Head of Technology, Data & Systems

The Ocean Cleanup; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ocean Cleanup is seeking a Head of Technology, Data and Systems to own end‑to‑end technology strategy, shaping scalable, secure systems for HQ and remote teams in Rotterdam. You will lead ERP/CRM, data, cloud, and related tech while managing day‑to‑day IT operations in a fast‑paced NGO scale‑up.

You will define the tech roadmap, drive data governance, security, and incident response, and mentor a team of 9 FTEs and 6 contractors to accelerate the mission.

Qualifications

• At least 15 years' experience in technology with 5+ years of experience in managing and leading teams.
• Experience in Operational Technology environments is a plus.
• Working in a fast-growing, international scale-up.
• Excellent leadership skills, team player, coaching mindset and flexibility.
• Experience in Software Development and Software Development Lifecycle.
• Experience with Enterprise Architecture and/or Solution architecture
• Fluency in cloud and data platforms (AWS, Kubernetes), can challenge architectural decisions and ensure consistency throughout our developed solutions.
• Proven experience owning cyber risk and governance: translating risk appetite into controls
• Experience operating at and reporting into management-team / C-suite level, including strong change management skills
• Strong roadmap and strategic planning skills: defining, owning, and prioritizing a multi-year Software, Platform and IT roadmap in alignment with organizational goals.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technology, platform, and data strategy in alignment with The Ocean Cleanup’s mission and business goals.
• Create and implement roadmaps for scaling our systems (ERP, CRM, cloud, collaboration tools) to enable agility, growth, and cross‑departmental efficiency.
• Prioritize investments in technology, justifying spend with clear, measurable outcomes tied to mission acceleration.
• Oversee the design and evolution of our IT infrastructure, ensuring reliability, security, and scalability for HQ and remote teams.
• Negotiate and manage vendor relationships to deliver best‑in‑class solutions for our needs.
• Implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans to safeguard mission‑critical operations.
• Lead the collection, storage, and analysis of data, turning it into high‑quality, actionable insights for research, modeling, and performance optimization.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of data applications, deciding when to build, buy, or outsource solutions.
• Implement data lakes, BI tools, and custom dashboards to track KPIs and drive data‑informed decision‑making.
• Establish and enforce Data Governance policies to ensure integrity, security, and compliance.
• Secure sensitive data (research, donor information, proprietary technology) against threats.
• Ensure compliance with regulations such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and the EU AI Act.
• Lead incident response with clear communication plans to mitigate risks.
• Lead and develop a team of 9 FTEs and 6 contractors, creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and mission‑driven execution.
• Hire, train, and retain top IT talent in a competitive market.
• Bridge the gap between IT and other departments, ensuring technology solutions enable rather than hinder their work.
• Deliver an innovative mindset in technological choices, aligning tools and processes with The Ocean Cleanup’s fast‑paced, impact‑driven ethos.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy & roadmap

Stakeholder management

Change management

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Communication

Tools

AWS

Kubernetes

Job description

MISSION TO METRICS

The Ocean Cleanup is a fast-growing, mission-driven organization leading the charge to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.

POSTED: 10th August 2026
STARTING DATE: As soon as possible
FULL TIME, ROTTERDAM

MISSION TO METRICS

The Ocean Cleanup is a fast-growing, mission-driven organization leading the charge to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.

Our success depends on the seamless integration of the right technology and data solutions to enhance agility, enable scale-up, and empower teams to focus on delivery. Technology and data are therefore not just support functions, but important multipliers of organizational impact. As a donor-funded organization, every investment must deliver measurable value and contribute to accelerating the mission.

THE ASSIGNMENT

Reporting to the Vice President of Science and Technology, the Head of Technology, Data and Systems owns the end‑to‑end technology strategy, shaping scalable, secure, and innovative systems infrastructure to support The Ocean Cleanup’s continued growth.

You will define and execute the technology roadmap, aligning it with organizational objectives and driving the adoption and effective use of mission‑critical systems across ERP, CRM, data, cloud, and related technologies. You will also oversee day‑to‑day IT operations, ensuring reliable, secure, compliant, and cost‑efficient technology services for both HQ and remote teams.

Operating in a fast‑paced scale‑up environment, you will bridge the gap between strategy and execution, while motivating teams around the role technology and data can play in enabling a planetary solution.

Responsibilities

Technology Strategy & Architecture

• Define and execute the technology, platform, and data strategy in alignment with The Ocean Cleanup’s mission and business goals.
• Create and implement roadmaps for scaling our systems (ERP, CRM, cloud, collaboration tools) to enable agility, growth, and cross‑departmental efficiency.
• Prioritize investments in technology, justifying spend with clear, measurable outcomes tied to mission acceleration.

Systems & Infrastructure Leadership

• Oversee the design and evolution of our IT infrastructure, ensuring reliability, security, and scalability for HQ and remote teams.
• Negotiate and manage vendor relationships to deliver best‑in‑class solutions for our needs.
• Implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans to safeguard mission‑critical operations.

Data & Analytics as a Strategic Asset

• Lead the collection, storage, and analysis of data, turning it into high‑quality, actionable insights for research, modeling, and performance optimization.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of data applications, deciding when to build, buy, or outsource solutions.
• Implement data lakes, BI tools, and custom dashboards to track KPIs and drive data‑informed decision‑making.
• Establish and enforce Data Governance policies to ensure integrity, security, and compliance.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Secure sensitive data (research, donor information, proprietary technology) against threats.
• Ensure compliance with regulations such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and the EU AI Act.
• Lead incident response with clear communication plans to mitigate risks.

Team & Culture

• Lead and develop a team of 9 FTEs and 6 contractors, creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and mission‑driven execution.
• Hire, train, and retain top IT talent in a competitive market.
• Bridge the gap between IT and other departments, ensuring technology solutions enable rather than hinder their work.
• Deliver an innovative mindset in technological choices, aligning tools and processes with The Ocean Cleanup’s fast‑paced, impact‑driven ethos.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

“Even if you don’t meet every professional qualification listed, we strongly encourage you to apply if you believe you have the right skills, experience, and motivation to contribute to our mission. We recognize that talent and potential come in many forms, and we value diverse perspectives and unconventional career paths. If you’re passionate about the work we do and confident in your ability to make an impact, don’t hesitate to submit your application—we’d love to hear from you.”

• At least 15 years' experience in technology with 5+ years of experience in managing and leading teams. Experience in Operational Technology environments is a plus.
• Cultural fit for a fast-growing, international scale-up. Working in a rapidly changing environment in a strong mission driven NGO executing at speed.
• Excellent leadership skills, team player, coaching mindset and flexibility.
• Experience in Software Development and Software Development Lifecycle.
• Experience with Enterprise Architecture and/or Solution architecture
• Fluency in cloud and data platforms (AWS, Kubernetes), can challenge architectural decisions and ensure consistency throughout our developed solutions.
• Proven experience owning cyber risk and governance: translating risk appetite into controls
• Experience operating at and reporting into management-team / C-suite level, including strong change management skills
• Strong roadmap and strategic planning skills: defining, owning, and prioritizing a multi-year Software, Platform and IT roadmap in alignment with organizational goals.

Personal Qualifications

• Thrives in Complexity – Comfortable working in messy, fast-moving environments and bringing structure where needed.
• A Natural Problem‑Solver – Loves finding solutions that solve a shared need and therefore deliver shared value.
• Big Thinker, Practical Solutions – Can see the big picture but also knows when to dive into the details to get things done.
• A strategic thinker who’s also a doer — you know how to build a plan, and you know how to get it done.
• Flexible but Focused – Happy switching between strategy and hands‑on work, making sure ideas turn into reality.
• Resilient & Open to Feedback – Keeps pushing forward but listens, adapts, and learns along the way.
• Driven by Impact – Motivated by making a real difference in the world and helping solve.

Additional Details

• Starting date: ASAP
• Position type: Full‑time employee.
• Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
• Conducting a pre‑employment check may be part of this recruitment process.
• At The Ocean Cleanup, we believe we are stronger together, while harnessing the uniqueness each individual brings. That is why we take a fair, equal opportunity, and transparent approach to hiring and welcome special needs requests.