Head of Localization

Randstad - Netherlands; Diemen; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad Diemen, Netherlands, seeks a Head of Localization to define and operationalize a global marketing and product localization strategy. This executive role bridges marketing, content, and product engineering, driving AI-driven translation workflows, CI/CD integrations, and continuous localization across 38+ markets.

You will lead a specialized localization team, oversee end-to-end integrations, AI model fine-tuning, and enterprise vendor networks, reporting to the Global Head of Content,

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of progressive experience in global localization, translation management, and international marketing operations in enterprise environments.
• Proven leadership in managing and scaling dedicated localization teams.
• Hands-on experience with Localization-as-Code, APIs, headless CMS, Translation Management Systems (TMS), CAT tools, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Practical knowledge deploying Machine Translation (MT), LLM fine-tuning, and automated workflows in marketing contexts.
• Expertise negotiating enterprise LSP contracts, managing multi-market budgets, and setting SLAs/KPIs.
• Full professional fluency in English; additional global languages are a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

• Define and socialize the global roadmap for Marketing and Product localization across international markets.
• Embed localization workflows into CI/CD pipelines, headless CMS, and design systems.
• Drive GenAI/LLM innovation for automated marketing adaptation and CX scaling.
• Hire, build, and lead a dedicated localization team and manage external LSPs and budgets.

Skills

Localization strategy

Leadership

AI/LLM integration

CI/CD pipelines

Vendor management

English fluency

Tools

Localization-as-Code

Headless CMS

TMS

CAT tools

APIs

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Head of Localization

Randstad is seeking a Head of Localization to define, architect, and operationalize our global marketing and product localization strategy. Sitting at the heart of Randstad's Global Digital Marketplace vision, this executive role bridges marketing, creative content, and product engineering by driving modern AI/LLM-driven translation workflows, CI/CD integrations, and continuous localization across 38+ global markets.

Location: Diemen, Netherlands.

Important Role Differentiation: This is an Executive Strategy, Tech Architecture & Operations Leadership Role-it is NOT a manual translation, copywriting, or content-creation position. The Head of Localization serves as a domain authority (Hay Grade 17/18) reporting directly to the Global Head (VP) of Content, CX, and Localization. You will lead a specialized localization team and oversee end-to-end technical integrations, AI model fine-tuning, and enterprise vendor networks.

What Will You Achieve? Global Localization Strategy: Define and socialize the global roadmap for Marketing and Product (web/app) localization across international markets. Tech Pipeline Automation: Embed localization workflows directly into continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, headless CMS, and design systems. GenAI & LLM Innovation: Drive the adoption of Generative AI and proprietary Large Language Models (LLMs) for automated marketing adaptation, CX scaling, and creative translation. Team & Ecosystem Leadership: Hire, build, and direct a dedicated team of localization tech, quality, and project management experts while managing external Language Service Providers (LSPs) and budgets.

Key Metrics You’ll Own: Translation Velocity & Turnaround Time: Speed-to-market for continuous product deployments and multi-market marketing campaigns. Quality & Accuracy Benchmarks: Maintenance of localization style guides, automated QA, terminology management, and glossaries. Financial & ROI Performance: Efficiency of global localization spend, balancing AI automation against human-in-the-loop review costs.

What Do You Need to Succeed? Experience: 10-15+ years of progressive experience in global localization, translation management, and international marketing operations in enterprise environments. Leadership Track Record: Proven background in managing and scaling dedicated localization teams. Technical Fluency: Hands-on experience with Localization-as-Code, APIs, headless CMS, Translation Management Systems (TMS), CAT tools, and CI/CD pipelines. AI Integration Expertise: Practical knowledge deploying Machine Translation (MT), LLM fine-tuning, and automated workflows in marketing contexts. Vendor & Budget Management: Expertise negotiating enterprise LSP contracts, managing multi-market budgets, and setting SLAs/KPIs. Languages: Full professional fluency in English; additional global languages are a strong advantage.

About Randstad Randstad is the world's largest talent company and a partner of choice. We support people and organizations in realizing their true potential by combining 60 years of HR expertise with cutting-edge digital technology, data, and human touch.

The world around us We live in extraordinary times. Technology, society, the job market - they are all rapidly advancing, and opening up previously unimagined opportunities. With innovation driving the world of work even faster, many of us are left wondering: how can I find a job that works for me? People at the heart of everything we do Working at Randstad is unlike working at any organization. Because at Randstad we put people at the heart of everything we do; this goes for our clients, our candidates, our employees and society. By combining our passion for people with the power of today's technologies, we support people and organizations in realizing their true potential. We call this Human Forward.

What do you get in return? In return for your talent and effort we pay a good, competitive salary and offer attractive benefits. Job security and a great work-life balance mean we take care of each other. Imagine having an instant network where everyone wants you to succeed. And we have the numbers to back that up: we're 38,331 employees strong, with over 4,800 offices in 38 countries. And 47% of our management is female. Randstad's performance standards are high, but as a team, we'll make sure you reach and even exceed them through a wide range of learning and development opportunities. Joining our team means getting to work with great people. Each of them is crucial to maintaining our open-minded, entrepreneurial, and vibrant company culture. Sure you'll work hard, but this hard work is also rewarded, and success is celebrated. It's the culture you'll find in any of our global Randstad offices.

Human forward starts with you Randstad's purpose is: supporting people and organizations in realizing their true potential. And this starts with making your work meaningful every day. It's people-work at its best. Making work meaningful.

About Randstad The Randstad Group is a global leader in the HR services industry and specialized in solutions in the field of flexible work and human resources services. Our services range from regular temporary Staffing and permanent placements to Inhouse Services, Professionals, and HR Solutions (including Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Managed Services Programs, and outplacement). In 2017, Randstad generated revenue of € 23.3 billion. Randstad was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands. Randstad N.V. is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam, where options for stocks in Randstad are also traded. For more information, see www.randstad.com.