Summary
A senior developer delivers and integrates software to form a complete service.
At this role level, you will:
plan and lead development on sets of related stories
have an understanding of the whole system and take responsibility for teaching this to others
work with other disciplines to understand what needs to be built
coach and mentor more junior colleagues
operate the production services you build
find ways to improve system robustness, resilience and stability
Background
| Description | Background |
|---|---|
| Takes a logical, analytical approach to problem solving and pays close attention to detail. | Prior Knowledge and Skills |
| Understands the concepts and practices of human resources and people management. Is familiar with processes and procedures of performance management. Is capable of planning small assignments and organising their own and their team’s work effectively. Demonstrates a responsible and disciplined approach, even under pressure. Has good communication and negotiation skills. Understands the legal and best practice requirements of human resource management. Has a positive attitude towards diversity principles. | Prior Knowledge and Skills |
Work Activity Components
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Documentation and version control (PROG)(Level2) | Documents work in accordance with agreed standards. Applies version control in accordance with agreed procedures. |
| Reviews and monitoring (PROG)(Level 4) | Participates in reviews of own work and leads reviews of colleagues' work. |
| Policies, standards and guidelines (PROG)(Level 4) | Applies agreed standards and tools, to achieve well-engineered outcomes. Identifies issues related to software development activities. Proposes practical solutions to resolve issues. |
| Lead, manage and supervise(PEMT) (Level 4) | Supervises, supports and guides the work of individuals and/or small groups in line with organisational strategy. |
| Work allocation, support and delegation (PEMT) (Level 4) | Allocates routine tasks and assigns project work to individuals, according to their particular skills, capabilities, and development needs. |
| Guidance, performance and feedback (Level 4) | Provides direction, support and guidance as necessary, in line with individual's skills and abilities setting appropriate and effective boundaries. Sets achievable goals, monitoring and acknowledging performance and supporting individual and team development. Collects data on individual and team performance. Gives regular feedback to team members and leads them to achieve their full potential. |
| Formal appraisals (Level 4) | Conducts formal appraisals of the performance of team members. Facilitates a dialogue with team members about expectations, progress, performance and development needs. |
| Empowerment and role model (PEMT) (Level 4) | Facilitates effective working relationships between team members. Motivates team members to maintain a high level of performance. Engages with, and empowers team members. Acts as a role model for individuals and team members, setting a standard, acting professionally at all times and working to a professional code of conduct and ethics. |
| Team dynamics (PEMT) (Level 4) | Integrates staff into teams to perform packages of work, taking account of individual and team capabilities. Considers the importance of skill mix within teams and is sensitive towards team dynamics. |
Behavioural Skills
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Conceptual Thinking | Acquiring understanding and insights regarding the underlying issues in complex problems or situations through the development of abstract representations, the identification of patterns and the analysis of hypotheses. |
| Creativity | Taking innovative approaches to problem solving and/or devising inventive and creative solutions. |
| Attention to Detail | Applying specific quality standards to all tasks undertaken to ensure that deliverables are accurate and complete. |
| Cross-Functional and Inter-Disciplinary Awareness | Understanding the needs, objectives and constraints of those in other disciplines and functions. |
| Interacting with People | Establishing relationships, contributing to an open culture and maintaining contacts with people from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Effective, approachable and sensitive communicator in different communities and cultures. Ability to adapt style and approach to meet the needs of different audiences. |
| Teamwork | Working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. |
| Providing Direction | Directing others to undertake specified tasks within a defined timescale. |
| Follow-up and Monitoring | Checking progress against targets, taking action to resolve exceptions/ issues and reporting and escalating where necessary. |
Technical Skills
| Title | Details | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Application Systems | Technical or functional understanding of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) applications and/or other bespoke software deployed within the organisation in order to provide system configuration, audit, technical, and/or functional support. | Familiar with |
| Application Development Tools | Software tools which automate or assist part of the development process. | Proficient in |
| Configuration Management | The discipline that gives precise control over IT assets and components by recording and maintaining information about the 'configuration items', including hardware devices, computer programs, software licences, documentation, network devices, and data centre facilities (virtualised and static). | Familiar with |
| Programming Languages | A set of codes and syntax (supported by software tools) that enables the unambiguous translation of specified functionality into source code for the creation of computer programs. | Proficient in |
| Operational/Service Architecture | Knowledge of the IT/IS infrastructure and the IT applications and service processes used within own organisation, including those associated with sustainability and efficiency. | Familiar with |
| Structured Reviews | Methods and techniques for structured reviews, including reviews of technical work products, test plans, business cases, architectures and any other key deliverables. | Proficient in |
| Software Testing Tools | Software tools which automate or assist any part of the testing process across all or part of the testing lifecycle. | Familiar with |
| Middleware | Software which forms part of the operating platform infrastructure. | Familiar with |
| DevOps | The collaborative approach consisting of agile practices, processes, and procedures designed to facilitate rapid IT service and product delivery. DevOps emphasizes people (and culture) and seeks to improve collaboration between development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams with the aim of shortening the systems development life cycle to provide continuous release of high-quality software. | Familiar with |
| Agile | A collection of methods, practises, tools and techniques, underpinned by the Agile Manifesto, that enable teams to deliver high value products and services in small, workable, increments. An Agile culture typically encompasses concepts such as Servant-Leaders; ceremonies, Stand-Ups, Sprints and Retrospectives; and the deployment of tools and techniques such as Backlogs and A/B Testing. | Proficient in |
Other Skills
| Title | Details | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Appraisal Techniques | Methods and techniques for appraising an individual's performance and potential. | Familiar with |
| Techniques for Effective Meetings | Methods and techniques for running effective meetings and for understanding and influencing the roles played by participants. | Familiar with |
| Coaching Techniques | Methods and techniques for coaching individuals or groups by a balanced combination of support and direction, which could include use of virtual learning environments plus add-ons to augment feedback specific to work items, workflow or career plans. | Familiar with |
| Standards Writing Techniques | Principles, methods and techniques for establishing, documenting, and maintaining standards. | Aware of |
| Project Planning and Control Techniques | Methods and techniques associated with planning and monitoring progress of projects. | Aware of |
| Own Organisation's Learning and Development Procedures | The procedures used within own organisation for staff learning and development. | Familiar with |
| Resource Allocation | The effective and efficient routine deployment of resources, (but also including reassessment and reallocation in a dynamic multi-project environment), to achieve optimum results. | Familiar with |
| Performance Monitoring | Identifying, agreeing and monitoring (usually by face-to-face interviews) objectives and deliverables with individuals. Identifying under-performance issues against agreed quality standards and performance criteria. Identifying gaps in capability and causes, disciplinary or ability-related (needing assistance, training or other support). | Familiar with |
| Disciplinary Issues and Procedures | Managing episodes of unsatisfactory behaviour or performance in accordance with appropriate policies and legislative conformance. Includes changes to circumstances, such as sickness, disability and other personal issues. | Aware of |
| Team Dynamics | Knowledge and understanding of the psychological and environmental forces that influence the direction of team behavior and performance and the tools and techniques to improve team cohesion and performance. | Aware of |
Training
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Corporate Policies, Standards, Procedures, Guidelines and Tools | Policies, standards, procedures, guidelines, software tools and operating system facilities used in everyday work. |
| Systems Development | Systems development, including development life-cycles and methods, organisation interfaces, typical corporate application architectures, project and programme management, risk management and change control. |
| Advanced Programming Methods and Techniques | Complex methods and techniques for the creation of program code. Typically for use in scientific calculation, for improving operational efficiency of programs or for enhancing the productivity of experienced programmers. |
| System Testing | Methods and procedures for planning, specifying and executing tests, including levels of testing, e.g. Unit Testing, Integration Testing, System Testing, User Acceptance Testing, Regression Testing, Live User Testing, etc. |
| Software Configuration | Installation, configuration and tuning of applications or systems software. |
| Coaching | Concepts, methods and techniques for providing coaching in subject specialisms to individuals or groups (e.g. GROW model). |
| Mentoring | Methods and techniques for providing mentoring support to less experienced individuals. |
| Security Awareness | Tools and techniques to help users and employees understand the role they play in helping to combat information security breaches and for IT and security professionals to prevent and mitigate risk. |
Professional Development Activity (PDA)
| Title | Details | PDA Group |
|---|---|---|
| Deputising | Standing in for supervisor or manager on a temporary basis during periods of absence. | Broadening Activities |
| Job Shadowing and Special Assignments | Undertaking temporary periods or secondments in other roles, particularly those that offer a new perspective on own function or exposure to other environments and cultures. | Broadening Activities |
| Research Assignments | Exploring a topic which is not part of own normal responsibilities and presenting findings to colleagues and/or management | Increasing Knowledge |
| Gaining Knowledge of Activities of Employing Organisation | Developing an understanding of the potentially diverse range of activities (service, governance, administrative, regulatory, commercial, charitable, industrial, etc.) undertaken by the employing organisation. | Increasing Knowledge |
| Gaining Knowledge of IT Concepts and Techniques | Undertaking study, learning and, where possible, practice in IT concepts and techniques external to own function. | Increasing Knowledge |
| Participation in Professional Body Affairs | Taking an active part in professional body affairs at branch, specialist group, committee or board level. | Participation in Professional Activities |
| Negotiating and Influencing | Undertaking learning and practice of negotiating with and influencing others. | Developing Professional Skills |
| Team Leadership | Undertaking learning and practice of the skills required to lead teams, including motivation, direction, coaching, delegation, appraisal, counselling and developing others. | Developing Professional Skills |
Qualification Components
| Title | Awarding Bodies |
|---|---|
| FEDIP Senior Practitioner | The Federation for Informatics Professionals |
| Registered IT Technician (RITTech) | BCS The Chartered Institute for IT |
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Skills
| Skill | Level |
|---|---|
|
Availability and capacity management Availability and capacity management involves ensuring services are available with as little down-time or disruption as possible, whilst making sure we have sufficient resources to support emerging business needs. |
Practitioner Availability and capacity management You can: ensure the correct implementation of standards and procedures identify capacity issues, and stipulate and instigate the required changes initiate remedial action |
|
Development process optimisation (management) Process optimisation involves ensuring your processes are accurately defined and capture the most efficient way to complete a task by monitoring modified procedures. |
Working Development process optimisation (management) You can: work under guidance to identify process optimisation opportunities contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions |
|
Information security Information security involves maintaining the security, confidentiality and integrity of information. |
Practitioner Information security You can: understand information security design solutions and services with security controls embedded, specifically engineered with mitigation of security threats as a core feature |
|
Modern standards approach Modern development standards involves using the latest technologies and best practices to improve the quality of the software development process. |
Practitioner Modern standards approach You can: competently apply a modern standards approach and guide others to do so |
|
Programming and build (software engineering) |
Practitioner Programming and build (software engineering) You can: collaborate with others when necessary to review specifications use the agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity, using the right standards and tools |
|
Prototyping Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design. |
Practitioner Prototyping You can: approach prototyping as a team activity, actively soliciting prototypes and testing with others establish design patterns and iterate them use a variety of prototyping methods and choose the most appropriate |
|
Service support Service support involves fixing service faults and maintaining the underlying infrastructure, ensuring processes are in place to keep the service running efficiently. |
Practitioner Service support You can: identify, locate and fix faults |
|
Systems design IT systems analysis involves assessing current systems and implementing new ones, to improve the performance and efficiency of an organisation's applications. |
Practitioner Systems design You can: design systems characterised by medium levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity select appropriate design standards, methods and tools, and ensure they are applied effectively review the systems designs of others to ensure the selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology |
|
Systems integration |
Practitioner Systems integration You can: define the integration build co-ordinate build activities across systems understand how to undertake and support integration testing activities |
|
User focus User focus involves understanding the user needs to develop a detailed understanding of the problems that need to be solved. |
Practitioner User focus You can: collaborate with user researchers and can represent users internally explain the difference between user needs and the desires of the user champion user research to focus on all users prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use |
The Professional Body Responsible for this job family is BCS. This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus.