Team and role overview
As part of a technology transformation Allstate is building a global agile workforce, called CompoZed. We have an in-house network of globally empowered product teams. CompoZed teams follow a consistent and innovative process resulting in products that better meet user needs, provide speedier delivery and greater quality. This includes agile and extreme agile software development, cross-functional product teams and leveraging our cloud platform and cloud native applications.
To help us develop Compozed we are pleased to announce a new Lab Manager role in each of our Compozed Labs (Belfast and Derry/Londonderry).
In this role you will support the Compozed Director in setting the strategic direction for the lab and ensuring the structures and processes needed to effectively deliver the mission of their organization are in place. You will create a work environment that enables employees to be their best and deliver on their accountabilities with accountability for creating organizational change and influencing across the Allstate IT organization.
The Person
You are a transformational leader who directs and supports your team and can provide thought leadership. You come from a technical background with the ability to pair when required, your technical knowledge and skills will help you inform changes in our software engineering practices and you will ideally come with Lab and extreme agile experience. You like to push the boundaries and question the norm!
Day to day role
The responsibilities of this role are wide ranging including lab management, leadership and people management
Lab Responsibilities
- Be at the forefront of technology and enable the Lab to be a highly functioning technology power house that enables transformation
- Provides thought leadership, innovative ideas, and drives toward partnership at the table. Acts as a thought leader representing Allstate and influencing the standards and practices established for the industries
- Serves as a steward of Lab culture/environment and engineering practices; ensures integrity of core principles (tech center culture, meet ups, paired programming, etc.)
- Drives partnerships with key stakeholders (business partners, DCIO teams, etc.) while advancing Allstate’s digital strategy and ensuring the integrity of the broader CompoZed model
- Proactively educates and influences key technology and business leaders in the identification of suitable products for lab development. Leads workshops with ATSV and Business leaders around Product setup and team structure
- Actively partners with other Lab Managers globally to ensure resources, product assignments, lessons learned, etc. are shared and appropriately integrated
- Works with strategic vendors and partners to review and direct product roadmaps, strategies, and plans to ensure alignment with industry and Allstate needs, both current and future
- Develops guidelines for selection and use of third party products and services. Supports the evaluation process for very complex cross-domain projects in collaboration with clients and partners
- Provides technical, operational, professional leadership over large or complex initiatives. Ensures governance over products developed in the Labs
- Propose and/or participate in new Pursuit, Discovery and other project opportunities
- Defines Lab metrics at the portfolio, product, and team levels by leveraging best practices and internal ATSV/Lab Goals
- Ensures that appropriate resources are brought to bear on complex system issues
- Identifies and manages risks, opportunities, compliance issues or other lab concerns
Leadership
- Transformational leader who drives significant organizational and operational change
- Defines and fosters innovation. Creates structures and processes that promote an environment of innovation and experimentation for direct reports, peer groups, leaders and the organization
- Is a technology thought leader. Develops complex ideas and organization strategy that have long-term, strategic impact and aligns with Enterprise direction. Responsible for implementation of strategy including high level planning of work and resources across multi-year timeframe
- Defines and communicates strategy to the organization so they understand their roles, are motivated to achieve established goals and have line of the sight. Converts thinking of others where difficult but necessary to achieve goals and objectives
- Applies knowledge and efforts to diverse and complex situations, to drive business solutions on behalf of the organization. Makes decisions quickly taking into consideration business activities beyond their area of responsibility
People Management
- Creates and leads change across multiple organizations; catalyst for employees and peers in implementing change
- Models and creates an environment of accountability for multiple organizations, peer groups and senior leaders by setting clear performance objectives in support of business outcomes
- Coaches teams actively; ensures appropriate bench strength; drives high levels of performance
- Accountable for creation of environment of open communication (safety) and innovation within the Lab
Hours of work
- Full time only
- Office based 5 days per week
- Compozed start and finish times are set but with some flexibility between 9.00/9.30am and 5.30/6.00pm, Friday finish 4:30 / 5pm
- As a Lab manager flexibility to meet business needs as required would be expected
Essential criteria - candidates should clearly state on their application form how they meet each of the essential criteria as these will be assessed during shortlisting and only these deemed to meet all of the below criteria will move forward to the next stage.
- Minimum of 5 years commercial development experience in mobile/web/cloud technology – ideally within an XP environment
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a technical leadership role – ideally within an XP environment
- Minimum of 5 years people leadership
- Proven record of transformation leadership
- Demonstrate extreme bias for action and ability to thrive in the “grey”; experience driving iterative thinking and results
- Highly connected to and aware of the external tech community
- You must hold and provide evidence of the legal right to live and work in permanent employment in the UK
Desirable Criteria - these criteria may be used where we have a high number of applicants
- Prior XP/Lab/PCF experience a significant plus
- IT degree or where no degree minimum of 7 years relevant working experience
Statement on Fair Employment and Equal Opportunities:
Allstate NI wishes to ensure equal opportunity is given to all job applicants. This company will not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender (including gender reassignment status), sexual orientation, religious belief, political opinion, marital status, age or disability.
