Chapter Lead – UI & Access Management Solutions

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Chapter Lead – UI & Access Management Solutions
Company: ING
Location: CDR (Amsterdam - Cedar), Netherlands
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Technology / Data & Analytics / Management & Leadership
Date Posted: 2025-12-13
Experience Level: 2-5 years (Mid-Senior Level)
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a team of Experience engineers focused on UI and Access Management solutions for data analytics platforms, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
• Drive technical excellence by setting and maintaining standards for best practices, tools, and methodologies within the Experience Chapter.
• Contribute hands-on to the development and maintenance of front-end (React) and back-end (Go) solutions, built on microservices and Kubernetes.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional squads and stakeholders to ensure alignment on product goals, priorities, and strategies, driving high-quality delivery.
• Actively participate in talent development through one-on-one meetings, performance reviews, and growth planning for chapter members.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role blends technical leadership with hands-on development, requiring a candidate comfortable with both managing a team and contributing code. The "Chapter Lead" title, common in Agile/DevOps environments, implies a focus on people development and technical guidance within a specific discipline, rather than direct project management. The 50/50 split between leadership and hands-on work is a critical aspect for candidates to understand.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Chapter Leadership: Build, coach, and inspire a team of Big Data Cloud engineers, promoting a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and innovation.
• Technical Excellence: Define and uphold standards for best practices, tools, and methodologies within the Experience Chapter, driving improvements in technical quality, scalability, and maintainability.
• Talent Development: Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance reviews, and create growth plans for chapter members, identifying strengths and supporting career paths.
• Community Building: Foster a strong sense of community within the chapter by organizing knowledge-sharing sessions, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with stakeholders across engineering, product, and business functions to ensure alignment between product goals, priorities, strategy, and the chapter's objectives.
• Hands-on Development: Contribute approximately 50% of your time to developing and maintaining front-ends using React and back-ends using Go, within a microservices architecture running on Kubernetes.
• Environment Shaping: Act as a friendly, empathetic, and approachable leader who can effectively challenge engineers within and outside the chapter.
• Curiosity and Innovation: Stay updated with the latest technological developments and introduce relevant advancements to the team and projects.
• Communication: Clearly explain complex technical subjects to diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: people management and hands-on technical contribution. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate leadership capabilities alongside strong technical skills in React, Go, microservices, and Kubernetes. The emphasis on empathy and communication suggests a people-centric leadership approach.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum of a technical HBO (Bachelor of Applied Sciences) or Bachelor's degree, preferably in Computer Science or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in IT within a corporate environment.
• Proven experience in building distributed, reactive applications.
• Experience with front-end development using React or similar frameworks.
• Experience with back-end development using Go.
• Good understanding of databases, specifically Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS).
• Good understanding of Kubernetes.
• Good understanding of Microservices/API development.
• Competence in building CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps.

Required Skills:

• UI Development: Proficient in front-end development with React or similar technologies, focusing on creating intuitive user interfaces.
• Backend Development: Skilled in Go for backend services, demonstrating experience with microservices and API development.
• Cloud-Native Technologies: Strong understanding of Kubernetes for container orchestration and deployment.
• DevOps & CI/CD: Competent in building and managing CI/CD pipelines, particularly with Azure DevOps.
• Database Management: Solid understanding of RDBMS and data modeling principles.
• Leadership & Coaching: Ability to guide, coach, and inspire engineering teams, fostering professional growth.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to various audiences.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex technical challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) for logging and monitoring.
• Experience with message-oriented middleware, such as Kafka.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a modern technology stack and agile development practices. The distinction between "good understanding" and "experienced" for certain technologies suggests that while foundational knowledge is necessary, deeper expertise in areas like React, Go, Kubernetes, and CI/CD will be highly valued. The inclusion of ELK stack and Kafka as "nice to have" indicates potential future growth areas or specific project needs.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Technical Project Demonstrations: Showcase successful front-end (React) and back-end (Go) projects, highlighting architecture, design patterns, and key features.
• Microservices & API Design: Provide examples of microservices architecture and API development, demonstrating understanding of scalability, resilience, and integration.
• CI/CD Pipeline Implementation: Present case studies or examples of CI/CD pipelines built with Azure DevOps, illustrating automation, testing, and deployment strategies.
• Kubernetes Deployments: Include examples of applications deployed and managed on Kubernetes, showcasing understanding of containerization and orchestration.
• Process Improvement Case Studies: Detail instances where you improved development processes, enhanced system performance, or optimized workflows within a team or project.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss how you would design or optimize workflows for the RaAM squad, focusing on efficiency and collaboration between development and operations.
• System Implementation & Automation: Document your approach to implementing new systems or automating existing processes, emphasizing best practices and risk mitigation.
• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Demonstrate how you have used metrics and data analysis to evaluate the performance of solutions, identify bottlenecks, and drive improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role with a 50% hands-on component, a portfolio demonstrating practical application of skills is crucial. The emphasis on "process" suggests that candidates should be ready to articulate their methodologies for development, deployment, and team management, not just showcase finished products. Case studies demonstrating tangible improvements in efficiency, scalability, or maintainability will be highly impactful.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: €70,000 - €100,000 per year (Gross, based on experience and Dutch market benchmarks for similar roles).

Explanation of Estimate: This estimate is based on publicly available salary data for Chapter Leads, Engineering Managers, and Senior Software Engineers with a focus on backend and frontend development in the Netherlands, specifically in the Amsterdam metropolitan area. Factors considered include the hybrid work model, the requirement for technical leadership and hands-on contribution, and the specific technology stack (React, Go, Kubernetes, Azure DevOps). ING, as a large financial institution, typically offers competitive compensation packages.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working: Flexibility to balance work between the office and home.
• 25-28 Vacation Days: Generous paid time off, varying based on contract.
• Pension Scheme: Comprehensive retirement savings plan.
• 13th Month Salary: An additional month's salary paid annually.
• 8% Holiday Payment: Standard Dutch holiday allowance.
• Personal Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning and skill development.
• Challenging Work: Engaging projects with significant impact.
• Informal Working Environment: A collaborative and innovative company culture.
• Access to Resources: Potential for training, certifications, and access to modern tech stacks.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility often offered in terms of start and end times due to the hybrid working arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While no specific salary was provided, this estimate reflects typical compensation for a hybrid leadership role with significant technical responsibilities in the Netherlands. The benefits package is comprehensive, aligning with expectations for a major financial institution.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking Technology. ING operates as a global financial institution, with a strong focus on digital transformation and leveraging data to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Company Size: Large Enterprise (ING is a global bank with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). This implies structured processes, significant resources, and opportunities for impact across a broad organization. Founded: 1845. ING has a long history, indicating stability and a deep understanding of the financial market, while also being committed to modernizing its technology and operations.

Team Structure:

• Chapter Model: The role operates within ING's "Chapter" model, a common practice in Agile organizations. Chapters focus on specific disciplines (e.g., Experience Engineering) and are responsible for the growth, development, and technical standards of their members.
• Squad Collaboration: Chapter members are assigned to cross-functional "Squads" that work on specific products or initiatives (e.g., the Resource & Access Management (RaAM) squad). This ensures alignment between functional expertise and business objectives.
• Reporting: The Chapter Lead will report within the Data & Analytics organization, specifically in the Compliance & Experience IT Area, likely to a higher-level manager overseeing multiple chapters or the entire department.

Methodology:

• Agile/Scrum: The description implies an Agile (likely Scrum or Kanban) development environment within the squads, emphasizing iterative development, collaboration, and continuous feedback.
• Data-Driven: The overarching mission of the Data & Analytics organization is to make banking data-driven, suggesting a strong reliance on data analysis, metrics, and insights to guide decisions and product development.
• DevOps Practices: The emphasis on CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes, and microservices points to a strong adoption of DevOps principles for efficient software delivery and operations.

Company Website: https://www.ing.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Chapter Lead" and "Squad" terminology is critical. It signifies an Agile organizational structure where individuals belong to a "home" discipline (Chapter) and work within a project-focused "team" (Squad). This structure promotes both deep expertise development and efficient product delivery. The company's focus on data-driven banking and modern tech stacks is a key aspect for operations professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level, bridging technical expertise with leadership responsibilities. It's a step towards more senior management or architectural roles within technology operations or engineering departments. Reporting Structure: The Chapter Lead will report to a higher-level manager within the Data & Analytics organization. They will also work closely with Product Owners and other Chapter Leads, fostering a collaborative leadership environment. Operations Impact: The Chapter Lead's impact is twofold:

1. Team Performance: Directly influences the skill development, productivity, and morale of their engineering chapter, which in turn affects the quality and speed of solutions delivered to the business.
2. System Quality & Efficiency: By setting technical standards and contributing hands-on, they ensure the reliability, scalability, and maintainability of critical UI and Access Management solutions that underpin data analytics platforms. This directly supports ING's goal of becoming a data-driven bank.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in React, Go, Kubernetes, microservices, and cloud-native architectures, potentially leading to Principal Engineer or Architect roles.
• Leadership Progression: Advance into roles like Head of Engineering, Data & Analytics Manager, or broader leadership positions within ING.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse teams across Compliance, Experience IT, and other business units, broadening understanding of banking operations.
• Mentorship Programs: Participate in or lead mentorship initiatives, further honing leadership and coaching skills.
• Industry Certifications: Pursue relevant certifications in cloud technologies, Agile methodologies, or leadership development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for individuals looking to transition from senior individual contributor roles into management and leadership, while still maintaining a connection to core technical work. The dual nature of the role makes it attractive for those who want to grow both people and technology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role is based in the CDR (Amsterdam - Cedar) office, suggesting a modern, well-equipped workspace designed for collaboration. However, a significant portion of the work can be done remotely. Office Location(s): Primary office is CDR (Amsterdam - Cedar), Netherlands. The description also mentions collaboration with teams in Poland, Romania, and India, indicating an international and distributed work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The Amsterdam office likely provides spaces conducive to team meetings, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions, essential for chapter and squad activities.
• Modern Technology: Access to state-of-the-art technologies, both on-prem and in the public cloud, is highlighted, ensuring engineers have the tools needed for development and deployment.
• International Interaction: Opportunities to collaborate with global teams, offering exposure to different work cultures and diverse perspectives.
• Agile Setup: The environment is structured around Agile principles, promoting flexibility, communication, and rapid iteration.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 per week).
• Hybrid model allows for flexibility, enabling individuals to manage their schedules effectively while ensuring necessary in-office collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature combined with international collaboration is a key aspect. Candidates should be comfortable working asynchronously and across time zones to some extent, while also valuing in-office collaboration for team building and strategic alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application & Initial Screening: Submit CV and motivation letter. Recruiters will screen for essential qualifications.
2. Hiring Manager/Recruiter Interview: Discuss experience, motivations, and initial fit for the Chapter Lead role and ING's culture.
3. Technical & Leadership Assessment: This may involve:
   • Case Study/Problem-Solving Exercise: Present a scenario related to team management, technical challenges, or process improvement.
   • Portfolio Review: Walk through selected projects, discussing technical decisions, challenges, and outcomes.
   • Behavioral Questions: Assess leadership style, conflict resolution, and team-building capabilities.
4. Chapter Member/Peer Interviews: Meet with potential team members and other Chapter Leads to assess cultural fit and collaboration potential.
5. Final Interview: With a senior leader to discuss overall fit, strategic alignment, and confirm offer details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solution implemented, and the measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, performance improvements, user satisfaction).
• Showcase Leadership: If possible, include examples where you guided a team, mentored junior members, or influenced technical direction.
• Highlight Process: Discuss your approach to development, testing, deployment, and team collaboration.
• Technical Depth: Be prepared to dive deep into the technical aspects of your projects, especially concerning React, Go, microservices, Kubernetes, and CI/CD.
• Tailor to ING: Research ING's values and recent initiatives. Frame your experience in a way that aligns with their goals of data-driven banking and customer experience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Leadership Scenarios: Prepare for questions about managing underperformers, resolving team conflicts, motivating engineers, and fostering inclusion.
• Technical Scenarios: Expect questions on microservices design, Kubernetes best practices, CI/CD pipeline optimization, and debugging complex distributed systems.
• Process Improvement: Be ready to discuss how you would analyze a team's workflow, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions for greater efficiency and quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, assessing both technical acumen and leadership potential. A strong portfolio that demonstrates practical application of skills and a clear articulation of leadership philosophy will be key differentiators. Candidates should be ready to discuss their approach to people management and technical strategy in equal measure.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Frontend: React (primary), potentially other JavaScript frameworks.
• Backend: Go (primary).
• Containerization & Orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes.
• CI/CD: Azure DevOps (primary).
• Databases: RDBMS (e.g., PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle), potentially NoSQL databases.
• Cloud Platforms: Public cloud environments (specifics not detailed, but common for modern development).

Analytics & Reporting:

• ELK Stack (Nice to Have): Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana for logging, monitoring, and analytics.
• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially tools used within ING for dashboarding and reporting on system performance and user activity.

CRM & Automation:

• Microservices/APIs: Core to the architecture, requiring tools for API gateway management, service discovery, and communication protocols.
• Message Queues (Nice to Have): Kafka for asynchronous communication and event streaming.
• Integration Tools: Tools for integrating various microservices and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in React, Go, Kubernetes, and Azure DevOps is essential. Experience with ELK and Kafka would be beneficial, suggesting an emphasis on observability, logging, and event-driven architectures. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these technologies in detail.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity & Continuous Learning: A strong emphasis on staying updated with technology and fostering an environment where learning is encouraged and rewarded.
• Empathy & Approachability: Creating a safe and supportive environment where team members feel comfortable expressing ideas, concerns, and seeking help.
• Collaboration & Community: Building a strong team spirit, encouraging knowledge sharing, and working effectively across different teams and disciplines.
• Technical Excellence & Quality: Maintaining high standards for code quality, scalability, and maintainability in all delivered solutions.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and analytics to inform development strategies, performance improvements, and overall business impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working within squads using Agile methodologies, involving frequent communication, feedback loops, and iterative development.
• Cross-Functional: Close collaboration with product owners, business stakeholders, and other engineering chapters to ensure alignment and successful delivery.
• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, constructive feedback, and mutual respect among team members and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlight a blend of technical rigor and strong interpersonal skills. Candidates who thrive in a culture that values learning, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving will be a good fit. The company's move towards data-driven banking means that operations professionals who can connect their work to data insights will be highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Leadership and Hands-on Work: Effectively managing time and priorities to fulfill both the Chapter Lead and hands-on development responsibilities (50/50 split).
• Technical Debt Management: Addressing and mitigating technical debt in existing systems while driving new feature development.
• Cross-Team Dependencies: Navigating complex interdependencies with other squads and chapters to ensure smooth integration and delivery.
• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously learning and adapting to rapidly evolving technologies in the cloud-native and UI/backend development spaces.
• Global Team Coordination: Effectively leading and collaborating with engineers across different geographical locations and time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Cloud & Kubernetes Training: Deepen expertise in cloud-native architectures and container orchestration.
• Leadership Development Programs: Access to ING's internal programs for enhancing management and coaching skills.
• Technical Specialization: Opportunities to become a subject matter expert in specific areas like Go microservices, advanced React patterns, or CI/CD automation.
• Industry Conferences: Potential to attend relevant tech conferences and workshops to stay abreast of industry trends.
• Mentorship: The opportunity to mentor junior engineers and be mentored by senior leaders within ING.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant growth opportunity for individuals looking to expand their leadership capabilities while remaining technically engaged. The challenges are typical of modern tech leadership roles and offer excellent learning experiences.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Leadership Philosophy: "Describe your approach to leading and coaching engineers. How do you foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment?" (Prepare examples of team building, conflict resolution, and performance management).
• Technical Strategy: "How would you establish and maintain technical standards for UI and Access Management solutions within a chapter? What metrics would you use to track technical health and progress?" (Prepare to discuss best practices for React, Go, Kubernetes, and CI/CD).
• Process Improvement: "Imagine a scenario where a squad is experiencing delays in their development cycle. How would you, as a Chapter Lead, diagnose the issue and work with the team to implement improvements?" (Prepare to discuss Agile methodologies, bottleneck identification, and root cause analysis).

Company & Culture Questions:

• ING's Mission: "How does your understanding of ING's goal to be data-driven align with your role as a Chapter Lead for UI & Access Management solutions?" (Research ING's digital transformation, data strategy, and mission).
• Team Dynamics: "Describe a time you had to balance the needs of individual team members with the goals of the broader team or project. How did you approach this?" (Focus on empathy, communication, and fairness).
• Innovation: "How do you encourage innovation and the adoption of new technologies within a team?" (Provide examples of experimentation, knowledge sharing, and risk assessment).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the context, your specific contribution, technical choices, challenges faced, and the tangible business or technical outcomes achieved.
• Highlight Leadership & Process: Emphasize instances where you led technical direction, mentored others, or improved development processes.
• Technical Deep Dive: Be ready to explain your architectural decisions, code quality practices, and deployment strategies for React, Go, microservices, and Kubernetes.
• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects (e.g., performance improvements, reduction in bugs, increased development velocity).
• Connect to ING: Whenever possible, relate your experiences and solutions to ING's context, such as customer experience, data security, or operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong balance of technical expertise, leadership acumen, and cultural fit with ING's values. Candidates should be ready to articulate their "why" behind technical decisions and leadership approaches, using concrete examples from their experience.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided 'Apply' button on the ING careers portal.
• Tailor Your CV & Motivation Letter: Highlight experience with React, Go, Kubernetes, Azure DevOps, CI/CD, and any leadership or team-coaching roles. Quantify achievements where possible and explicitly state your interest in the Chapter Lead role and ING's mission.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your UI development, backend development (Go), microservices architecture, Kubernetes deployments, and CI/CD pipeline experience. Be ready to discuss these in detail, focusing on your role, technical decisions, and impact.
• Research ING: Familiarize yourself with ING's values, recent news, and its focus on data-driven banking and customer experience. Understand the "Chapter" and "Squad" model.
• Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common technical, behavioral, and situational questions, particularly those related to leadership, team management, and modern software development practices.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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