Head of Data Strategy & Enablement (f/m/d)

zeissgroup; Oberkochen; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

ZEISS SMT seeks a Head of Data Strategy & Enablement to lead two Data teams (25 people) and steer the Data Governance Board, shaping data as a strategic asset across the SMT segment. You will create roadmaps, drive data quality, and enable enterprise-scale data products to unlock analytics, BI, and AI opportunities.

The role requires senior leadership across Data/Analytics, collaboration with IT and business units, and a strong track record in governance and strategy.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in a relevant field.
• Extensive leadership experience overseeing large teams in Data, Analytics, or IT.
• Strong understanding of modern data architectures and Data Governance focusing on strategic steering and architecture governance.
• Entrepreneurial leadership style aligned to corporate goals and value creation.
• Experience steering cross-functional committees and transformation programs with strong communication skills.
• Pragmatic, results-driven leadership with a collaborative mindset.
• Fluent in English; German language skills are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead two Data teams totaling 25 employees focused on Data Governance, data quality, MDM, and Enablement.
• Chair SMT Data Governance Board and define SMT-wide data policies and standards.
• Translate data strategy into roadmaps, OKRs, and prioritized initiatives with measurable business value.
• Advance toward automated governance and reusable data products.
• Collaborate with business, IT, and EA to enable secure self-service data use and scalable solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Data governance

Data strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

English fluency

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science / Information Systems / Data Science

Job description

ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Enabler for smaller, more powerful, and more energy-efficient microchips Working for tomorrow today. Around 80 percent of all microchips worldwide are produced using ZEISS technologies. As the centerpiece of every electronically controlled system, they have become an integral part of our everyday lives - whether in smartphones, smart homes or smart factories. ZEISS is a technology leader in the field of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. With high-precision lithography optics, photomask systems and process control solutions, ZEISS enables the production of ever smaller, increasingly powerful, and more energy-efficient microchips, and thus plays a pivotal role in the age of micro- and nanoelectronics.

Your role

Shape ZEISS SMT's data-driven future: As Head of Data Strategy & Enablement (m/f/d), you are responsible for the strategic and operational evolution of our data management. In this central, key role you lead two Data teams, chair the SMT Data Governance Board, and position Data as a driving force for BI, analytics, and operational AI applications across the SMT segment.

• Leadership and development of two Data teams totaling 25 employees, responsible for Data Governance, data quality, Master Data Management (MDM), and Data Enablement
• Chairing the SMT Data Governance Board, and defining and SMT-wide steering of data policies, standards, role models, and quality requirements
• Translating the SMT data strategy into clear roadmaps, OKRs, and prioritized initiatives with a focus on measurable business value and expanding data-driven value creation
• Advancing toward automated, platform-supported governance, data quality ("Governance/Data as Code"), and reusable data products
• Representing SMT data interests as a central stakeholder and actively shaping strategic key projects within SMT and the ZEISS group
• Close collaboration with the business areas, IT organization, and Enterprise Architecture to enable secure self-service use and to ensure robust, scalable, and future-ready data solutions

Your profile

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or a comparable field
• Several years of disciplinary leadership experience overseeing large teams in Data, Analytics, or IT environments, including management of senior leaders and senior experts, as well as budget, resource, and organizational responsibility
• Strong understanding of modern data architectures and Data Governance with a clear focus on strategic steering, prioritization, architecture governance, and empowering expert teams
• Entrepreneurial leadership style with strong business and management orientation, experience aligning organizational units to corporate goals and positioning them as strategic value drivers
• Experience steering complex cross-functional committees and transformation programs, with high communication, facilitation, and enforcement skills across hierarchical levels
• Pragmatic, results-driven, and empowering leadership style with strong shaping ability and a pronounced "Win Together" mindset
• Fluent in English; German language skills are advantageous

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Adrian Kahl