Head of IT - France

For one of our clients, an international company in the automotive industry, we are looking for a Head of IT for the French subsidiary.Head of IT France ProfileReporting into the Head of IT for our European Markets, the Head of IT for France will lead and steer the French IT team for a professional, high quality and flexible IT Product Life Cycle Management including Business Relationship Management, Project/Business change delivery, professional and customer-oriented application management and support to the organization, their customers and their business partners. To drive and steer the local IT landscape transformation within France consequently in the direction of a centralized, highly standardized, and simplified Region Europe IT landscapeMore about the role• Responsible for developing and communication of overall direction and goals for the function to support the delivery of high-quality IT solutions, projects and services• Act as Strategic Business Partner developing and aligning the strategic IT landscape• Act as Business Relationship Manager in the provision of Business Engagement and end to end Lifecycle management (demand to delivery) to ensure highest quality IT services are delivered in-line with business expectations in the area of responsibility• Responsible for establishing and operating Applications Management and Support in a fitting working model (e.g. SCRUM), aligned with ITIL based processes, for the running software application environments operating in the area of responsibility• Provide effective management and escalation in the operations and support of relevant local, regional and central applications to ensure high availability and robust solutions are provided to the area of responsibility and coordinate infrastructure relevant matters• Responsible for the provision, integration, securing and automation of solutions, standards and process operations as well as local application changes and maintenance function for outdated software components and legacy solutions to ensure effective and reliable delivery of integration services• Drive the overall improvement in application quality, standardization and consistency through the provision of application architecture standards• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with providers both the internal group and external IT organizations to successfully work together to raise the standard of service delivery to meet business needs and to ensure effective and compliant solutions are delivered providing value for money• Ownership, management and control of Run, Change and the organization Service Agreement budgets and spending in the delivery of the running software applications environment, local integration solutions and the delivery of the Project Portfolio in the area of responsibility• Identify and manage risks to maintain ongoing compliance with organization policies, requirements and security for running applications and interfaces within the responsibility• Management of a highly motivated and very effective IT team and collaboration with IT colleagues to drive effective results and continued development to embrace emerging technologies and solutions• Coordinate and drive IT landscape harmonization in a cluster setup (UK, Netherland and Belgium) to ensure synergies and efficiencyAbout the candidateThe candidate should have completed a degree in Business Computer Science, Information Technology, or a similar field. Experience should include at least 5 years of IT consulting experience, advanced knowledge of IT technologies, architectures, and infrastructure topics, and advanced knowledge of technologies supporting Joint Priorities (FOSS, DevOps, Cloud, API, IAM). The role demands excellent knowledge of business processes, business strategy, vendor management, and consolidation, along with experience in developing IT strategies and business plans. Further experience in IT Service Management, leading complex change projects with conflict potential, and knowledge of key automation technology trends and applications is essential.Specific skills required are proficiency in agile project management methods (Scrum, Kanban), DevOps know-how, ability to identify and implement alternative process management solutions, creative and innovative thinking, strong customer focus, good conflict management skills, problem-solving skills, advanced management and motivational skills, strong presentation and communication skills, strategic thinking, and excellent negotiation skills.Qualification SummaryEducationCompleted degree in business computer science or Information technology or similarExperienceIT management experience (5 years’ experience)IT consulting experience (5 years’ experience)Advanced knowledge of IT (technologies, architectures, etc)Advanced knowledge with technology supporting our Joint Priorities (FOSS, DevOps, Cloud, API, IAM)Advanced knowledge of IT infrastructure topicsExcellent knowledge of business processes & business strategyExcellent knowledge of vendor management and consolidationExperience in developing IT strategies as well as business plansExperience in IT Service Management and knowledge of toolsExperience in leading complex change projects with conflict potentialsKnowledge of key automation technology trends & applicationAgile project management methods (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)DevOps know-howAbility to identify and implement alternative process management and harmonizing solutionsSpecific know-howCreative and innovative thinkingStrong Customer FocusGood conflict management skillsProblem-solving skillsAdvanced management and motivational skillsStrong presentation & communication skillsStrategic thinkingExcellent negotiation skillsAbout the OfferPackage salary range: 85k€ to 110k€ brut per year.Hybrid on-site / remote organization