R&D Coordinator

Scope: Two multidisciplinary R&D teams

Team composition: Software development, Scrum Master, DBA, and quality assurance

Primary accountability: Reliable end-to-end delivery, from planning through release and continuous improvement

The R&D Coordinator is accountable for the end-to-end performance and delivery of two Abilis R&D teams. Each team brings together software development, Scrum Master, DBA and quality assurance capabilities. The Coordinator ensures that these functions operate as one delivery unit rather than as separate handoffs.

This role combines people leadership, delivery management, agile execution, product awareness, and operational discipline. The incumbent turns priorities into realistic plans, removes obstacles, manages capacity and dependencies, and ensures that each team delivers secure, stable, high-quality product outcomes.

Working closely with Product Management, Professional Service, Customer-facing teams, and other stakeholders, the R&D Coordinator creates clear accountability from intake and planning through development, testing, release readiness, deployment support, and post-release improvement.

Core Accountability

Own the outcome, not only the activity. The R&D Coordinator is responsible for the coordinated performance of both teams and for the quality, predictability, and continuous improvement of their delivery system.

1. Lead two multidisciplinary teams end to end

• Direct and coordinate two R&D teams comprising developers, DBA, Scrum Master, and quality assurance professionals.
• Create one shared plan and clear accountability across analysis, development, testing, release readiness, and follow-up.
• Ensure work does not stall between functions and that ownership remains clear until the expected outcome is achieved.
•  Balance delivery commitments, product health, technical needs, client impact, and team capacity.

2. Plan and deliver predictably

• Translate approved priorities into executable delivery plans with clear scope, sequencing, dependencies, risks, and ownership.
• Maintain realistic capacity plans for both teams and make trade-offs visible before commitments are made.
• Monitor progress, identify variance early, and lead corrective action when quality, scope, schedule, or capacity is at risk.

3. Own quality throughout the lifecycle

• Make quality a shared responsibility from requirements and design through development, validation, release, and production follow-up.
• Ensure appropriate test planning, defect triage, root-cause analysis, regression coverage, and release-readiness decisions.
• Promote documentation of defects, expected behaviour, technical decisions, and reusable test scenarios.
•  Use recurring defects and production issues to drive systemic improvements in engineering and quality practices.

4. Lead people and build capability

• Set clear expectations and measurable objectives for team members and reinforce individual and collective accountability.
• Coach employees through regular feedback, development plans, and direct support when performance or role clarity needs improvement.
• Build collaboration across disciplines while maintaining high standards for ownership, quality, and execution.

5. Improve Abilis R&D operations

• Help standardize practical R&D processes, working agreements, documentation, and delivery controls across both teams.
• Define and monitor a concise set of indicators covering predictability, capacity, quality, flow, and product outcomes.
• Identify repeated delays, bottlenecks, rework, and manual handoffs, then lead corrective improvements.
• Support the adoption of AI-assisted tools where they create measurable value.

7. Collaborate across the business

• Work closely with Product Management and the directors to confirm priorities, scope, acceptance expectations, and roadmap alignment before execution.
• Coordinate with Operations, Support, Professional Services, DevOps, and other stakeholders on incidents, dependencies, release readiness, and client impact.
• Communicate risks, decisions, changes, and required actions in a direct and timely manner.

What Success Looks Like

• Clients are satisfied because commitments are delivered on time and with consistent quality.

• Both teams operate with clear priorities, ownership, capacity, and delivery commitments.
• Risks, blockers, dependencies, and quality concerns are identified early and acted on quickly.
• Releases are supported by clear readiness criteria, appropriate validation, and documented decisions.
• Team performance improves through measurable process changes, coaching, and stronger accountability.
• Stakeholders have a reliable and transparent view of progress, trade-offs, and expected outcomes.

– Salary Range : 80k 95k

Candidate Profile

• Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Strong expertise in project management, collaboration tools, and agile methodologies.
• Strong focus on quality, customer outcomes, operational excellence, and the continuous improvement of processes and ways  of working. 
• Experience with AI-assisted software development.
• Clear, direct communication skills and the ability to align technical and non-technical stakeholders.

*Only selected candidates will be contacted.

Harris is committed to an Employment Equity Program and encourages applications from members of designated groups, including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and visible minorities. If you are a person with a disability, assistance with the screening and selection process is available upon request.

Harris’ Talent Acquisition team does not use text messages to communicate with candidates or request confidential information. We encourage all candidates to apply directly to posted positions. Candidates who meet the required qualifications will be contacted for an interview by either a Harris hiring manager or a member of the Talent Acquisition team.