An application development director oversees the development process of strategies and applications within a company. They lead a team of developers, ensuring systems are upgraded, improved, and replaced as needed. Collaborating with various departments, they gather application requirements and integrate them into solutions that address company-wide issues. This role requires both technical expertise and managerial skills, often involving a degree in computer science and years of experience in application development and management.
It typically takes 8-10 years to become an application development director:
The timeline assumes that the individual will receive less than a month of on-site training and 6-12 months of on-the-job training.
Score Application Development Director US AverageAvg. Salary $151,898
Avg. Salary $59,228
Stability LevelGrowth Rate 16 %
Growth Rate 0.3 %
RaceAmerican Indian and Alaska Native 0.21 %
Asian 13.39 %
Black or African American 6.69 %
Hispanic or Latino 10.04 %
Unknown 5.20 %
White 64.48 %
Gender
female 15.99 %
male 84.01 %
Age - 47
RaceAmerican Indian and Alaska Native 3.00 %
Asian 7.00 %
Black or African American 14.00 %
Hispanic or Latino 19.00 %
White 57.00 %
Gender
female 47.00 %
male 53.00 %
Age - 47
Stress LevelStress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity LevelComplexity Level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work Life BalanceWork Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Is being an Application Development Director right for you?
Take the career quizAn application development director can progress to various leadership roles. Many move into Information Technology Director or Chief Information Officer positions. Others become Vice Presidents of Information Technology, Chief Technology Officers, or Presidents and Chief Technology Officers. Some also advance to senior director or marketing vice president roles.
The educational requirements for an application development director are typically a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Business, Electrical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, or Management Information Systems. According to the data, a significant percentage (47.68%) of application development directors hold a bachelor's degree. Additionally, many application development directors hold certifications such as Project Management Professional, Certified Scrum Master, IT Information Library Foundations Certification, and ITIL Foundation. Some of the top schools for application development directors include Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, University of Washington, and New York University.
An application development director needs a variety of skills. They should be able to create web applications using different programming languages and technologies. They also need to manage teams, allocate resources, and provide technical direction. They must develop and implement security policies and procedures, including code reviews and security remediation. They need to lead the development of different projects, including software applications, hardware upgrades, and network infrastructure.
| Skills | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Application Development | 12.65% |
| Architecture | 7.41% |
| Java | 6.71% |
| Software Development | 6.24% |
| Project Management | 5.56% |
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New application development directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an application development director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real application development director resumes.
Application development director certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific application development director certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants. The most common certifications for application development directors include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
An application development director is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of various applications. This can include managing teams of developers, creating standards and review processes, and evaluating alternative application suites. They also provide technical direction, manage resource allocation, and ensure security policies and procedures are in place. Additionally, they work with senior management to align with agile processes and provide product owners to teams.
Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become an application development director. The most common roles before becoming an application development director include manager applications development, senior software engineer team lead and programmer analyst.
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