Head of Data Platform (d/f/m)

Henkel; Düsseldorf; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid work model

Global wellbeing programs

8 weeks parental leave

Job summary

Henkel is seeking a senior leader to translate our data strategy into scalable platform architecture and data products. You will lead the Data Platform organization across platform engineering, data engineering, DataOps, and product teams in a BizDevOps setup with end-to-end ownership.

You will oversee development, operations, and evolution of the global data & analytics platform, driving reliability, cost efficiency, and adoption of AI-driven automation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in platform or data engineering and proven track record of leading large teams.
• Strong business acumen and ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical teams.
• Eagerness to consult and drive data literacy within the enterprise.
• Capacity to translate business challenges into actionable tasks for teams.
• Expert knowledge of DevOps, DataOps and agile practices.
• Excellent skills and experience in building and operating a business-critical platform.
• Advanced knowledge in data architecture, data engineering, and cloud-based data services (Azure, Databricks, Google).
• Fluent in English; German language is a plus

Responsibilities

• Translate Henkel’s data strategy into scalable platform architecture, data products, and operating models.
• Lead the Data Platform organization across platform engineering, data engineering, DataOps, and product teams in a BizDevOps model.
• Own the development, operations, and evolution of the global data & analytics platform.
• Drive adoption of advanced capabilities, including AI-driven automation and intelligent orchestration.
• Act as a strategic partner to business stakeholders, supporting high-impact use cases.
• Ensure secure, compliant, and resilient platform operations with governance by design.
• Manage a significant investment portfolio and foster a data-driven culture across Henkel.

Skills

Data platform leadership

Platform engineering

Data engineering

DevOps

DataOps

Agile practices

Cloud services

Azure

Databricks

Google Cloud

English fluent

German language

Education

Master’s degree in CS

Tools

Azure

Databricks

Google Cloud

Job description

About This Position What You´ll Do

• Translate Henkel’s data strategy into scalable platform architecture, data products, and operating models, driving measurable business value.
• Lead the Data Platform organization across platform engineering, data engineering, DataOps, and product teams in a BizDevOps model with end-to-end ownership.
• Own the development, operations, and evolution of the global data & analytics platform ensuring reliability, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Drive adoption of advanced capabilities, including agentic frameworks, AI-driven automation, and intelligent orchestration, to scale innovation and productivity.
• Act as a strategic partner to business stakeholders, supporting high-impact use cases and translating them into platform capabilities and data products.
• Ensure secure, compliant, and resilient platform operations, embedding cybersecurity, data protection, and governance by design.
• Manage a significant investment portfolio and foster a data-driven culture across Henkel.

What makes you a good fit

• Master’s degree in a computer science or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in platform or data engineering and proven track record of leading large teams.
• Strong business acumen and ability to collaborate closely with technical and non-technical teams.
• Eagerness to consult and drive data literacy within the enterprise.
• Capacity to develop a clear understanding of business challenges, derive a solution concept and translate it into relevant tasks for your teams.
• Expert knowledge of DevOps, DataOps and agile practices.
• Excellent skills and experience in building and operating a business-critical platform.
• Advanced knowledge in data architecture, data engineering, and cloud-based data services preferably on Azure, Databricks, Google.
• Fluent in English; German language is a plus

Some perks of joining Henkel

• Flexible work scheme with flexible hours, hybrid work model, and work from anywhere policy for up to 30 days per year
• Diverse national and international growth opportunities
• Global wellbeing standards with health and preventive care programs
• Gender-neutral parental leave for a minimum of 8 weeks
• Employee Share Plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares
• Company Pension Plan 100% financed by Henkel
• MEGA Preventive Health Insurance
• CareFlex Supplementary Care Insurance
• Mobility offer: My Henkel Bike and Jobticket

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Become part of the team and bring your uniqueness to us! We welcome all applications across different genders, origins, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, generations and disabilities. If there are any specific accommodations or adjustments you require for the interview process or your on-site appointment, please inform us, and we'll do our best to accommodate your requests.

Note: The email address you provide during the application process may also be used in later stages (e.g. for contract execution via digital tools). Please ensure that only you have access to this mailbox and that you can securely receive confidential information through it.