Strategic Governance

Strategic Governance & Business-IT Alignment Manager

Context

• As a result of an audit within ICT, in which the interfaces between Business and IT were also examined, the organization wants to structurally strengthen its Business IT governance, transparency and management. That is why a Strategic Governance & Business-IT Alignment Manager is sought who reports directly to the CEO. In a first phase, the position combines the follow-up of the audit recommendations with concrete operational improvements. In the longer term, the position supports the evolution towards a service-oriented ICT organization, with a strong relationship with the Business, clear governance, financial control and professional supplier management.

Responsibilities

Short term: initial assignment until the end of 2026, part-time 3 days a week

• Follow up on the implementation of the ICT audit recommendations, monitor progress and report transparently to the CEO and the relevant governance bodies.
• To monitor the financial outsourcing of ICT and to contribute to the prioritisation and follow-up of IT budget consumption.
• Achieve operational improvements in governance, financial control and supplier management, based on the identified audit findings and recommendations.
• Acting as a liaison between Business and ICT, with the aim of improving collaboration, clarifying expectations and providing more transparency on priorities, budgets, service delivery and progress.
• Recording concrete actions, owners, decision moments and reporting agreements, so that the follow-up is demonstrable and auditable.

Long-term: structural assignment

• Helping to implement a fully-fledged service-based ICT model, with clear IT services, service ownership, service agreements and a strong structural relationship with the Business.
• Further develop financial control and reporting on ICT expenditure, budget consumption, outsourcing and supplier performance and report to the competent governance bodies.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Business-ICT governance, including roles, responsibilities, decision-making rights, escalation paths and succession mechanisms.
• Provide the structural connection with Internal Audit, CISO, DPO and other relevant organization-wide roles, while respecting their independent responsibilities.
• Provide strategic advice to the ICT manager and other competent stakeholders on IT strategy, governance, service delivery, sourcing and prioritization.
• Further professionalize Service Management and act as a joint escalation point for suppliers when structural relationship or cooperation problems arise.
• Promote cooperation between Business, ICT, Finance, Procurement and suppliers, with a focus on value creation, transparency, service provision and risk management.

Skills

The candidate preferably has the following skills:

• Strong insight into IT governance, Business-IT alignment, Service Management, financial management and supplier management.
• Ability to translate audit findings into actionable improvement actions, with clear priorities, owners, milestones, and reporting.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills at board, business and ICT level.
• Independent, diplomatic and connecting attitude, combined with sufficient decisiveness to monitor progress and decision-making.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with management reporting, risks, budgets, KPIs and decision-making files.
• Ability to organize governance and control pragmatically, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Good knowledge of common ICT governance and service management frameworks and practices, such as COBIT and ITIL, is an important asset.
• Experience with sourcing, contract and supplier relations, including handling escalations and following up on improvement plans.
• Coaching and facilitating skills to sustainably embed cooperation and continuous improvement.

Experience:

• Extensive relevant experience in a senior position within ICT governance, Business-IT alignment, ICT Service Management, ICT control, CIO Office or a similar governance and transformation environment.
• Demonstrable experience in following up and implementing audit or improvement programs within a complex organization.
• Experience with financial management of ICT, budget follow-up, outsourcing and supplier management.
• Experience in designing or improving governance bodies, reporting models, roles and responsibilities and decision-making processes.
• Experience in building a service-oriented ICT organization and in the collaboration between Business and ICT.
• Experience in a public, regulated, or highly controlled environment is a plus.
• Sufficient seniority to work directly with CEO, management, ICT management, Business, Internal Audit, CISO, DPO, Finance, Procurement and external suppliers.