Vice President – Research and Development

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in South Carolina, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Take ownership and lead all aspects of Research & Development for the FINS growth products at Harris School Solutions.

• Drive ongoing product research and development to enhance existing offerings and broaden web and cloud functionalities on a standardized technical platform.

• Integrate AI into products and engineering methodologies, transitioning from AI experimentation to large-scale AI implementation.

• Enhance developer productivity through AI-supported coding and testing solutions.

• Convert business objectives and product specifications into implementable development strategies and prioritized AI roadmaps.

• Ensure timely and budget-compliant project delivery.

• Promote the adoption of AI developer tools and establish standards, including GitHub Copilot and agentic coding assistants.

• Oversee the delivery of AI-integrated capabilities for K12 finance, HR, and administrative functions.

• Develop responsible AI practices that encompass data privacy, FERPA and state regulations, model governance, human-in-the-loop mechanisms, and customer transparency.

• Convey strategy, provide executive updates, report on development progress, and address any challenges.

• Manage both onsite and offshore development teams while inspiring a team of over 40 members.

• Encourage collaboration across business units and share insights on AI learnings and reusable components.

• Offer technical guidance for product development and support services.

• Assess organizational structure, technology, and engineering methods, implementing enhancements as necessary.

• Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies, with a special focus on AI.

• Conduct interviews, hire, mentor, develop, assign tasks, manage performance, and oversee departmental budgets.

• Report directly to the Executive Vice President of Harris School Solutions, FINS Enterprise Solutions.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of management experience in leading software development teams.

• Experience with profit and loss (P&L) management.

• Proven ability in portfolio management across multiple products and technology stacks.

• Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools.

• Demonstrated success in delivering AI or machine learning capabilities within production software.

• Expertise in Agile methodologies.

• Background in public sector or K12 solutions.

• Knowledge of SaaS deployments and infrastructure.

• Experience with AI platforms, LLM integration, or creating agentic and copilot-style experiences within enterprise applications.

• History of establishing responsible AI or data governance practices in regulated environments.

• Innovative examples of delivering measurable value in products.

• Strong people management skills combined with practical software development experience.

• In-depth understanding of Microsoft technologies and the multi-faceted AI ecosystem.

• Proficiency in modern AI-assisted development practices.

• Working knowledge of the Agile Scrum process.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive employee health and wellness benefits.

• Exceptional career development programs.

• A culture that promotes growth.

• Every voice is valued.

• Global opportunities.

• Careers with a purpose.