Chapter Lead Testing Operational Planning

The Chapter Lead will play a crucial role in balancing technical expertise with people management. This position involves providing technical guidance, fostering personal and professional development, and ensuring collaboration and alignment within and across teams. The Chapter Lead will work closely with business and IT stakeholders to deliver high-quality products that support business goals and enhance customer experience.

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Technical Leadership**:

- Provide expert technical guidance and support to Chapter members in a specific domain (e.g., software development, quality assurance etc).
- Ensure best practices and high standards are maintained within the Chapter.
- Stay current with industry trends and technologies to provide relevant advice and direction.

**People Management**:

- Focus on the personal and professional development of team members through mentoring, career development, and performance reviews.
- Foster a supportive and collaborative team environment.
- Organize optimal workforce planning to meet the needs of various Squads.

**Facilitating Collaboration**:

- Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration within the Chapter.
- Work with key business customers, stakeholders, and external partners to identify and address IT needs.
- Interact with Project Managers, Product Owners, Architecture, Solution Design, Services Delivery, and Support teams to ensure quality product development.

**Bridging Squads and Chapters**:

- Maintain coherence and alignment across different Squads, ensuring consistent technical and quality standards.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination between Squads and Chapters.

**Recruitment and Staffing**:

- Participate in recruitment and staffing decisions to ensure the right skills are available within the Chapter.
- Assess the span of control and adjust the Chapter structure as needed to maintain manageability.

**Delivery**:

- Ensure end-to-end IT ownership for projects within the business area portfolio.
- Engage with Project Managers to create, plan, track, and execute overall project plans.
- Support the creation of business cases and contribute to project steering committees with clear roles and responsibilities.

**Application Management**:

- Advise on risk management, ensuring effective detection, reporting, and mitigation.
- Support portfolio management and optimize capacity planning.

**Financials**:

- Create and manage departmental budget proposals aligned with business strategy and priorities.
- Hold financial accountability, including estimation, forecasting, and reporting on OPEX and CAPEX budget actuals.
- Identify and mitigate financial risks.
- Master’s degree in IT, economics, or equivalent through experience.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience within a delivery/IT environment.
- At least 5 years of experience in managing teams; experience with managing offshore teams is a plus.
- Comfortable working with a variety of technology and business stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills and a can-do delivery mindset.
- Constructive, proactive, and pragmatic approach.
- Ability to handle stress and manage multiple priorities.
- Profound knowledge of Project Management (Agile/SAFe methodology) and IT processes.
- Fluency in Dutch or French and English.

**Job Requirements**:

- Demonstrated experience in leading and managing teams, including career development and performance management.
- Proven ability to coach and mentor team members.
- Strong organizational skills for optimal workforce planning.
- Experience in creating and managing budgets.
- Ability to manage financial accountability, including risk identification and mitigation.

**Our offer**

Within our open corporate culture, you contribute to the digital transformation of SNCB. You will have a job with social impact and ample opportunity to make your own contribution. In addition to a good work-life balance and a competitive salary, you will receive the following benefits:

- the possibility to work remotely + flexible working hours;
- 35 days of leave;
- a company car + a public transport season ticket;
- a target bonus;
- a comprehensive insurance package (affiliation without own contribution, excl. outpatient costs for family members);
- hospitalisation and dental care for the whole family;
- outpatient costs (= medical costs separate from hospitalisation);
- group insurance: supplementary pension, work disability and death (cafeteria plan);
- accidents at work (extralegal);
- meal vouchers and eco-vouchers;
- net allowances for remote working and carwash + internet budget.