[Hiring] Head of Research and Development @Vesta Software Group

Role Description

The Head of Research & Development (R&D) reports to the General Manager and is responsible for leading the engineering function, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, scalable and reliable software, and leading transformation of delivery processes, ways of working and team performance across the department. This role combines leadership, delivery ownership, and strategic oversight.

• Define and oversee the technical direction of the Kobas platform.
• Ensure engineering practices, tools and processes are aligned with business goals, risk controls and delivery efficiency.
• Own and improve the end-to-end delivery system, ensuring work flows efficiently from prioritisation through to release.
• Drive the adoption of an AI-enabled Software Development Lifecycle (AI-SDLC).
• Build a high-performing, accountable team, driving improvements in delivery, quality and efficiency.
• Accountable for departmental performance, financial efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Strong technical understanding to guide teams and stakeholders through complex challenges.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of software development principles, architecture and engineering practices.
• Experience working closely with engineering teams in a technical environment.
• An understanding of principles within PHP, SQL, MVC frameworks (e.g. Symfony), React, AngularJS, LESS/SASS, AWS (RDS, EC2, Route53, Cloudwatch, SES, S3), APIs, Linux environments and version control (e.g. Git).
• Experience working with legacy systems and modernising architecture.
• Strong understanding of Agile development and delivery practices, and experience using project management tools (e.g. Youtrack/Jira).
• Experience implementing automated testing and development tooling.
• Experience leading cross-functional transformation programmes (process, tooling and change management), ideally including AI-enabled delivery and governance.

Requirements

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing engineering team.
• Create a collaborative, focused environment aligned to business priorities.
• Promote a culture of ownership and accountability for quality across the engineering team.
• Manage performance and change, supporting individuals to unlock potential.
• Oversee technical direction, ensuring alignment with business and product strategy.
• Provide guidance and technical authority to make informed decisions across complexity and risk levels.
• Own the development workflow and lifecycle, ensuring predictable and efficient output.
• Manage workload distribution across the team, balancing feature development, bug fixing and maintenance.
• Lead evaluation and redesign of processes to improve delivery speed, quality and team efficiency.
• Own and deliver the adoption of an AI-enabled Software Development Lifecycle (AI-SDLC).
• Own the overall QA strategy and approach, including evaluation and implementation of automated testing.
• Manage departmental budget and contribute to efficiency ratio targets.
• Maintain sufficient technical understanding to support decision-making.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Flexible working hours.

Company Description

Jonas Software is a leading provider of enterprise management software solutions, serving a wide range of vertical markets including hospitality, healthcare, construction, education, personal care, fitness, leisure, moving and legal services, to name a few. Within these markets, Jonas is comprised of over 65 distinct brands, each a respected leader in its domain.

• Supports over 60,000 customers in more than 30 countries.
• Employs over 6,000 skilled professionals, including industry experts and technology specialists.
• Headquartered in Canada with a global footprint.
• A 100% owned subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc., based in Toronto.