Director, Digital Development - NDG Communications
La Plata, MD
About the Job
Are you an experienced leader in digital development with a passion for innovation and excellence? Do you have a proven track record of leading high-performing development teams to success? Can you thrive in a fast-paced environment, guiding teams to deliver top-tier web projects, mobile apps, and custom software applications? Are you skilled at balancing technical expertise with strategic vision and adept at mentoring and motivating your team?
If so, you could be NDG's next Director, Digital Development.
At NDG, we are more than just a performance marketing firm; we are trusted guides in the home-buying journey. We innovate marketing strategies that challenge our clients and ourselves to serve home buyers better, ensuring they find their dream homes. Join our team, and you'll work with some of the nation's leading home builders and developers, contributing to meaningful projects that improve people's lives.
With the flexibility of a fully remote position, you'll lead our Digital Development team, overseeing the full project lifecycle from strategy to execution. You'll collaborate closely with the Creative, Digital Marketing, and Marketing Services teams, ensuring that our projects meet the highest standards in quality, time, and budget. Your work will directly impact our ability to innovate and provide exceptional digital applications to our clients.
If you're a detail-oriented professional who thrives on execution and innovation, enjoys being part of a service-minded team that never settles for average, and is eager to make a difference in the digital landscape while helping shape the future of home buying, this could be the perfect place for you.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy & Execution:
- User Experience Design: Partner with internal teams to develop optimal user experiences and standards for all digital projects.
- Technical Standards: Define and uphold software engineering standards and best practices, ensuring high-quality, maintainable code, while addressing existing technical debt.
- Strategic Vision: Collaborate with the Vice President, Operations and Director of Digital Marketing to shape the agency's approach to best practices and deliverable standards.
Leadership & Team Development:
- Team Management: Lead, support, and mentor the Digital Development team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth through clear performance expectations and accountability.
- Performance Reviews: Conduct regular reviews, set Key Result Areas (KRAs), and lead the team in finding learning opportunities.
- Hiring and Training: Oversee the hiring of new team members, implement training programs, and mentor staff to ensure quick integration and continuous development.
Collaboration & Communication:
- Inter-Departmental Collaboration: Work closely with all agency teams to plan and execute custom-programmed projects, including user acceptance testing (UAT).
- Knowledge Sharing: Lead the Digital Development team in sharing knowledge, solving problems, and introducing innovative ideas based on research and best practices.
- Reporting: Collaborate with Marketing Managers and the Digital Marketing team to develop insightful monthly reports and QBRs.
Quality Assurance:
- Project Review: Ensure project execution aligns with the strategic vision and that team task assignments are clear and accurately estimated.
- Troubleshooting & Improvement: Identify and address UI/UX issues, enhancing lead generation and user experiences while ensuring technical debt remains low for scalability and maintainability of the codebase.
- UAT Leadership: Oversee the UAT process to prevent issues before final product release, ensuring all software meets client and project specifications.
Problem-Solving & Innovation:
- Technical Problem-Solver: Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills to address technical challenges and project roadblocks.
- Innovative Solutions: Creative thinking to introduce innovative solutions and improvements to existing processes and products.
- Future Focused: Ability to drive innovation within the team and encourage the exploration of new technologies and approaches.
QUALIFICATIONS
Technical Expertise:
- Strong background in web development, mobile app development, and custom application development.
- Proficiency in various programming languages, frameworks, front-end and back-end technologies, content management systems (CMS), databases and tools relevant to the industry.
- Solid understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC) methodologies, including agile and waterfall.
Leadership & Team Management:
- Proven experience in leading and mentoring development teams, including performance management and career development.
- Demonstrated ability to set and uphold technical standards and best practices within a development team.
- Experience in hiring and onboarding new team members, as well as developing and implementing training programs.
Project Management:
- Extensive experience in managing complex digital projects, from concept to deployment.
- Strong skills in resource allocation, scheduling, and meeting project deadlines.
- Ability to identify and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle.
Strategic & Analytical Thinking:
- Ability to develop and implement strategic plans that align with business objectives and enhance digital project outcomes.
- Strong analytical skills to assess project performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement solutions.
- Experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate digital development efforts with broader marketing and business strategies.
Communication & Collaboration:
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective collaboration with internal teams and external clients.
- Experience in creating detailed documentation, including project specifications, technical requirements, and best practices.
- Ability to work closely with UX/UI designers, digital marketers, and account managers to ensure cohesive project delivery.
Industry Knowledge & Continuous Learning:
- Up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in digital development.
- Commitment to continuous learning and professional development to keep skills current and relevant.
- Understanding of user experience (UX) design principles and their application in digital projects.
BENEFITS
Compensation & Leave:
- Competitive annual salary based on skills and experience.
- Five weeks of PTO, including paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
- Comprehensive health care benefits, including dental and vision coverage.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
Culture & Perks:
- Work from the comfort of your home office (this is a fully remote position).
- Join a close-knit, supportive team that values your contributions and encourages professional growth-and has fun together at agency outings, gatherings, and industry awards events.
- Professional development planning, coaching, and mentoring program for every team member.