With assets under management projected to grow to $310 billion within a decade, CPP Investment Board is one of the largest and fastest growing institutional investors in the world. Based in Toronto, the CPP Investment Board is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan by experienced and highly skilled investment professionals. Their job is to prudently invest CPP assets to help pay future pensions.
We are presently recruiting for a Manager, Application Services to join our dynamic Information Services Team. The Manager, Application Services leads the design and oversees development of cross-functional, multiplatform application systems across the CPP Investment Board.
The ideal candidate is recognized as having exceptional leadership skills and competence in software architecture and development disciplines. He/She is committed to, and deeply experienced with, service oriented architecture principles and excels in instilling effective software development practices in a fast paced, results-oriented environment.
This role interacts with various investment and investment operations departments across CPPIB, and partners effectively with other groups within Information Services, including Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Data Management, Quality Assurance and Infrastructure Management. It manages software development teams to meet project objectives and evolve CPPIB's software applications to achieve its longer-term goals via a buy, build and integrate philosophy. This role partners closely with Enterprise Architecture to deliver solution architectures that are consistent with CPPIB's broader architectural principles and directions.
Role Specific Accountabilities:
Application Development and Support
- Establish and lead a team of application development specialists to provide application support, system development and integration services to meet the needs of investment departments and/or investment operations
- Promote the use and evolution of a flexible, agile-oriented SDLC which fosters close, transparent communications across Information Services and is built upon a close relationship with client business units
- Organize and manage resource requirements and priorities effectively for the Investment Systems group. Create efficient resource allocation plans and team schedules, and manage team resources for high performance
- Ensure on-time delivery of high-quality applications and collaborate effectively with members of the Enterprise Architecture team to implement consistent system architecture and development standards
- Provide 3rd level application support to end-users during and after application deployment, in conjunction with the Service Desk and Infrastructure Operations
- Delegate assignments to direct reports
Strategy
- Have a clear understanding of industry and technology directions/trends, and a solid understanding of competitive best practices and emerging concepts
- Adapt our Enterprise Architecture strategy and roadmap to address evolving business needs
- Set direction and coordinate and motivate stakeholders and staff.
- Working closely with Executive Management, ensure sponsorship for systems development initiatives
Continuous Improvement
- Proactively find improvement opportunities to streamline business processes or to product better quality software solutions
If you possess the following, we'd like to hear from you:
- Bachelors and/or Masters Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics or a related field
- Financial qualifications such as CSC and/or CFA are an asset
- 8-10+ years experience in managing software development teams, including deep experience in implementation of SOA strategies
- Management experience in an investment management firm and/or investment dealer, including experience supporting applications for capital markets and/or quantitative portfolio management teams.
- Proven experience in developing and managing developers in an enterprise environment with a mixed Wintel and Linux/Solaris environment.
- Exposure to Enterprise Service Bus platforms such as Sonic, TIBCO, Websphere ESB and Message Broker, etc...
- Demonstrated knowledge of buy side investment business preferred
- Capability to develop, maintain and drive decisions based on a broad understanding of CPPIB business objectives and issues and their dependencies on complex information systems applications
- Ability to work in a high performing culture, work effectively under pressure to meet aggressive deadlines and manage multiple and conflicting priorities
- Strong leadership qualities with demonstrated ability to develop and foster strong relationships with peers and clients internally
- Strong interpersonal, negotiation and problem-solving skills with the capability to establish credibility with a diverse group of peers and senior executives across investment departments, investment operations, information services and other corporate departments.
- Ability to synthesize complexity to enable business and technology decision makers to understand options
- Strong planning and project management skills with demonstrated ability to set priorities and deliver to an agreed plan
- PMP certification is an asset
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including the capability to present effectively to technical and/or business audiences and to communicate internal and external strategy within the data management space
- Strong financial knowledge - budgets, cost justifications, monitoring headcount, departmental spend, etc.
- Strong service orientation; a track record of responsiveness to business needs within a disciplined but agile environment
- Proven ability to work independently as well as to perform effectively in a team oriented environment
- Exemplify CPPIB's Guiding Principles - Integrity, Partnership and High Performance