SVP IT Strategy, Governance & Culture (m/f/d)

SEFE Group; Kassel; Hybrid; EUR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Hybrid work options

Company restaurant

Health and fitness programs

Company pension scheme

30 vacation days

Bike leasing

Job summary

SEFE Group is seeking an SVP IT Strategy, Governance & Culture to lead enterprise IT strategy, governance design, and cost discipline from the CIO Office in Kassel, Germany. You will shape leadership behaviors, performance frameworks, and cross‑functional governance with Finance, Risk, and Internal Audit in a high‑reliability environment.

The role requires senior IT leadership, strong financial acumen, and proven ability to drive structural efficiency and accountability across a large

Qualifications

• Qualifications in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline.
• Advanced enterprise architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman) are desirable.
• Senior leadership experience at enterprise or group level in IT strategy, governance, finance, operating model, or transformation roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of enterprise IT strategy aligned with business priorities, financial objectives, and risk appetite.
• Design, operate, and continuously improve the CIO Office operating model, including governance structures, decision‑making processes, and escalation pathways.
• Own the IT governance framework and manage senior relationships with Finance, Risk, Internal Audit, and Information Security to ensure aligned oversight and defensible outcomes.
• Provide enterprise‑level challenge and oversight of CIO‑sponsored initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment, commercial discipline, and governance adherence.
• Act as the commercial and financial conscience of IT by owning cost transparency, benchmarking, cost drivers, and total cost of ownership frameworks.
• Lead the enterprise IT efficiency agenda, including cost‑reduction planning, operating model improvements, sourcing discipline, and removal of duplication.
• Oversee the IT organisational and capability framework, working with HR and IT leaders to define structural design principles, critical skill pathways, workforce planning, and succession visibility.
• Shape IT leadership behaviours, communication standards, and cultural expectations to embed clarity, accountability, and alignment across the IT organisation.
• Own the IT performance framework, including executive dashboards and management reporting, ensuring visibility of strategy execution, cost performance, governance health, and organisational effectiveness.

Skills

IT strategy

Governance

Leadership

Cost management

Stakeholder management

Regulated/high-reliability environment

Organisational design

Education

Computer Science / Engineering / Data Science degree

Job description

SVP IT Strategy, Governance & Culture (m/f/d) Job Description SVP IT Strategy, Governance & Culture (m/f/d)

IN SHORT

The SVP Strategy, Governance & Culture is responsible for defining how the IT function is structured, governed, funded, and led across the organisation. This role owns enterprise IT strategy, governance design, commercial and financial discipline, organisational and capability frameworks, performance measurement, and leadership culture, ensuring technology operates as a cost‑effective, well‑governed, and accountable enterprise capability.

Sitting within the CIO Office, this role provides strong, central leadership to drive structural efficiency, organisational clarity, cost discipline, and executive confidence in the performance and management of IT.

WHAT WILL YOU DO

• Lead the development and execution of enterprise IT strategy aligned with business priorities, financial objectives, and risk appetite.


• Design, operate, and continuously improve the CIO Office operating model, including governance structures, decision‑making processes, and escalation pathways.


• Own the IT governance framework and manage senior relationships with Finance, Risk, Internal Audit, and Information Security to ensure aligned oversight and defensible outcomes.


• Provide enterprise‑level challenge and oversight of CIO‑sponsored initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment, commercial discipline, and governance adherence.


• Act as the commercial and financial conscience of IT by owning cost transparency, benchmarking, cost drivers, and total cost of ownership frameworks.


• Lead the enterprise IT efficiency agenda, including cost‑reduction planning, operating model improvements, sourcing discipline, and removal of duplication.


• Oversee the IT organisational and capability framework, working with HR and IT leaders to define structural design principles, critical skill pathways, workforce planning, and succession visibility.


• Shape IT leadership behaviours, communication standards, and cultural expectations to embed clarity, accountability, and alignment across the IT organisation.


• Own the IT performance framework, including executive dashboards and management reporting, ensuring visibility of strategy execution, cost performance, governance health, and organisational effectiveness.

WHAT WILL YOU BRING

• Qualifications in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline.


• Advanced enterprise architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman) are desirable.


• Senior leadership experience at enterprise or group level in IT strategy, governance, finance, operating model, or transformation roles.


• Strong commercial and financial acumen with a proven track record of cost reduction and structural efficiency.


• Experience designing and operating governance and control frameworks in complex organisations.


• Demonstrated ability to shape organisational structures, capability models, and leadership behaviours.


• Confidence in challenging senior stakeholders and holding teams accountable.


• Experience working in regulated or high‑reliability environments.

ABOUT US

SEFE is an international energy company anchored in Europe, delivering energy solutions that ensure reliable and affordable supply. Our activities span the entire energy value chain – from origination and trading to sales, transport and storage. With decades of trading expertise and a growing LNG portfolio, SEFE is one of Europe’s leading suppliers to industrial customers, providing more than 200 TWh of gas and power each year. We supply over 50,000 clients, from small businesses to municipalities and multinational organisations. By investing in clean energies, we support our customers on their decarbonisation journey and contribute to the energy transition. SEFE employs over 2,000 people worldwide and is owned by the Federal Government of Germany.

Securing energy – now and for the future.

OUR BENEFITS

We foster an inclusive environment that values diversity and supports the development and recognition of knowledge and skills. Regardless of position, we offer you significant freedom to shape your work and a pleasant atmosphere that encourages engagement and innovation. In addition, we offer a range of corporate benefits, including:

• Flexible working hours with hybrid work options


• Attractive compensation package


• Appealing work environment in a central location


• Team-oriented culture with open feedback


• Company restaurant offering healthy and varied meals


• Job ticket and bike leasing options


• Health and fitness programs


• Company pension scheme


• 30 vacation days plus additional special leave

Job Title: SVP IT Strategy, Governance & Culture (m/f/d)

Job Country: Germany

Job Location: Kassel, Germany

Posting Start Date: 29/09/2026

Business Function: Information Technology

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract