Web & App Development Manager

We are seeking a Web & App Development Manager to coordinate the creation, development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Insignia Group’s extensive portfolio of websites and mobile applications.

This is not an executive position; however, it is a highly important role requiring strong technical understanding, organisational ability, and effective vendor management. The successful candidate will act as the principal link between the Group’s business teams and external web and application development suppliers.

The candidate does not necessarily need to be a hands-on programmer but must have sufficient technical knowledge to understand the complete web and mobile application development lifecycle, evaluate proposed solutions, challenge suppliers, and ensure that projects are delivered to the required quality, budget, and timetable.

Key Responsibilities

Requirements and Project Preparation

• Work with the Group’s business units to identify and define their website and mobile application requirements.
• Translate business objectives into clear functional and technical requirements for developers and external suppliers.
• Prepare professional project briefs, presentations, scopes of work, and requests for proposals.
• Define project deliverables, development stages, timelines, responsibilities, and acceptance criteria.
• Ensure that requirements relating to user experience, design, security, integrations, data protection, analytics, and ongoing maintenance are properly addressed.

Supplier Selection and Negotiations

• Identify and recommend suitable web and mobile application development companies, specialists, and technology partners.
• Conduct market research and maintain a database of reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective suppliers.
• Contact potential suppliers and conduct preliminary discussions and negotiations.
• Request, review, and compare technical and commercial proposals.
• Assess suppliers based on their capabilities, experience, technology, pricing, delivery capacity, and ongoing support.
• Prepare recommendations for management before final supplier appointments.
• Support the negotiation of project scope, pricing, timelines, service levels, warranties, and maintenance terms.

Project and Development Control

• Coordinate the development process from initial concept through design, development, testing, launch, and post-launch support.
• Monitor suppliers’ performance and ensure that projects remain within the approved scope, budget, and timetable.
• Organise regular project meetings and maintain clear communication between internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Review project progress, identify delays or technical risks, and escalate significant issues promptly.
• Ensure that all websites and applications undergo proper functional, security, compatibility, and user-acceptance testing before launch.
• Confirm that completed work meets agreed specifications and quality standards.
• Maintain complete project documentation, including requirements, approvals, technical information, access credentials, licences, and supplier contracts.

Maintenance and Digital Portfolio Management

• Oversee the maintenance, updates, performance, availability, and security of the Group’s existing websites and applications.
• Maintain a central register of all websites, applications, domains, hosting arrangements, integrations, licences, and responsible suppliers.
• Coordinate bug fixes, upgrades, integrations, redesigns, and other improvements.
• Monitor support and maintenance agreements and ensure that suppliers meet agreed service levels.
• Recommend improvements to the Group’s digital platforms, technology architecture, development processes, and supplier structure.
• Help reduce unnecessary duplication, technical dependency, and excessive development or maintenance costs.

Budget and Payment Control

• Review supplier quotations, development estimates, invoices, and payment schedules.
• Confirm that project milestones and deliverables have been completed before recommending payments.
• Monitor project budgets and report any expected cost overruns in advance.
• Ensure that no additional work or expenditure is undertaken without appropriate approval.
• Maintain transparent records of committed, invoiced, and paid amounts for every project.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate should have:

• Relevant experience in web development, mobile application development, digital product management, IT project management, or technology vendor management.
• A strong understanding of the complete website and mobile application development lifecycle.
• Sufficient technical knowledge to communicate effectively with developers and evaluate proposed solutions.
• Experience preparing project requirements, scopes of work, presentations, and supplier briefs.
• Proven experience selecting, negotiating with, and managing external development suppliers.
• The ability to review technical and commercial proposals and assess whether costs and timelines are reasonable.
• Strong project management, organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and suppliers simultaneously.
• A responsible, detail-oriented, commercially aware, and results-driven approach.

Knowledge of UX/UI design, content management systems, APIs, cloud hosting, cybersecurity, data protection, analytics, payment systems, fintech platforms, and quality-assurance processes would be a significant advantage.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be assessed based on:

• Delivery of projects on time and within approved budgets.
• Quality, reliability, and performance of websites and applications.
• Accuracy and completeness of project requirements and documentation.
• Effectiveness of supplier selection, negotiation, and management.
• Control of development, maintenance, and support costs.
• Timely resolution of technical issues and supplier delays.
• Proper verification of deliverables before supplier payments.
• Continuous improvement of the Group’s digital portfolio and development processes.