Group Head of IT (CIO)

JSS are retained by our global Private Equity backed mid-sized manufacturing client to appoint their Group Technology Director. This role will be the No.1 tech role reporting directly into the CEO. The Group has c€500m revenue and manufacturing operations across nine countries. They are going through a period of major transformation and restructuring including an Enterprise-wide ERP implementation.

Hybrid with European travel and one week per month in Vienna HQ.

Key Responsibilities

• As a member of the leadership team, make a key contribution to the formulation of the company’s business and digital strategies.
• Proactively advise the leadership team on the emerging technologies and digital trends that are most relevant to the company’s goals and evolving needs.

Leadership

• Develop an IT vision, strategy, and a roadmap, and lead the IT team and its business partners in effective execution.
• Manage a European wide distributed technology function of c35 FTE.
• Ensure, on an ongoing basis, that current and planned technical architecture, investments and solutions are aligned with company business objectives.
• Prepare and monitor IT operational budgets that meet prevailing objectives and constraints.
• Build strong relationships with business groups and their leaders across the enterprise, and develop a detailed understanding of their issues, challenges and opportunities.
• Implement the most appropriate and effective IT organizational design to support and engage with the business.

Team Development

• Hire, develop, evaluate, reward, and retain a highly qualified team of IT professionals.
• Foster a culture of innovation, transparency and accountability in IT.

IT Operations

• Direct the design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of the computing infrastructure that supports the company’s operations and business applications.
• Establish appropriate service levels and the processes to ensure that KPIs are met.
• Maintain oversight of all IT projects, ensuring that commitments are properly planned, staffed, monitored and reported.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Leadership and Communications

• Can create a clear strategic vision for information technology that supports business objectives and can execute on that vision.
• Able to work collaboratively with diverse leaders, communicate an IT vision and strategy across all levels of the organization, and build consensus around key initiatives and projects.

Transformation

• Lead and drive digital transformation initiatives that enhance business agility, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
• Experience building an enterprise level data analytics capability.
• Ensure IT functions as a strategic aligning digital initiatives with business growth objectives and revenue generation.
• Identify and drive on emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and cloud solutions to create competitive advantages.
• Drive IT cost optimization strategies, ensuring maximum ROI on technology investments while maintaining scalability and performance.

Professional Experience and Education

• Multiple years of career experience in technology, including a minimum of 5 years in a leadership position.
• Experience in a IT Director / Head of IT or equivalent position is required.
• IT leadership experience in a global environment.
• Experience in Manufacturing or a related industry is required.
• Experience in a federated structure with matrixed leadership responsibilities.
• Experience implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 is required.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Information Technology
• Industries: Business Consulting and Services and Manufacturing