Salary: $121,900.00 - $182,900.00 Annually
Location : Decatur, AL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 06549
College/Division: ACCSO-100070-Information Technology
Opening Date: 07/21/2025
Closing Date: 8/4/2025 3:00 PM Central
Campus Location: Alabama Community College System

Position Summary

The Director of Software Development leads the strategic planning, development, and implementation of software solutions that support the mission and operations of a system-wide multi-campus community college system. This role oversees a team of software engineers to deliver high-quality, scalable, and secure applications that enhance student success, faculty engagement, and administrative efficiency. The Director collaborates with academic and administrative stakeholders to align technology initiatives with institutional goals and ensure compliance with regulatory and accessibility standards. This role requires hands-on development expertise, DevOps best practices, and experience with system integrations and modern web applications. This role requires senior software engineer expertise and experience in collaboration to work alongside analysts, ERP teams, and college stakeholders to streamline processes, build scalable solutions, and modernize legacy systems. This Director of Software Development has extensive experience with JavaScript, database technologies, cloud platforms, and software architecture-along with a deep understanding of DevOps principles in enterprise or public sector environments.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES:

1. Lead the design, development, and maintenance of enterprise applications, including student information systems (SIS), learning management systems (LMS), and administrative platforms.
2. Design, develop, test, and maintain statewide systems such as DAX, PSL, and AAESAP.
3. Build and manage integrations using Ellucian Data Connect and develop user facing components in Ellucian Experience.
4. Collaborate with enterprise architects, ERP teams, and institutional stakeholders to align DevOps initiatives with strategic IT goals.
5. Manage software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes, ensuring timely delivery of projects within scope and budget.
6. Coordinate software release cycles and maintain application reliability, scalability, and performance.
7. Supervise and mentor a team of software developers, QA engineers, and technical staff and contribute to a high-performing technical team culture.
8. Collaborate with institutional leadership to identify and prioritize software needs.
9. Establish and enforce coding standards, security protocols, and documentation practices.
10. Monitor emerging technologies and recommend adoption strategies aligned with institutional goals.
11. Identify automation opportunities and drive modernization of manual processes.
12. Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues across application layers and environments.

SECONDARY DUTIES:

1. Support data governance and business intelligence initiatives.
2. Participate in IT governance and strategic planning committees.
3. Facilitate training and professional development for technical staff.
4. Ensure compliance with FERPA, ADA, and other regulatory requirements.
5. Represent the college system in statewide or national technology forums.
6. Perform other IT software development and support tasks for the ACCS system office as needed and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED:

1. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
2. 10+ years of progressive experience in software development, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
3. Full Stack development experience
4. Advanced proficiency in:
   1. JavaScript, React, .NET/C#, Java
   2. SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle
   3. Experience with transactional database and/or data warehouse design
   4. Experience writing Stored Procedures
   5. RESTful APIs, microservices, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
   6. Cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)
   7. CI/CD tools and version control (Git, GitHub, DevOps pipelines)
   8. Atlassian solutions (Jira, Confluence, etc.)
5. Experience with .Net, Entity Framework, and LINQ
6. Experience with web design technologies, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Bootstrap
7. Experience with web design principals
8. Experience with unit and/or integration testing, code reviews and continuous integration
9. Proven experience in:
   1. Leading distributed development teams.
   2. Modernizing legacy systems and developing web-based enterprise solutions.
10. Working in Agile/Scrum environments.
11. Self-starter with strong analytical, communication, and leadership abilities.
12. Comfortable presenting technical ideas to non-technical audiences, including C-level stakeholders.
13. Passionate about innovation, mentoring, and continuous improvement.
14. Proven experience managing complex software projects and cross-functional teams.
15. Strong understanding of enterprise systems in higher education.
16. Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.

PREFERRED:

1. Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related discipline.
2. Experience with community college systems or public higher education institutions.
3. Familiarity with Ellucian Banner or similar SIS platforms.
4. Agile/Scrum certification (e.g., CSM, PMI-ACP).
5. Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) and data privacy regulations.
6. Experience with Ellucian Banner and its related ERP modules (Finance, HR, Student Services, etc.).
7. Familiarity with Ellucian's Ethos Data Model APIs and SDKs.
8. Past work within higher education, government agencies, or large-scale integrations.
9. Strong understanding of security, compliance, and accessibility standards in public IT environments.

Application Procedures/Additional Information

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Applications must be filed online at:
A complete application packet must be submitted by the posted deadline in order to be considered for this position. Applicants who fail to submit all required information will be disqualified. A complete application packet consists of:

1. Online application
2. Cover letter
3. Current resume
4. Separate list of four (4) professional references (not letters) with complete contact information
5. Unofficial or official transcripts showing degree(s) conferred and conferral dates

• All application materials must be scanned. It is recommended that you have digital (preferably .pdf) copies of your cover letter, resume, list of references, and transcripts showing degree(s) and conferral dates, ready to upload before you begin the application process.
• WE DO NOT ACCEPT E-MAILED APPLICATIONS.
• When you finish the online application procedure, you will receive an on-screen notice that you have successfully applied. HOWEVER, this does not mean that your application materials are complete in accordance with the vacancy announcement. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have submitted all necessary application materials in accordance with the vacancy announcement.

Please direct any questions regarding the application process to Charlene Finkelstein at (334) 293-4628 or [email protected], or Nikita Payne at (334) 293-4603 or [email protected].

If you need technical assistance after reviewing the instructions, please contact:
NEOGOV Customer Service
Monday-Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm PST
(855) 524-5627

AGENCY INFORMATION:
The Alabama Community College System is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System, including all postsecondary community and technical colleges under the control of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, that no employee or applicant for employment or promotion, on the basis of any impermissible criterion or characteristic including, without limitation, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background investigation. This employer participates in E-Verify.

The Alabama Community College System reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to the awarding. More than one position in the same job classification may be filled from the applicants for this position should another vacancy occur during the search process.
Annual Leave
Full-time employees may earn annual leave based on half-month pay periods as follows: Years of Employment Leave Per Pay Period Annual Leave Fewer than 5 years 4 hours 20 minutes 13 days 5 but less than 10 years 5 hours 25 minutes 16 days 2 hours 10 but less than 15 years 6 hours 30 minutes 19 days 4 hours 15 but less than 20 years 7 hours 35 minutes 22 days 6 hours 20 but less than 25 years 8 hours 40 minutes 26 days 25 or more years 9 hours 45 minutes 29 days 2 hours
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn 4 hours and 20 minutes of sick leave for each half-monthly pay period of service or 13 days per year. No more than 150 days or 1, 200 hours of sick leave may be accumulated. A complete description of sick leave benefits is outlined in the System Office Policies and Procedures Manual.

Personal Leave
All full-time, part-time, or temporary employees who are employed by the State of Alabama on January 1, and who are stationed outside of Mobile and Baldwin Counties, are entitled to a personal leave day each year in lieu of the former Mardi Gras holiday. The System Office policy requires that employees schedule their personal leave day prior to scheduling any annual leave.

Holidays
The Alabama Community College System observes the following legal holidays:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. /Robert E. Lee Birthday
George Washington / Thomas Jefferson Birthday
Confederate Memorial Day
National Memorial Day
Jefferson Davis Birthday
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Health Insurance
The State Employees' Health Insurance Plan (SEHIP) is basic hospital medical coverage administered by BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama (BCBS) with prescription benefits administered by OptumRx. For more information visit

Premium amounts *Base rate before discounts

• Single $140
• Family w/o spouse $330
• Family with spouse $490

Discounts and Waivers
Non-Tobacco Discount
Single: $60 | Family w/o spouse: $60 | Family with spouse: $120

Wellness Discount
Single: $25 | Family w/o spouse: $25 | Family with spouse: $50

Preventive Screening Discount
Single:$25 | Family w/o spouse: $25 | Family with spouse: $50

Spousal Surcharge Waiver
Family with spouse: $50 per month

Note: The spousal surcharge applies to family contracts where a spouse is eligible to participate in another employer's insurance coverage. If your spouse's monthly single premium with their employer is $255 or less, then the $50 surcharge will apply. If your spouse's monthly single premium is more than $255, then you may qualify for a waiver of the $50 surcharge.

Net Premium after all discounts and waivers

• Single $30
• Family w/o spouse $220
• Family with spouse $220

If desired, employees may elect optional coverage plans to include dental, vision, and cancer.

Optional Plans
Dental -BCBS or Southland Coverage costs: Single $8 | Family $15 per month
Vision - Southland Coverage costs: Single $12| Family $24 per month
Cancer - Southland Coverage costs: Single $12 | Family $24 per month

Retirement
The Alabama Community College System participates in the Retirement Systems of Alabama Teachers Retirement System. Teachers Retirement System is a state-mandated program where a percentage of your salary is withheld per pay period for an individual's retirement account. The percentage is determined by an employee's hire date and any prior participation in the Retirement Systems of Alabama.
Tier I (those with service credit prior to January 1, 2013): 7.5%
Tier II (those with service credit beginning on or after January 1, 2013): 6.2%

The State of Alabama also has two (2) deferred compensation programs for employees: RSA-1 and Great West. For more information on retirement plans, please visit and for Great West.

Tuition Waiver
This tuition assistance program is designed for all full-time benefits-eligible employees, retirees, and benefits-eligible H Salary Schedule employees of The Alabama Community College System and the Alabama Community College System office and their dependents defined by the policy. It is the responsibility of the employee and/or dependent to ensure that all documents and forms (requested by the College where the student is enrolled) are submitted and signed by the appropriate personnel in a timely manner prior to submission.

• 1/3 waived after 1st year
• 2/3 waived after 2nd year
• 3/3 waived after 3rd year

01

Do you have a Bachelor's degree, or higher, in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in software development, with a minimum of three (3) years in a leadership role?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have Full Stack development experience?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have advanced proficiency in any of the following?

• JavaScript, React, .NET/C#, Java
• SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle
• Transactional database and/or data warehouse design
• Writing Stored Procedures
• RESTful APIs, microservices, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)
• CI/CD tools and version control (Git, GitHub, DevOps pipelines)
• Atlassian solutions (Jira, Confluence)

05

Do you have experience with .Net, Entity Framework, and LINQ?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have experience with web design technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap)?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have experience with web design principals?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have proven experience with the following?

• Leading distributed development teams
• Modernizing legacy systems and developing web-based enterprise solutions

09

Do you have experience working in Agile/Scrum environments?

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have experience with unit and/or integration testing, code reviews, and continuous integration?

• Yes
• No

11

Do you have experience with community college systems or public higher education institutions?

• Yes
• No

12

Are you familiar with Ellucian Banner or similar SIS platforms?

• Yes
• No

13

Do you have Agile/Scrum certification (CSM, PMI-ACP)?

• Yes
• No

14

Do you have experience with accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) and data privacy regulations?

• Yes
• No

15

Are you familiar with Ellucian's Ethos Data Model APIs and SDKs?

• Yes
• No

16

Do you have work experience with higher education (2- or 4-year colleges), government agencies, or large-scale integrations?

• Yes
• No

Required Question