Application Development Manager (Program Manager II)

We are Farmers – where ambition meets opportunity. At Farmers, we’re not just known for unforgettable jingle – we’re a team with a passion for purpose and making a real difference in people’s lives. We deliver peace of mind when it matters most. Our results-driven, high-performance culture thrives on creativity, accountability and bold solutions. Here, growth isn’t just a goal – it’s a way of life for both the organization and every individual on our team. We tackle challenges head-on, learn from every experience and measure our impact on the customers who trust us. Join an award-winning, equal opportunity employer, where you’ll find more than a job – you’ll find a supportive community. Enjoy competitive benefits, take part in meaningful volunteer projects, and help shape the future alongside talented colleagues across all backgrounds. At Farmers, helping others is at the heart of what we do. Ready to make your mark? Discover our vibrant culture and explore career opportunities at Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and let’s build something incredible together! Workplace: Hybrid ( #LI-Hybrid ), Remote ( #LI-Remote ) Farmers believes in a culture of collaboration, creativity, and innovation, which thrives when we have the ability to work flexibly in a virtual setting as well as the opportunity to be together in person. Our hybrid work environment combines the best of both worlds with at least three (3) days in office and up to two (2) days virtual for employees who live within fifty (50) miles of a Farmers corporate office. Applicants beyond fifty (50) miles may still be considered.Job Summary We’re hiring an Application Development Manager to lead a team responsible for enhancing, supporting, and gradually modernizing business-critical applications. This role is best suited for a strong people leader who can foster credibility and rapport, create stability, and help the team deliver reliably in a diverse IT ecosystem. You’ll balance feature delivery, production support, and incremental modernization of legacy applications—while strengthening team routines, communication, and execution. Primary Focus: Leadership Guide and assist a team of approximately five developers and one customer representative by fostering transparency, coaching, prioritizing tasks, providing feedback, and supporting career growth and objectives. Build confidence and trust through consistent leadership, clear expectations, and a steady operating rhythm. Set priorities and manage tradeoffs between planned work (features/modernization) and unplanned work (production issues, urgent requests). Improve execution and transparency with clear status reporting, early risk escalation, and dependency management. Partner with stakeholders in the department, across IT and the business to align scope, timelines, and outcomes. Technical Experience Guide work across legacy applications and modern engineering practices, focusing on steady improvement over “big bang” change. Encourage a quality-focused SDLC (clear requirements, testing discipline, release readiness, and production support practices). Promote a DevOps mindset—automation, repeatability, and continuous improvement—within our IT ecosystem. Experience Requirements Level II: 4 years experience in an IT environment, including 1 year in a supervisory role or 1 year as a Program Manager I. Proven experience leading software development teams, including coaching, accountability, and building a healthy culture. Solid background in application development and delivering enhancements in a structured SDLC environment. Experience working with production systems (support, reliability, incident response, and prioritizing critical work). Strong communication skills—able to provide accurate, timely status, raise risks early, and drive alignment. Preferred Experience: Experience modernizing or refactoring legacy applications to reduce operational risk and technical debt. Exposure to DevOps practices (CI/CD concepts, automated testing, quality checks, security scanning, etc.). Familiarity working in a Microsoft enterprise environment (tools/platforms commonly used across Microsoft-based development organizations). Multi-cloud platforms; post composition and workflow automation software; scripting (Python, PowerShell, JavaScript, Bash, VB); print languages (PLC 5/6, LCDS/Metacode, PDL, AFP, PostScript, PDF, etc.); familiarity with Content Manager or FileNet; ServiceNow. Education Requirements High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent, relevant experience. Benefits Farmers offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, qualifications and location.o CA Only: $102,450 - $174,240o CO Only: $96,075 - $150,260 o HI/IL/MN/VT Only: $96,075 - $160,710o MA Only: $96,075 - $160,710 o MD Only: $96,075 - $160,710o DC/NJ/NY/OH Only: $96,075 - $174,240 o Albany County, NY/Cleveland, OH: $102,450 - $150,260 o WA Only: $96,075 - $182,625 Bonus Opportunity (based on Company and Individual Performance) 401(k) Medical Dental Vision Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts Life Insurance Paid Time Off Paid Parental Leave Tuition Assistance For more information, review “What we offer” on Job Location(s): US - MI - Caledonia, US - MI - Grand Rapids Anticipated application deadline: At Farmers, the recruitment process is designed to ensure that we find the best talent to join our team. As part of this process, we typically close open positions within 8 to 21 days after posting. If you are interested in any of our open positions, we encourage you to submit your application promptly. Farmers will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance or other applicable law. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1033, Farmers is prohibited from employing any individual who has been convicted of any criminal felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust without prior written consent from the state Department of Insurance. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Farmers is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in any employer/employee relations based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military and veteran's status, or any other basis protected by applicable discrimination laws. Want to learn more about our culture & opportunities? Check out and be sure to follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Spokane, WA only: Residents who prefer not to provide their address click here to submit your resume via email: View email address on click.appcast.io