Business Applications Lead

Destinus SA; Madrid; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus is seeking a Business Applications Lead to guide a team responsible for ERP, CRM, HRIS, finance, and productivity platforms across international locations. You will set strategy, drive transformation, and ensure systems are secure, scalable, and aligned with growth.

Working with the Director of IT, you will manage budgets, vendor relationships, and compliance, delivering modern enterprise applications and a roadmap for global expansion.

Qualifications

• 6+ years leading IT teams, or enterprise applications in international setups.
• Experience managing experienced technical specialists with clear priorities and delivery across projects.
• Strong understanding of ERP, CRM, HRIS, finance, and productivity platforms.
• Experience managing application portfolios, budgets, licensing, vendor relationships, and negotiations.
• Knowledge of project delivery methodologies including Agile, PRINCE2, or hybrid approaches.
• Experience leading enterprise application implementations, upgrades, integrations, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Understanding of information security, data governance, GDPR, and compliance requirements.
• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Informatics, or equivalent. Certifications (ITIL, PMP, PRINCE2, Microsoft, SAP) are advantageous.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management with business-level English; additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Business Application Specialists and Analysts, fostering ownership and accountability.
• Oversee the complete lifecycle of the enterprise application portfolio (ERP, CRM, HRIS, finance, productivity tools).
• Build and execute a long-term application roadmap aligned with business priorities and international expansion.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, Operations, Sales, and Compliance to translate business needs into technology initiatives.
• Deliver implementations, upgrades, integrations, and optimization projects on time and within budget using Agile/hybrid delivery.
• Manage vendor relationships, software licensing, contract renewals, SLAs, and technology investments with cost optimization.
• Ensure compliance with information security policies, GDPR, and internal governance with IT Security.
• Drive automation and oversee system integrations, APIs, and data flows for a scalable app ecosystem.
• Present roadmaps, metrics, updates, and investment recommendations to senior leadership.
• Support international growth by ensuring resilient, efficient, and scalable business systems.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

ERP

CRM

HRIS

Budgeting

Vendor management

Contract negotiation

Agile methodologies

Information security

Education

BSc/BA in CS or IS

Tools

ITIL

PMP

PRINCE2

Microsoft Certifications

SAP

Job description

About the Role

Imagine this. You are leading the technology ecosystem that keeps a global aerospace company running at full speed. As Business Applications Lead, you will guide a team of experienced specialists responsible for the platforms that power Finance, HR, Operations, Sales, and Compliance. Your focus is not on being the deepest technical expert in the room, but on providing clear direction, driving accountability, building strong relationships with stakeholders, and ensuring business critical applications evolve alongside one of the fastest growing aerospace companies in Europe.

At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting‑edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission‑critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.

Working closely with the Director of IT and business leaders across multiple international locations, you will shape the strategy for our enterprise applications, lead complex transformation initiatives, and ensure our systems remain secure, scalable, and aligned with the company's ambitious growth plans.

What You'll Need

• 6+ years of experience leading IT teams, business applications, or enterprise systems within an international environment
• Proven experience managing experienced technical specialists while maintaining accountability, clear priorities, and successful delivery across projects and operational activities
• Strong understanding of enterprise business applications including ERP, CRM, HRIS, finance systems, and productivity platforms
• Experience managing application portfolios, budgets, software licensing, vendor relationships, and contract negotiations
• Solid knowledge of project delivery methodologies including Agile, PRINCE2, hybrid approaches, or similar frameworks
• Experience leading enterprise application implementations, upgrades, integrations, and digital transformation initiatives
• Good understanding of application security, data governance, GDPR, and compliance requirements
• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Informatics, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience
• Certifications such as ITIL, PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Microsoft, SAP, or similar are considered an advantage
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with business level English. Additional languages such as German or French are a plus

What You'll Do

• Lead and develop a team of Business Application Specialists and Analysts, creating a culture of ownership, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Own the complete lifecycle of the enterprise application portfolio including ERP, CRM, HRIS, finance systems, productivity platforms, and other business critical applications
• Build and execute a long term application roadmap aligned with business priorities and international expansion
• Partner with Finance, HR, Operations, Sales, and Compliance teams to understand business needs and translate them into successful technology initiatives
• Deliver application implementations, upgrades, integrations, and optimization projects on time and within budget using Agile or hybrid delivery methodologies
• Manage vendor relationships, software licensing, contract renewals, service level agreements, and technology investments while driving cost optimization
• Ensure business applications comply with information security policies, GDPR requirements, and internal governance standards in collaboration with the IT Security team
• Drive process automation initiatives and oversee system integrations, APIs, and data flows to create a reliable and scalable application ecosystem
• Present application roadmaps, performance metrics, project updates, and investment recommendations to senior leadership
• Support the company's international growth by ensuring business systems remain resilient, efficient, and ready to scale

Who You Are

You thrive in a fast paced environment where technology and business move quickly, and you enjoy bringing structure to complexity. You are a natural leader who knows how to motivate experienced professionals, build trust across teams, and keep people focused on shared objectives. You communicate with confidence, adapt easily to changing priorities, and balance strategic thinking with hands on execution. You are commercially aware, comfortable making decisions, and always looking for ways to improve processes, increase efficiency, and deliver measurable value. Above all, you take ownership, lead with integrity, and inspire those around you through transparency, accountability, and a continuous drive for excellence.