At Morton Fraser MacRoberts we are a new style of law firm, independent by choice and a place where we make our own decisions and our people can have their own say. Our culture empowers all of our people to be the best they can be.

You'll get responsibility early on and the support to make great things happen. And because we understand that hard work comes from people who are empowered to be at their best more of the time, we offer an agile working environment.

We are charting our way to become the best in our field, so if you share our ambition, come chart your best course with us.

Summary of Role

We are looking for an Applications Development Lead to lead the design, development, integration and ongoing improvement of the firm's business applications, automations and digital solutions.

This is a hands on technical leadership role, combining technical delivery and problem solving with team leadership and strategic oversight. You will lead a team of two developers, remain actively involved in developing solutions and take ownership of the development backlog and technical roadmap.

Working closely with IT, Innovation and Transformation, business stakeholders and other technical teams, you will help translate business requirements into secure, effective and sustainable technology solutions. You will play an important role in developing the firm's digital capabilities, making effective use of Microsoft Power Platform, Azure services, APIs and emerging technologies, including AI enabled solutions.

Key Tasks

• Lead the design, development and delivery of business applications, process automations and systems integrations.

• Own and manage the development backlog and technical roadmap, ensuring business priorities are translated into realistic and deliverable plans.

• Remain hands on with technical development, taking responsibility for complex and strategically important solutions and integrations.

• Lead solution design, selecting appropriate technologies and ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, maintainable and fit for purpose.

• Develop and maintain solutions using Microsoft Power Platform, including Power Apps, Power Automate and Dataverse, alongside Azure services and APIs.

• Establish and maintain development standards covering source control, testing, peer review, deployment, documentation and release management.

• Oversee the full development lifecycle, from initial requirements and solution design through to testing, deployment and ongoing support.

• Manage, coach and develop two developers, providing technical guidance, allocating work and supporting their continued development.

• Work collaboratively with IT, Innovation and Transformation, Cyber Security, data colleagues and wider business stakeholders to deliver effective solutions.

• Identify opportunities to improve processes and introduce new technologies, including AI enabled tools and automation, where these offer clear business benefits.

• Ensure applications and automations are appropriately documented, monitored and supported, with suitable arrangements in place for ongoing maintenance.

• Manage technical debt, resolve development issues and continually look for ways to improve the firm's application estate and development capability.

• Manage relationships with external suppliers where specialist development expertise or support is required.

Qualifications and Experience 

• Proven experience leading application or software development delivery, ideally within a complex organisation.

• Experience managing or technically leading developers whilst maintaining a hands on approach to development.

• Strong experience of Microsoft Power Platform, including Power Apps, Power Automate and Dataverse.

• Experience designing and delivering system integrations using REST APIs, Azure integration services and secure authentication methods.

• Working knowledge of C#/.NET, JavaScript or TypeScript, SQL and PowerShell, or comparable development technologies.

• Experience of source control, CI/CD, testing, release management and technical documentation.

• Good understanding of secure development practices, identity and access management, data protection and application support.

• Ability to translate business requirements into practical technical solutions and communicate technical considerations clearly to non technical stakeholders.

Experience within a law firm, professional services or another regulated environment would be advantageous. Knowledge of legal and business systems, as well as experience with AI enabled solutions, Copilot Studio or Azure AI services, would also be beneficial.

Person Specification

• You are a pragmatic and forward thinking technical leader who can balance innovation and delivery with security, quality and long term supportability.

• You enjoy combining hands on technical work with leading, coaching and developing others.

• You are confident making technical decisions, challenging unnecessary complexity and identifying the most appropriate solutions to business challenges.

• You are collaborative and approachable, with a willingness to share knowledge, encourage teamwork and promote continuous improvement.

• You have strong communication skills and can explain technical concepts and options clearly to both technical and non technical colleagues.

• You are commercially aware and able to assess different approaches, including whether solutions should be developed internally, purchased or outsourced.

• You are organised and able to manage competing priorities, ensuring development work is delivered effectively and in line with business needs.

• You take ownership of your work and are committed to delivering high quality, secure and reliable solutions that make a positive difference to the firm.

Here at Morton Fraser MacRoberts we believe in a positive work life balance and in an inclusive and friendly working environment.

We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome. We know that a culture of inclusion drives great results, and we're committed to making sure all our people feel valued and empowered. If you need any adjustments or accommodations during the application process, just let us know in your application. We will support you every step of the way. If you have a disability and meet the basic requirements for the role, we will guarantee you an interview.

We offer a generous benefits package including:

• Profit Related Pay
• Pension Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance for all employees (BUPA)
• Holidays starting at 25 days plus 9 public holidays (plus birthday off)
• Tax Efficient Car Lease Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Access to Comprehensive Wellbeing resources
• Retail Discounts

We operate our business on an agile basis reflecting the needs of our clients and our people to deliver outstanding client service.  We will agree a suitable office/homeworking arrangement with all candidates (where appropriate).

As signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, we recognise the value that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. Please ensure you include any military skills and qualifications you hold when applying for a vacancy with us to ensure they are recognised during our recruitment and selection process.