Integrations Technical Lead

About the Directorate
As IT&D, we help to create the University of the future by co-designing new ways of working, enhancing productivity, reducing complexity, supporting innovation, and providing the insights to drive continual improvement. Embracing a digital future in an evolving modern university, you will be working in partnership with our academic and Professional Services colleagues to deliver digital services that help the University achieve its strategic objectives in teaching and research, nationally & globally.

About the Department
The Software Engineering Department within IT&D are responsible for the development, support, maintenance and administration of approved software applications used within Manchester Metropolitan University across a digital portfolio including Campus Experience, Digital Workplace, Education, Finance and the Student Lifecycle.

We work in a hybrid manner and the team's ‘anchor day' on-site is on Thursdays each week.

About the Team
The Integrations and RPA team brings together specialist expertise in software engineering, systems integration, and intelligent automation. As a combined team, we play a key role in enabling the University to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively.

In collaboration with a partner our Integrations function designs, builds and maintains the services that allow our systems to talk to each other, ensuring the right data gets to the right place at the right time. Using Azure Integration Services, we deliver secure, scalable and reliable integrations that support everything from student administration to classroom technology.

Alongside this, our Robotic Process Automation (RPA) capability uses Blue Prism Cloud to create digital workers that automate repetitive, rule-based tasks, such as the determination of Fee Status for new applications. These automations free up staff time, improve consistency, and drive efficiency across the University.

Together, we are committed to modern engineering practices, continuous improvement, and innovative problem-solving. Joining our team means contributing to digital transformation that directly enhances the experience of students, academics, and professional services staff across the University.

About the Role
This role provides strategic and technical leadership within the University's IT & Digital directorate, focusing on the delivery of robust enterprise integration and automation solutions that enhance operational efficiency and improve student experience. You will lead a cross-functional team of software engineers, business analysts and QA professionals to drive best practice in development, architecture, and agile delivery, while ensuring compliance with governance and regulatory standards. Acting as a key influencer, you will collaborate with academic and Professional Services stakeholders, shape future technology strategies, and champion innovation to support the University's teaching, research, and digital transformation goals.

Key Responsibilities
To be successful in this role, you will:

• Provide technical leadership for integrations and RPA solutions, ensuring best practices in architecture, development, and deployment.
• Lead and manage your team within Software Engineering, including recruitment, mentoring, and performance management.
• Work effectively with key partners in integrations and RPA to build, enhance and support key services ensuring effective and efficient solution delivery.
• Drive delivery of projects using agile methods, removing blockers and ensuring alignment with IT strategy.
• Oversee quality assurance, governance compliance, and continuous improvement of engineering processes and tools.
• Engage stakeholders and vendors to design secure, integrated solutions that meet strategic objectives.
• Contribute to strategic planning, resource allocation, and change management initiatives.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and sector developments, sharing knowledge to foster innovation.

Key Skills & Experiences
Essential skills and experience for this role are:

• A degree/professional qualification in Computer Science/Software Engineering, or another STEM discipline.
• Substantial experience as a senior developer/principal developer or technical lead.
• Line management experience of cross functional teams including developers, business analysts and testers.
• Demonstrable experience of C#, .NET, RESTful APIs, SOAP services and integrations patterns.
• Direct experience applying enterprise integration patterns, Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and Event-Driven Architecture using Microsoft Azure Integration Services.
• Excellent working knowledge of concepts such as loose coupling / high cohesion and eventual consistency and their application in the design of resilient and reliable systems integrations. Proficient in Azure (Logic Apps, Functions, Service Bus).
• Experience of message queues preferably Azure Service Bus.
• Knowledge and experience of source control (Git, GitHub) and good practice around branching strategies.
• Knowledge and experience of setting up CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps and/or GitHub Actions.

It would also be beneficial to your application if you have:

• Experience working/leading DevOps practises across development and operations teams.
• Hands on experience of RPA platforms (UiPath/BluePrism/NICE).
• Experience setting up test automation tooling/practises.
• Experience operating within environments using TDD and BDD.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204).
• Experience in implementing and operating resilient, secure and scalable by design solutions.

To learn more about this exciting opportunity and benefits we offer, please read the JD and Candidate Pack provided on the university's website, accessed by the 'Apply' button.

Assessment Process:

• To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter detailing your suitability, on the application portal.
• Assessment will be conducted in two stages - Stage 1 is an informal chat and will be held on 18,19 and/or 22 December. Those shortlisted in Stage 1, will be invited to Stage 2, a panel-interview which will be held in the w/c 05 January.
• Due to the volume of applications we receive, we sometimes close our vacancies early. It is therefore advisable to apply as early as possible if you would like to be considered for a role.

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you!

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the Job Description for that vacancy.

Recruitment Agencies: The University has engaged an approved list of recruitment agencies to support the recruitment of its vacancies from time to time. The University does not accept speculative applications from recruitment agencies outside of this list.