Software Development Manager

Global Connections; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software development organization in the UK is seeking an experienced Development Manager to lead their development team in hybrid work conditions. The ideal candidate should possess over 5 years of commercial development experience, demonstrate strong leadership qualities, and maintain hands-on development involvement. You will work with popular technologies such as Laravel and React, focusing on delivering high-quality software solutions. This role also offers unique perks like a dedicated learning day each month and complimentary car valet every two months.

Benefits

1 Day per Month Dedicated to Learning

Birthday Off

Subscription to Online Training

Complimentary Car Valet (Every 2 Months)

Annual Eye Test

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a commercial development environment.
• Previous leadership or management experience.
• Comfortable with hands-on coding.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of developers while contributing high-quality code.
• Plan and shape new features and lead code reviews.
• Refine existing features and develop new modules.

Skills

Commercial development experience

Leadership skills

Technical proficiency

Emotional intelligence

Integrity

Tools

PHP (Laravel)

React

AWS

CodeIgniter

jQuery

Job description

Posted on 15 December 2025 byChurch Edit and iKnow Church

Contract: Permanent, Full-time

Job Level: Management / Leadership

Sector: Digital and Information Technology

Location: Hybrid (3 days per weekin our Solihull office)
Contact: call us on0121 6511125 or send an email [e-mail]
Salary: £53,000 - £60,000
Full Time: 8.30 - 17.00 Monday to Friday
Holidays: 26 days per year + Bank Holidays

About iKnow and Edit

Our iKnow and Edit platforms are trusted by thousands of organisations across the UK to help them communicate, stay organised, and support their mission. They range from small single location churches and charities up to charities with over £70m a year in income.

Our software includes our Edit website builder and our iKnow admin software that is available in a number of different brands. This past year we have launched safeguarding software that we are told is market leading for managing concerns and checks. We want to continually build new features and support our growing customer base.

At our heart, we’re a small, dedicated team who care deeply about creating tools that empower our charities to flourish. Whether a charity is building community, caring for members, or reaching out to their local area, our software is designed to help them do it well.

Job Description

We’re looking for an experienced Development Manager who is a true all-rounder - someone who combines strong technical ability with excellent people skills, and who enjoys both leading a team and building software.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. You’ll guide our development team while continuing to contribute high-quality code yourself. You’ll play a key part in shaping the future of our platforms, maintaining high standards, and fostering a positive, collaborative team culture.

As leader of our development team, you’ll work on our two major platforms:

• Edit - our website platform
• iKnow - our management, donations and safeguarding software with companion mobile app and contactless app

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading and supporting a small team of developers, helping them grow and do their best work
• Planning and shaping new features, from whole‑team UI discussions through to task allocation
• Ensuring code reviews are thorough and maintain a high standard of quality
• Actively coding and contributing to the platform alongside the team
• Refining existing features and developing new modules that solve real customer problems
• Working closely with other teams to ensure our software meets the needs of churches and charities
• Being part of an on‑call rota for urgent hosting or software availability issues

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has at least 5 years’ experience in a commercial development environment
• Has previous leadership or management experience
• Is technically strong and comfortable remaining hands‑on
• Has strong emotional intelligence and enjoys empowering and supporting others
• Cares deeply about software quality and user experience
• Is motivated by building products that make a meaningful difference
• Demonstrates a high level of integrity

Technical Environment

Our software is hosted on AWS, so experience with cloud‑based hosting is essential.

Our stack includes:

• PHP (Laravel)
• React
• Legacy system in CodeIgniter and jQuery (this still has some development but will be migrated to Laravel over time)

Why Work With Us?

Joining Edit means being part of a very friendly team committed not just to building software, but to serving churches and charities and helping them have greater impact in their communities.

You’ll also enjoy:

1 Day per Month Dedicated to Learning
A paid Friday each month to explore new technologies, skills, or passion projects.

Your Birthday Off
If it falls on a working day, it’s yours to enjoy.

Subscription to Online Training
Access to professional learning resources.

Complimentary Car Valet (Every 2 Months)
Professional car cleaning at our car park.

Annual Eye Test
Plus a £49 contribution towards glasses if required.

Your work will support organisations across the UK, helping them communicate better, care for their contacts, and fulfil their mission.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter to [e-mail]

This role is Hybrid with 3 days per week based in our Solihull Office.