diff --git a/Chart.yaml b/Chart.yaml
index c065c65..66ed6e0 100644
--- a/Chart.yaml
+++ b/Chart.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ description: A Helm chart to create per-clustergroup ArgoCD applications and any
 keywords:
 - pattern
 name: clustergroup
-version: 0.9.50
+version: 0.9.51
 home: https://github.com/validatedpatterns/clustergroup-chart
 maintainers:
   - name: Validated Patterns Team
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0a269c3..ecd4695 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # clustergroup
 
-![Version: 0.9.50](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-0.9.50-informational?style=flat-square)
+![Version: 0.9.51](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-0.9.51-informational?style=flat-square)
 
 A Helm chart to create per-clustergroup ArgoCD applications and any required namespaces or subscriptions.
 
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ This chart is used to set up the basic building blocks in [Validated Patterns](h
 
 ### Notable changes
 
+* v0.9.51: Add ansibleDevMode (requirements.yml injection and optional ansibleCfgFile/ansibleCfgContent) to simplify rhvp.cluster_utils development. Add extraPlaybookArgs to imperative as well.
 * v0.9.50: Add support to custom `rbac` in `ArgoDC.spec`
 * v0.9.49: Boolean Templates in override values now also render correctly
 * v0.9.48: Templates in override values now render
@@ -85,9 +86,15 @@ clusterGroup:
 | clusterGroup.imperative.adminClusterRoleName | string | `"imperative-admin-cluster-role"` |  |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.adminServiceAccountCreate | bool | `true` |  |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.adminServiceAccountName | string | `"imperative-admin-sa"` |  |
+| clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.ansibleCfgContent | string | `""` | Inline ansible.cfg; when non-empty, written to ansibleCfgFile before ansible-galaxy (so galaxy and playbooks honor collections_path, etc.). |
+| clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.ansibleCfgFile | string | `"ansible.cfg"` | Path under the cloned pattern repo for optional injected ansible.cfg (written from ansibleCfgContent when set). |
+| clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.enabled | bool | `false` | When true, run an init container before imperative playbooks that can install collections and optionally write ansible.cfg into the cloned repo (/git/repo). |
+| clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.requirementsContent | string | `""` | Inline requirements.yml; when non-empty, written to requirementsFile before galaxy install. |
+| clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.requirementsFile | string | `"requirements.yml"` | Path under the cloned pattern repo for ansible-galaxy -r (written from requirementsContent when set). |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.clusterRoleName | string | `"imperative-cluster-role"` |  |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.clusterRoleYaml | string | `""` |  |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.cronJobName | string | `"imperative-cronjob"` |  |
+| clusterGroup.imperative.extraPlaybookArgs | list | `[]` | Optional extra arguments for every ansible-playbook invocation (imperative jobs, vault unseal, auto-approve installplans). Each list entry is one argv token. Empty by default. |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.image | string | `"quay.io/validatedpatterns/imperative-container:v1"` |  |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.imagePullPolicy | string | `"Always"` |  |
 | clusterGroup.imperative.insecureUnsealVaultInsideClusterSchedule | string | `"*/5 * * * *"` |  |
diff --git a/README.md.gotmpl b/README.md.gotmpl
index 2701416..ccbcce7 100644
--- a/README.md.gotmpl
+++ b/README.md.gotmpl
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ This chart is used to set up the basic building blocks in [Validated Patterns](h
 
 ### Notable changes
 
+* v0.9.51: Add ansibleDevMode (requirements.yml injection and optional ansibleCfgFile/ansibleCfgContent) to simplify rhvp.cluster_utils development. Add extraPlaybookArgs to imperative as well.
 * v0.9.50: Add support to custom `rbac` in `ArgoDC.spec`
 * v0.9.49: Boolean Templates in override values now also render correctly
 * v0.9.48: Templates in override values now render
diff --git a/templates/imperative/_helpers.tpl b/templates/imperative/_helpers.tpl
index 8e66e9a..fe7bed9 100644
--- a/templates/imperative/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/templates/imperative/_helpers.tpl
@@ -73,6 +73,38 @@
     git clone --recurse-submodules --single-branch ${BRANCH} --depth 1 -- "${URL}" /git/repo;
     chmod 0770 /git/{repo,home};
 {{- end }}
+
+{{/* Optional ansible dev mode init container */}}
+{{- define "imperative.initcontainers.ansible-dev-mode" }}
+{{- if $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.enabled }}
+- name: ansible-dev-mode
+  image: {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.image }}
+  imagePullPolicy: {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.imagePullPolicy }}
+  env:
+    - name: HOME
+      value: /git/home
+  workingDir: /git/repo
+  command:
+  - 'sh'
+  - '-c'
+  - |-
+    {{- with $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.requirementsContent }}
+    cat <<'EOF' > {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.requirementsFile | quote }}
+{{ . | nindent 4 }}
+    EOF
+    {{- end }}
+    {{- with $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.ansibleCfgContent }}
+    cat <<'EOF' > {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.ansibleCfgFile | quote }}
+{{ . | nindent 4 }}
+    EOF
+    {{- end }}
+    ansible-galaxy collection install -r {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.ansibleDevMode.requirementsFile | quote }}
+    ansible-galaxy collection list
+  volumeMounts:
+    {{- include "imperative.volumemounts_ca" $ | indent 4 }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+
 {{/* Final done container */}}
 {{- define "imperative.containers.done" }}
 - name: "done"
diff --git a/templates/imperative/auto-approve-installplans.yaml b/templates/imperative/auto-approve-installplans.yaml
index dc69b6b..dc7f7f9 100644
--- a/templates/imperative/auto-approve-installplans.yaml
+++ b/templates/imperative/auto-approve-installplans.yaml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ spec:
             # reason for that is ansible refuses to create temporary folders in there
             {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.fetch-ca" . | indent 12 }}
             {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.gitinit-ca" . | indent 12 }}
+            {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.ansible-dev-mode" . | indent 12 }}
             - name: auto-approve-installplans
               image: {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.image }}
               imagePullPolicy: {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.imagePullPolicy }}
@@ -38,6 +39,9 @@ spec:
               {{- end }}
               - -e
               - "@/values/values.yaml"
+              {{- range ($.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.extraPlaybookArgs | default list) }}
+              - {{ . | quote }}
+              {{- end }}
               - rhvp.cluster_utils.auto_approve_installplans
               volumeMounts:
                 {{- include "imperative.volumemounts_ca" . | indent 16 }}
diff --git a/templates/imperative/job.yaml b/templates/imperative/job.yaml
index 3260969..9e5d335 100644
--- a/templates/imperative/job.yaml
+++ b/templates/imperative/job.yaml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ spec:
             # reason for that is ansible refuses to create temporary folders in there
             {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.fetch-ca" . | indent 12 }}
             {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.gitinit-ca" . | indent 12 }}
+            {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.ansible-dev-mode" . | indent 12 }}
     {{- range $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.jobs }}
       {{- if ne (.disabled | default "false" | toString | lower ) "true" }}
             - name: {{ .name }}
@@ -51,6 +52,9 @@ spec:
                 - -e
                 - {{ . | quote }}
                 {{- end }}
+                {{- range ($.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.extraPlaybookArgs | default list) }}
+                - {{ . | quote }}
+                {{- end }}
                 - {{ .playbook }}
               volumeMounts:
                 {{- include "imperative.volumemounts_ca" . | indent 16 }}
diff --git a/templates/imperative/unsealjob.yaml b/templates/imperative/unsealjob.yaml
index cb0358c..526ae01 100644
--- a/templates/imperative/unsealjob.yaml
+++ b/templates/imperative/unsealjob.yaml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ spec:
             # reason for that is ansible refuses to create temporary folders in there
             {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.fetch-ca" . | indent 12 }}
             {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.gitinit-ca" . | indent 12 }}
+            {{- include  "imperative.initcontainers.ansible-dev-mode" . | indent 12 }}
             - name: unseal-playbook
               image: {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.image }}
               imagePullPolicy: {{ $.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.imagePullPolicy }}
@@ -54,6 +55,9 @@ spec:
                 {{- end }}
                 - -e
                 - "@/values/values.yaml"
+                {{- range ($.Values.clusterGroup.imperative.extraPlaybookArgs | default list) }}
+                - {{ . | quote }}
+                {{- end }}
                 - -t
                 - 'vault_init,vault_unseal,vault_secrets_init,vault_spokes_init'
                 - "rhvp.cluster_utils.vault"
diff --git a/tests/application_vault_unseal_test.yaml b/tests/application_vault_unseal_test.yaml
index c70a286..f9ca8d2 100644
--- a/tests/application_vault_unseal_test.yaml
+++ b/tests/application_vault_unseal_test.yaml
@@ -158,3 +158,76 @@ tests:
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 0
+
+  - it: should include ansible dev mode init container when enabled
+    set:
+      global:
+        repoURL: https://github.com/validatedpatterns/multicloud-gitops
+        multiSourceRepoUrl: https://charts.validatedpatterns.io
+      clusterGroup:
+        isHubCluster: true
+        imperative:
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: dev/requirements.yml
+        applications:
+          acm:
+            name: acm
+            namespace: open-cluster-management
+            project: hub
+            chart: acm
+            chartVersion: 0.1.*
+    asserts:
+      - isKind:
+          of: CronJob
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].name
+          value: ansible-dev-mode
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "dev/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
+
+  - it: should inject ansible.cfg in unseal ansible dev mode init when ansibleCfgContent is set
+    set:
+      global:
+        repoURL: https://github.com/validatedpatterns/multicloud-gitops
+        multiSourceRepoUrl: https://charts.validatedpatterns.io
+      clusterGroup:
+        isHubCluster: true
+        imperative:
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: dev/requirements.yml
+            ansibleCfgFile: dev/imperative-ansible.cfg
+            ansibleCfgContent: |
+              [defaults]
+              collections_path=~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
+        applications:
+          acm:
+            name: acm
+            namespace: open-cluster-management
+            project: hub
+            chart: acm
+            chartVersion: 0.1.*
+    asserts:
+      - isKind:
+          of: CronJob
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].name
+          value: ansible-dev-mode
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "dev/imperative-ansible.cfg"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "dev/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
diff --git a/tests/imperative_auto_approve_installplans_test.yaml b/tests/imperative_auto_approve_installplans_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24d447e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/imperative_auto_approve_installplans_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+suite: Test auto-approve installplans job
+templates:
+  - templates/imperative/auto-approve-installplans.yaml
+release:
+  name: release-test
+tests:
+  - it: should create auto-approve cronjob when option is enabled
+    set:
+      global:
+        options:
+          autoApproveManualInstallPlans: true
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          adminServiceAccountName: imperative-admin-sa
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - isKind:
+          of: CronJob
+
+  - it: should append extraPlaybookArgs to auto-approve ansible-playbook command
+    set:
+      global:
+        options:
+          autoApproveManualInstallPlans: true
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          adminServiceAccountName: imperative-admin-sa
+          extraPlaybookArgs:
+            - "--diff"
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command
+          content: "--diff"
+
+  - it: should include ansible dev mode init container when enabled
+    set:
+      global:
+        options:
+          autoApproveManualInstallPlans: true
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: ansible/requirements.yml
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].name
+          value: ansible-dev-mode
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "ansible/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
+
+  - it: should inject ansible.cfg in auto-approve ansible dev mode when ansibleCfgContent is set
+    set:
+      global:
+        options:
+          autoApproveManualInstallPlans: true
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          adminServiceAccountName: imperative-admin-sa
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: ansible/requirements.yml
+            ansibleCfgFile: ansible/ansible.cfg
+            ansibleCfgContent: |
+              [defaults]
+              collections_path=~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].name
+          value: ansible-dev-mode
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "ansible/ansible.cfg"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "ansible/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
diff --git a/tests/imperative_job_test.yaml b/tests/imperative_job_test.yaml
index b5d2684..9c80699 100644
--- a/tests/imperative_job_test.yaml
+++ b/tests/imperative_job_test.yaml
@@ -54,6 +54,43 @@ tests:
           path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.serviceAccountName
           value: imperative-sa
 
+  - it: should append clusterGroup.imperative.extraPlaybookArgs before the playbook path
+    set:
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          cronJobName: pattern-cronjob
+          jobName: pattern-job
+          namespace: imperative
+          schedule: "0 2 * * *"
+          activeDeadlineSeconds: 3600
+          serviceAccountName: imperative-sa
+          image: quay.io/validatedpatterns/imperative-container:v1
+          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          extraPlaybookArgs:
+            - "--diff"
+            - "--check"
+          jobs:
+            - name: deploy-app
+              playbook: deploy-application.yml
+              verbosity: "-v"
+              tags: "deploy,config"
+              timeout: "900"
+              extravars:
+                - "environment=production"
+                - "region=us-east-1"
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command
+          content: "--diff"
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command
+          content: "--check"
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command
+          content: "deploy-application.yml"
+
   - it: should create multiple init containers for multiple jobs
     set:
       clusterGroup:
@@ -143,3 +180,152 @@ tests:
     asserts:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 1
+
+  - it: should add ansible dev mode init container when enabled
+    set:
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          jobs:
+            - name: deploy-app
+              playbook: deploy-application.yml
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: collections/requirements.yml
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].name
+          value: ansible-dev-mode
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
+
+  - it: should inject inline requirements content when provided
+    set:
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          jobs:
+            - name: deploy-app
+              playbook: deploy-application.yml
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: collections/requirements.yml
+            requirementsContent: |
+              collections:
+                - name: rhvp.cluster_utils
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].name
+          value: ansible-dev-mode
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
+
+  - it: should inject requirements and ansible.cfg heredocs when both contents are set
+    set:
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          jobs:
+            - name: deploy-app
+              playbook: deploy-application.yml
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: collections/requirements.yml
+            requirementsContent: |
+              collections:
+                - name: rhvp.cluster_utils
+            ansibleCfgFile: dev/ansible.cfg
+            ansibleCfgContent: |
+              [defaults]
+              collections_path=~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "dev/ansible.cfg"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
+
+  - it: should inject ansible.cfg only when requirementsContent is empty
+    set:
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          jobs:
+            - name: deploy-app
+              playbook: deploy-application.yml
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: collections/requirements.yml
+            requirementsContent: ""
+            ansibleCfgFile: dev/ansible.cfg
+            ansibleCfgContent: |
+              [defaults]
+              collections_path=~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "dev/ansible.cfg"'
+      - notMatchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
+
+  - it: should inject inline ansible.cfg when ansibleCfgContent is provided
+    set:
+      clusterGroup:
+        imperative:
+          jobs:
+            - name: deploy-app
+              playbook: deploy-application.yml
+          ansibleDevMode:
+            enabled: true
+            requirementsFile: collections/requirements.yml
+            ansibleCfgFile: dev/ansible.cfg
+            ansibleCfgContent: |
+              [defaults]
+              collections_path=~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
+    asserts:
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].name
+          value: ansible-dev-mode
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'cat <<''EOF'' > "dev/ansible.cfg"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'collections_path=~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r "collections/requirements.yml"'
+      - matchRegex:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command[2]
+          pattern: 'ansible-galaxy collection list'
diff --git a/tests/unsealjob_null_handling_test.yaml b/tests/unsealjob_null_handling_test.yaml
index 30db97a..70013c8 100644
--- a/tests/unsealjob_null_handling_test.yaml
+++ b/tests/unsealjob_null_handling_test.yaml
@@ -35,6 +35,38 @@ tests:
       - hasDocuments:
           count: 1
 
+  - it: should append extraPlaybookArgs to vault unseal ansible-playbook command
+    set:
+      global:
+        repoURL: https://github.com/validatedpatterns/multicloud-gitops
+        multiSourceRepoUrl: https://charts.validatedpatterns.io
+      clusterGroup:
+        isHubCluster: false
+        imperative:
+          extraPlaybookArgs:
+            - "--diff"
+        applications:
+          acm:
+            name: acm
+            namespace: open-cluster-management
+            project: hub
+            chart: acm
+            chartVersion: 0.1.*
+          vault:
+            name: vault
+            namespace: vault
+            project: hub
+            chart: hashicorp-vault
+            chartVersion: 0.1.*
+    asserts:
+      - isKind:
+          of: CronJob
+      - hasDocuments:
+          count: 1
+      - contains:
+          path: spec.jobTemplate.spec.template.spec.initContainers[2].command
+          content: "--diff"
+
   - it: should render the unsealVault job when hashicorp-vault exists with null applications mixed in
     set:
       global:
diff --git a/values.schema.json b/values.schema.json
index c17c0d1..3fd612d 100644
--- a/values.schema.json
+++ b/values.schema.json
@@ -824,6 +824,9 @@
           "type": "string",
           "default": "quay.io/validatedpatterns/imperative-container:v1"
         },
+        "ansibleDevMode": {
+          "$ref": "#/definitions/AnsibleDevMode"
+        },
         "namespace": {
           "type": "string",
           "default": "imperative",
@@ -875,6 +878,14 @@
             "-vvvv"
           ]
         },
+        "extraPlaybookArgs": {
+          "type": "array",
+          "description": "Optional argv tokens appended to each ansible-playbook invocation (imperative jobs, vault unseal, and auto-approve installplans CronJobs), after values -e @/values/values.yaml and job extravars (where applicable), and before tags or the playbook name. Empty by default.",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "default": []
+        },
         "serviceAccountName": {
           "type": "string"
         },
@@ -905,6 +916,36 @@
       ],
       "title": "Imperative"
     },
+    "AnsibleDevMode": {
+      "type": "object",
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "properties": {
+        "enabled": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "default": false
+        },
+        "requirementsFile": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "default": "requirements.yml"
+        },
+        "requirementsContent": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "default": ""
+        },
+        "ansibleCfgFile": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "default": "ansible.cfg"
+        },
+        "ansibleCfgContent": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "default": ""
+        }
+      },
+      "required": [
+        "enabled"
+      ],
+      "title": "AnsibleDevMode"
+    },
     "Job": {
       "type": "object",
       "additionalProperties": false,
diff --git a/values.yaml b/values.yaml
index c62f67e..07295dd 100644
--- a/values.yaml
+++ b/values.yaml
@@ -147,6 +147,17 @@ clusterGroup:
   imperative:
     jobs: []
     image: quay.io/validatedpatterns/imperative-container:v1
+    ansibleDevMode:
+      # -- When true, run an init container before imperative playbooks that can install collections and optionally write ansible.cfg into the cloned repo (/git/repo).
+      enabled: false
+      # -- Path under the cloned pattern repo for ansible-galaxy -r (written from requirementsContent when set).
+      requirementsFile: "requirements.yml"
+      # -- Inline requirements.yml; when non-empty, written to requirementsFile before galaxy install.
+      requirementsContent: ""
+      # -- Path under the cloned pattern repo for optional injected ansible.cfg (written from ansibleCfgContent when set).
+      ansibleCfgFile: "ansible.cfg"
+      # -- Inline ansible.cfg; when non-empty, written to ansibleCfgFile before ansible-galaxy (so galaxy and playbooks honor collections_path, etc.).
+      ansibleCfgContent: ""
     namespace: "imperative"
     # configmap name in the namespace that will contain all helm values
     valuesConfigMap: "helm-values-configmap"
@@ -163,6 +174,8 @@ clusterGroup:
     insecureUnsealVaultInsideClusterSchedule: "*/5 * * * *"
     # Increase ansible verbosity with '-v' or '-vv..'
     verbosity: ""
+    # -- Optional extra arguments for every ansible-playbook invocation (imperative jobs, vault unseal, auto-approve installplans). Each list entry is one argv token. Empty by default.
+    extraPlaybookArgs: []
     serviceAccountCreate: true
     # service account to be used to run the cron pods
     serviceAccountName: imperative-sa