Manager of Application Development

Manager of Application Development

ABOUT US

Looking for more than just a job? At Thompson Machinery, we've been powering progress since 1944. We are the go‑to Caterpillar dealer for Middle and West Tennessee and North Mississippi. Come join a team where our mission is simple: deliver smart solutions, build lasting partnerships, strengthen the communities we call home and invest in your growth.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

This position is responsible for leading Thompson Machinery's application development function and delivering business solutions that improve efficiency, consistency, and visibility across the organization. Reporting to the Director of IT, the Application Development Manager manages a team of developers who primarily build and support solutions using the Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, and related services). This role partners closely with business stakeholders and the Continuous Improvement team to identify process gaps, define requirements, and translate operational needs into secure, scalable applications and automations. Success in this role requires strong leadership, clear communication, and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams across the company.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBLITIES

• Application Delivery & Portfolio Execution:
  • Own end-to-end delivery of application enhancements and new solutions, from intake through release and stabilization.
  • Establish clear ownership of scope, priorities, timelines, and outcomes; communicate tradeoffs and constraints proactively.
  • Ensure solutions meet functional needs, quality standards, and usability expectations through appropriate testing, validation, and user acceptance.
• Power Platform Leadership (Power Apps Focus):
  • Lead development and support of Power Platform solutions, with primary emphasis on Power Apps and Dataverse-based application patterns.
  • Define and enforce development standards (environment strategy, security roles, data modeling, naming conventions, solution packaging, and documentation).
  • Promote reusable components and consistent patterns to improve delivery speed, maintainability, and user experience.
  • Provide technical guidance on Power Platform architecture, including data architecture (Dataverse and/or connected data sources) and integration patterns with external systems via APIs and connectors.
• People Leadership & Team Development:
  • Lead, coach, and develop application developers; provide role clarity, workload balancing, and growth plans.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, quality, and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure adequate skill coverage and cross‑training to reduce single points of failure and support business continuity.
• Business Partnership & Requirements Consulting:
  • Consult with business stakeholders to understand current‑state workflows, identify process gaps, and define measurable outcomes.
  • Translate business needs into clear, actionable requirements and user stories; ensure alignment on scope, acceptance criteria, and change impacts.
  • Partner with cross‑functional teams (operations, finance, parts, service, rental, and other departments) to ensure solutions fit real‑world processes and drive adoption.
• Continuous Improvement Partnership:
  • Work closely with the Continuous Improvement team to translate improvement opportunities and future‑state processes into software solutions.
  • Support pilot‑to‑scale delivery by rapidly iterating solutions, validating outcomes, and standardizing successful implementations.
• Governance, Security & Operational Support:
  • Ensure applications align with Thompson's security requirements, data access controls, and change management practices.
  • Maintain appropriate documentation (solution designs, configuration records, runbooks, and support procedures) to enable supportability and continuity.
  • Coordinate with infrastructure, data, security, and support teams to resolve production issues and deliver enhancements with minimal business disruption.

WHAT WE EXPECT OF YOU

We all have different backgrounds, yet we all use our unique contributions to provide the highest quality of service.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (preferred); equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive experience delivering business applications and leading or mentoring technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience building and supporting solutions using Microsoft Power Platform, with strong working knowledge of Power Apps and related services (e.g., Power Automate and Dataverse).
• Proven ability to consult with business stakeholders, identify process gaps, and translate needs into clear requirements and usable software solutions.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and audiences (technical and non‑technical).
• Experience establishing delivery practices and standards (intake, prioritization, development practices, testing, documentation, release/change coordination, and production support).
• Working knowledge of application security concepts (role‑based access, least privilege, data protection) and the ability to partner with IT security to align solutions to company standards.
• Preferred: experience with Agile delivery practices, database concepts (data modeling and relational fundamentals), and integration patterns connecting business applications to enterprise and external systems via APIs.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

At Thompson Machinery, we believe that great benefits are more than just perks‑they're essential for employee well‑being and success. We've designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring that our team members thrive both personally and professionally. Here's an overview of our benefits, including some that set us apart from our competitors.

THE BASICS

• Various medical plan options, including a no‑cost option
• Vision and dental insurance
• Employer‑paid short‑term and long‑term disability insurance
• Employer‑paid basic life insurance
• 401k matching
• Profit Sharing
• 8 paid holidays annually
• Initially up to 15 days of Paid Time Off annually with increase after five years of service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

WHAT SETS US APART

• Competitive pay
• Exposure to world‑class CAT training and development
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Tool Purchase Assistance to buy high‑quality tools at deep discounts
• Annual stipend toward the purchase of work boots
• Company Incentive Bonus Program
• Paid Veteran holiday annually to all service members
• Training and Development programs
• Work uniforms and professional cleaning services
• Financial Wellness programs

Thompson Machinery offers competitive salaries and a complete benefits package. Compensation for this position will be commensurate with candidate experience and background. Thompson Machinery is an equal opportunity employer: Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.