About this role
A People Manager within our Java community is a key figure who develops talent, guides employees, and strengthens the connection between people and the broader Sopra Steria strategy. You combine technical affinity with Java development and a strong passion for coaching, growth, and people development. Your primary focus is on individual coaching and development, helping each consultant grow, perform, and find their place within the organization. You act as the primary point of contact for a group of consultants (around 10 to 15), follow up on their development, and support them throughout their journey at Sopra Steria. You build strong, trust-based relationships with your people and ensure they feel heard, supported, and challenged. You encourage them to grow, provide direction for their career path, and foster a healthy, motivating work environment. You focus on long-term development and sustainable growth, rather than short-term operational priorities. What you will do Guide employees in their professional growth by defining objectives together, following up on development plans, and providing regular feedback. Act as a coach first: you listen, challenge, and support individuals in becoming the best version of themselves. Evaluate performance based on project outcomes and present these evaluations in HR committees, where you also share insights on potential and career progression. Ensure fair, qualitative, and continuous performance follow-up, with a strong focus on development rather than evaluation alone. Support employees in defining and shaping their career path within Sopra Steria. Help individuals discover their strengths, ambitions, and growth opportunities, and translate these into concrete development actions. Create a culture of trust, psychological safety, and open communication. Foster an environment where people feel safe to speak up, learn, and grow. Act as a mentor and sparring partner for consultants, supporting them with professional challenges or personal development questions. Be a trusted advisor in key moments: feedback, doubts, growth decisions, or challenges on projects. Contribute to the Java community by stimulating knowledge sharing and connecting people. Encourage collaboration and learning, without owning delivery or operational outcomes Translate Sopra Steria’s strategic objectives into meaningful context for your people. Help employees understand how they can grow within the broader organization and what opportunities lie ahead. Impact of the role As a People Manager Java, you are a catalyst for individual growth and engagement. You make a direct impact on people’s careers, motivation, and sense of belonging. You ensure that talent feels supported, can develop, and remains engaged with Sopra Steria. Your success is reflected in strong relationships, personal growth, and long-term retention. You create an environment where consultants can thrive and continuously improve. You help build confident, autonomous professionals who contribute to the organization in their own way. We are looking for colleagues who are passionate about both technology and people. You have a strong background in Java development and understand the challenges and evolution of modern software engineering. If you gain energy from coaching, team development, and guiding talent, this role is a perfect fit. Your background and skills Experience as a Senior Java Engineer, Java Consultant, or Technical Lead. Experience with mentoring, coaching, or team guidance is a strong asset. Clear, empathetic, and constructive communication skills. Ability to motivate, guide, and challenge employees in a positive way. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Fluent in English; knowledge of French and/or Dutch is a plus. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience. Strong knowledge of modern Java ecosystems, such as: Java Spring Core & Spring Boot Microservices Cloud-native development Angular or React NoSQL Single Page Applications Reactive programming DDD, TDD DevOps, Agile, Scrum Experience with mentoring, coaching, or team guidance is a strong asset. Clear, empathetic, and constructive communication skills. Ability to motivate, guide, and challenge employees in a positive way. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Fluent in English; knowledge of French and/or Dutch is a plus. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.