Director, Application Development

Director, Application Development

Here you can innovate.

Be part of a team that is proud to collaborate, develop, and deliver the most compelling entertainment experiences imaginable – both in our parks and behind the scenes!

Universal Orlando Resort believes in-person collaboration is key to our success. Many of our Team Members work in a hybrid capacity, contributing from the workplace a minimum of three days per week. Some remote opportunities are available within specific departments. There are also roles that require being on-site full time. You’ll learn more about this during the application process.

JOB SUMMARY: The Director, Application Development is a key technology leader driving strategy, engineering, and leadership responsibilities over custom software engineering teams. This leader will collaborate with cross functional teams including Solution Architecture, Product, PMO, Testing and external partners to deliver robust and reliable software applications at Global Universal Parks & Resorts. This individual will lead a team of talented technologists & partners to design, develop, deploy, and support a wide range of mission critical guest facing digital and in-park applications. S/he will also be responsible for supporting the strategic goals of the digital and technology organization across global projects.

S/he will have delivery responsibility and serve as a key expert in end-to-end application software development globally. S/he will partner closely within Digital Technology, Corporate Technology/Infrastructure/Security, Digital Product/Innovation, PMO; business divisions; functional support partners like Finance, Sourcing, and HR. This is a key leadership position within the newly announced UPR Digital and Technology business unit focused on innovation, design and development of new digital experiences based on our existing physical theme park experiences and launching entirely new businesses in both physical and virtual spaces.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technology Strategy & Delivery

• Lead and oversee global development of customer software solutions for UPR Digital and Technology
• Drive simple, scalable, flexible, secure, and cost-effective technology design & engineering
• Leads both the build and run development teams for digital and guest /customer interfacing applications like digital sales ticketing/hotel integration, custom developed in-park resort applications; and middle platforms used for digital acceleration
• Proactively manage a complex mixture of internal resources and external partners to achieve both best in class technology solutions while achieving speed to market.
• Deliver applications that enable rapidly evolving digital technology arena including all forms of software engineering & architecture, cloud architecture, gaming & Metaverse platforms/solutions
• Incorporates high quality automation of processes, devops, quality engineering and management release, cloud into every-day work
• Lead by example & oversee a team of technologists (full-time employees, project hires, and partner resources) from different backgrounds to deliver best-in-class solutions

Platform Stability & Operational/Delivery Excellence

• Achieve 99.5% platform reliability and uptime of newly developed digital technology solutions to ensure superior “Digital Show Quality” for Universal’s digital solutions
• Drive focus on operational excellence throughout the organization & partners, including (but not limited to) processes, governance, efficient working approaches, collaboration
• Ensure positive trend in key performance indicators of the digital platform
• Partner with PMO & Product for on-time delivery of solutions, proactively mitigate risk of “scope creep” and business impact during transformational change

Cross-Team Collaboration, Team Culture, Staff Development

• Supervise and mentor direct reports/team members in day-to day management and administration of UPR digital transformation
• Provides clear executive decision-making and priority management; coaches and builds confidence in staff to make good business decisions using technology & analytical thinking
• Promote working culture of accountability and technology depth to support Universal’s physical and virtual business aspirations
• Drive Universal Culture of team-member satisfaction through effective communication, planning, risk management, and coaching of high-potential candidates at every level of the organization
• Work seamlessly with other Digital and Technology & business unit leaders to architect and build best in class solutions and experiences.

Administrative

• Manage appropriate departmental budgets; review/approve related budget expenditures with “act as an owner” mentality
• Understands and actively participates in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities by following established UO policy, procedures, training and team member involvement activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university is required. Advanced degree preferred. Undergraduate degree (preferred) in engineering, technology, analytics or related fields

EXPERIENCE:

• 10 + years in progressive technology & software/integration engineering or architecture.
• 20+ years’ experience in large scale transformation initiatives & custom software engineering; past experience with cloud/hybrid cloud & virtualization technologies
• Expert technology strategy and deep technical architectural and engineering knowledge; end-to-end application architecture for B2B and B2C business models
• Experience in strategy, build and execution of eCommerce solutions would be a plus.
• Experience in large scale global technology implementations; program planning
• Deep expertise in software/integration design, various data integration patterns (e.g. Microservices, API, ETL, Web Service, ESB, etc)
• Demonstrated experience with application/technology simplification & rationalization in legacy environments; previous experience in “bi-modal” technology environments that combine digital/agile with enterprise/monolithic applications
• Experience in executive communication, relationship building and decision making; expert at stakeholder and partner management
• Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills, and be able to explain complex concepts both concisely and simply to technical & non-technical audience; also able to communicate effectively with non-native English speakers
• Proven ability to maintain a high-level of client service
• Demonstrated ability to define and execute strategic initiatives
• Budget Management
• or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Your talent, skills and experience will be rewarded with a competitive compensation package.

Interested candidates apply online at:

https://jobs.universalparks.co...

Universal is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Universal Orlando via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from Universal Orlando HR/Recruitment will be deemed the sole property of Universal Orlando. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Universal Orlando as a result of the referral or through other means.

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