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What is a senior development manager and how to become one
Development managers direct the activities of construction project teams. They are responsible for coordinating all the phases of a construction project; from planning and strategy to the final execution. Senior development managers may also support a project's financing efforts.
A senior development manager is one of the first professionals engaged in a construction project. They bring structure to the process and help team members understand their roles. Part of taking on a management role includes monitoring an operation's deadlines and materials. Senior development managers are also charged with recruiting other team members, like architects, designers, and engineers. As the leader, they introduce the team to the project's parameters.
A degree in business management or a similar field is needed to become a senior development manager. Some companies prefer candidates to have a more advanced degree, like an MBA. Leadership, organization, and problem-solving are all crucial soft skills for the role.
Avg. Salary $141,487
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 16%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.21%
Asian 13.60%
Black or African American 6.60%
Hispanic or Latino 9.90%
Unknown 5.19%
White 64.50%
Genderfemale 28.11%
male 71.89%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Senior development manager career paths
Key steps to become a senior development manager
Explore senior development manager education requirements
Start to develop specific senior development manager skills
Skills Percentages Java 7.15% Software Development 6.61% Cloud 6.15% Architecture 6.05% Project Management 6.01% Complete relevant senior development manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior development managers 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 a senior development manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior development manager resumes.Gain additional senior development manager certifications
More About CertificationsSenior development manager 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 senior development manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for senior development managers include Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Project Management Professional (PMP).
Research senior development manager duties and responsibilities
- Hire, train and manage varied staff of developers, technical writer, EDI analyst and computer operations staff.
- Manage both new development and enhancement projects from initial scope through requirements, coding, QA testing, and implementation.
- Develop and lead senior developers to build complex web interfaces using ABAP OO, JCo, Json, and XML.
- Envision and manage the transitioned company to a centralize and structure SharePoint environment.
Get senior development manager experience
Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a senior development manager. The most common roles before becoming a senior development manager include senior software engineer, development manager team lead and software engineer.Prepare your senior development manager resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior development manager resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior development manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable senior development manager resume templates
Build a professional senior development manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior development manager resume.
Apply for senior development manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior development manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior development manager job
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Average senior development manager salary
The average senior development manager salary in the United States is $141,487 per year or $68 per hour. Senior development manager salaries range between $106,000 and $188,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior development managers rate their job?
Senior development manager reviews
Able to see ideation to fruition and achieve success together as a team.
If company is not supportive of new technology advancement.
Working long hours
Reviewing
This can be a tough and demanding job but rewarding in the end since you can see the benefit of the software that you have built through the eyes of the user
Updated January 8, 2025
