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I am looking for a hands-on application development leadership role where I can combine deep technical delivery with practical team leadership, application planning, and long-term system stewardship. My ideal position would allow me to remain actively involved in software design, development, troubleshooting, code review, database work, and system modernization, while also mentoring developers, coordinating priorities, communicating with stakeholders, and helping guide the direction of business-critical application systems.

The role that best fits me is not purely a management position and not purely an individual contributor role. I am at my best in a position where I can move between architecture, implementation, production support, planning, and leadership as needed. I enjoy building and maintaining systems directly, but I also bring the experience to help a team make better technical decisions, organize work, reduce risk, improve maintainability, and deliver software that fits real operational needs.

My strongest technical background is in Delphi/Object Pascal, SQL, database-backed application development, reporting automation, developer tools, application modernization, and production troubleshooting. I have extensive experience working with long-lived business systems, especially those that require careful maintenance, incremental modernization, strong database understanding, and practical support for users who depend on those systems every day. I am particularly interested in roles involving internal applications, institutional systems, client/server software, database administration, REST or web service integration, reporting workflows, and tools that improve operational efficiency.

At the same time, I bring meaningful leadership and application management experience. I have led and mentored developers, coordinated workloads, supported Scrum-based delivery, worked with Jira and Confluence, helped manage application portfolios, contributed to budget and workload planning, and communicated technical risks and tradeoffs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. I am comfortable acting as the bridge between business needs and technical implementation, especially in environments where systems must be secure, maintainable, reliable, and understandable over time.

I would be well suited to a role such as Application Development Lead, Principal Software Developer, Hands-On Application Development Manager, Technical Lead for Business Systems, Application Systems Manager, or Senior Applications Architect. The common thread across those titles is that the position should value both technical depth and leadership maturity. I want to help design and build systems, but I also want to help shape standards, mentor developers, improve processes, reduce technical debt, and support responsible long-term planning.

I am especially interested in organizations that need someone who can understand older systems without dismissing them, modernize carefully without unnecessary disruption, and build practical solutions that serve real business needs. I bring the patience to work with legacy code, the judgment to know when change is worth making, and the technical background to implement those changes responsibly.

I also bring practical experience using AI and LLM-assisted development workflows for implementation support, refactoring, documentation, test planning, and code review. I see these tools as accelerators, not replacements for engineering responsibility. The kind of role I want would allow me to apply those tools thoughtfully while maintaining accountability for correctness, security, maintainability, and fit-for-purpose software.

Overall, I am looking for a position where I can lead from within the work: guiding people, improving systems, solving technical problems, supporting production needs, and helping an organization maintain and modernize the applications it depends on.

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Address:

Vivian Mills,
Sherwood Park T8A 1J2
Canada

 

PROFESSIONAL PROFILESoftware development leader with 27 years of programming experience and 16 years supporting institutional applicationsystems at Concordia University of Edmonton. Experienced leading desktop, back-end, and front-end developers; managingapplication portfolios; mentoring staff; coordinating cross-department priorities; and delivering secure, maintainablebusiness systems. Combines hands-on development depth in Delphi/Object Pascal, SQL, database administration, anddeveloper tooling with management experience in Scrum, Jira, Confluence, risk analysis, application hardening, stakeholdercommunication, and long-term system planning. Practical LLM-assisted development experience over the last 2 years, usingAI tools to support implementation, refactoring, documentation, test planning, and code review while retaining engineeringaccountability.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT STRENGTHSSoftware development leadershipScrum delivery coordinationRisk analysis and mitigationCross-department communicationTeam mentoring and coachingJira and Confluence workflowsApplication systems hardeningDatabase administration oversightApplication portfolio planningBudget and workload coordinationStakeholder needs assessmentGovernance and documentation

TECHNICAL FLUENCYCore strengths: Delphi/Object Pascal, SQL/PSQL, database design, database administration, REST services, applicationautomation, reporting, code review, testing, documentation, and LLM-assisted development workflows.Additional professional exposure: Python, Java, JavaScript, C, PowerBuilder, Business Rules! (BR!), PHP, HTML, OracleRDBMS, InterBase, Firebird, SQL Server, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Git, MS Office, and Adobe Acrobat workflows.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEConcordia University of Edmonton | IT Applications Manager | 2023 - Nov 2025- Led a software development team responsible for institutional application systems, including desktop, back-end, andfront-end development work.- Mentored developers, coordinated workloads, supported training, and managed priorities, budgets, and long-termapplication planning.- Used Scrum practices, Jira, and Confluence to organize development work, track decisions, maintain documentation, andimprove team coordination.- Managed application risk analysis, system hardening priorities, production support needs, and interdepartmental planningfor critical university systems.- Served as Database Administrator for the Student Information System and supported data reliability, access control,reporting, and operational continuity.- Communicated technical risks, project needs, tradeoffs, and system impacts clearly with technical staff, managers, andnon-technical stakeholders.

Concordia University of Edmonton | Applications Coordinator | 2018 - 2023- Led application development work as team lead, providing mentoring, technical direction, code review, and projectcoordination.- Designed and supported secure, scalable client/server applications and REST-based services that continue to supportcritical university functions.- Performed needs assessments with departments, evaluated software options, defined project criteria, and helpedstakeholders make informed application decisions.- Contributed to application security, risk analysis, system support planning, and cross-department coordination.

Concordia University of Edmonton | Senior Software Developer | 2009 - 2018- Developed and maintained institutional software using Delphi/Object Pascal, InterBase, SQL, MS Office automation,Adobe Acrobat workflows, and web service APIs.- Built in-house tools to automate repetitive reporting, administrative, and support tasks.- Supported production application work involving Java and Python in limited but practical contexts and served as DatabaseAdministrator for the Student Information System.

Mills Enterprise Ltd., Sherwood Park, AB | Owner and Developer | 2002 - Present- Build custom software and technical solutions for contract clients, community organizations, ParentLink, and the FortMcMurray Chamber of Commerce.- Manage client relationships, requirements, testing, implementation, support, and business operations while deliveringmaintainable software solutions.- Create desktop, database, web, reporting, productivity, and developer tools using Delphi/Object Pascal, SQL, HTML, PHP,multiple database engines, and LLM-assisted development practices.

EARLIER TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE- Western Canadian Software, Software Developer and Consultant, 2005 - 2009: developed and supported AIMS Accountingsoftware using Business Rules! (BR!); earned Microsoft Dynamics NAV certification and provided NAV consulting/support.- Quest Software, Software Developer, 1998 - 2001: built Delphi framework and developer tooling, including Oracle-relateddatabase development and enterprise developer tools.- Burntsands Software / Energy Exchange Ltd., Software Developer and Consultant, 1995 - 1998: developed real-time onlineoil and gas auction systems using PowerBuilder 3.0, Oracle RDBMS, and HTML.

EDUCATION- Master of Information Systems Security, Concordia University of Edmonton, 2022 - Graduate Diploma in Information Systems, Concordia University of Edmonton, 2018 - Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Augustana University College, 1994

CERTIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT- COBIT 5 Foundations, 2019 - Microsoft Dynamics NAV Certification, 2008 - Mental Health First Aid, 2019 - Respect in the Workplace, 2019

GOVERNANCE AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP- Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, Board Member, 2020 - Present: contribute to governance, policy development,responsible decision-making, and interview committee work.- Manager's Group, Concordia University of Edmonton, Board Member / Chair, 2017 - 2025: chaired meetings, appointedcommittees, and coordinated professional development and institutional relationships.- Scouts Canada, Scout Leader, 2014 - 2020: planned and led youth activities, camps, hikes, fundraising, and volunteerprojects; helped grow group enrolment from 4 to 20 youth.