java, React, native mobile) in the UK
• Line manage, mentor and coach engineers
• Ensure best practice is shared across teams and empower the teams to drive change themselves
• Provide structured performance reviews to support ongoing professional development within teams
• Convert department-level objectives into key results for your team

Research (by Harvard University) shows that women are particularly likely to second guess themselves and not apply - so if you are worried you don't meet all the criteria, get in touch anyhow and let us do the worrying…

• Experience of product engineering and delivery, of which at least 2 years should be in a people management role
• Hands-on experience working in full-stack web-based and native app product development, database, build pipeline and networking technologies
• Demonstrable experience of Agile and of leading and scaling distributed autonomous engineering teams across remote locations
• Experience with Java, React and native IOS/AOS mobile would be strong plusses
• Ability to work well in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and to pick up new skill sets quickly
• Track record of delivering well engineered solutions using current technologies
• Experience running engineering teams over a sustained period and can demonstrate excellent leadership across technology domains like development, quality, support, architecture and integration
• Knowledge of developing and operating modern distributed software applications in the cloud would be ideal
• Experienced in product development life cycles and working in a lean-agile way.
• Can think and act strategically, as well as recognising when to act tactically and operationally
• You are a people leader who can inspire and grow talent
• You understand how to influence others and how to build collaborative, productive…