Director Content & IT

The organisation

Our client is one of the top 3 professional publishing houses in the Netherlands. As a multi-media publisher of specialist information, she provides its customers with essential trade-specific information on a daily basis in the form of on lines, solutions, services, app’s, magazines, books, events and seminars. Publications are used by professionals working for the government, in the legal and tax profession and in other segments of the business sector.

The management board consists of the managing director, the finance director, the commercial director as well as a the current vacant position of the IT & Content director.

The position

The newly to be appointed IT & Content Director, is in charge of IT and content operation. Main areas of responsibility include technology strategy and required ICT infrastructure. The IT & Content Director is responsible the realization of technology driven innovation our client in line with wide IT-initiatives. This includes the responsibility for the integrated project management office as well as all outsourced operational processes.

The IT & Content Director is responsible for translation of the overall strategy into a coherent IT and operational strategy within an increasingly digitally networked society. This would include the conceptual development of new information services and products for on line distribution; based on the presence in the current professional markets, expand the introduction of vertical information services. Equally, the IT & Content Director will develop and implement the technology and IT infrastructure strategy to support these new product and services concepts, and ensure performance, security and compliance of  information systems.

Key relationships

• Reports to: Managing Director
• Member of: Management Board
• Direct reports: manager Content & Realisation, Manager IT operations, Manager Application Management, Project Management Office, Technology officer
• Other key relationships: IT organization, publishers, marketing & sales managers and other key system owners
• External relations: external suppliers (infrastructure, software development), consultants, media organizations, digital network organizations

Tasks & Responsiblities

• Contribute to our clients IT-strategy, provide vision of the development of the group, the impact of digital services and financial economic parameters
• Develop architecture for publishing and back-office processes, in line with the IT roadmap
• Further develop IT and content function (processes, structures, staff) to required ambition level.  Integrate all project management activities into one project management office
• Manage and deliver key IT & content driven projects and investments
• Stays well on top of current market developments in the use of information, services via electronic distribution
• Close interaction with the publishing groups to understand customer needs thoroughly and ensure early adoption of the new initiatives, implement innovation process
• Identifies and assesses new and emerging information technologies
• Initiate and develops partnerships and other forms of cooperation with external parties to ensure the objectives

Candidate profile

• Academic degree or similar
• Experience in IT strategic planning and execution preferably in an environment with high level of data processing and –transfer
• BTB and BTC go to market experience with web based distribution. Multi-channel experience (e.g. order2cash or campaign management)
• Has driven culture change and transformation projects in terms of market approach and transition to new service models
• Has taken a lead role in ensuring proper technology infrastructure. Is experienced with strategic suppliers management (sourcing, contracting, negotiating, etc)
• Used to operate in an international matrix structure: proven to be successful by reaching out, be a catalyst
• Carried full budget and P&L responsibility
• Has operated successfully at management board level

Critical Competencies for Success

• Creative, able to think out of the box and come up with truly new concepts
• Stimulates an environment of out of the box thinking, with positive attitude to nontraditional ways of market approaches
• Used to lead multidisciplinary teams. Sets clear objectives and works towards strict deadlines
• Decisive, based on involvement of stakeholders
• Able to paint the overall picture, but also to bring it back to its operational consequences

Other Personal Characteristics

• Engaging, non-hierarchical personality who quickly develops rapport and credibility, both internally and externally
• Unassailable integrity and ethics
• Long term potential to contribute broadly across our client
• Strong communication and persuasion skills; confident, articulate and dynamic
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people in a collaborative and consensus driven environment
• Extensive network of potentially relevant contact

Interested?

You can apply to this position by using the form below. For more information, please contact Geert Meijer at +31 (0)6 53 83 23 68.