Data Governance & Strategy Lead Permanent

About the Company

We are an internationally active, family-owned company with over 150 years of history, dedicated to the development, production, and servicing of specialized vehicles and solutions for logistics, waste collection, and industrial use. Driven by sustainable growth and innovation, we are heavily investing in the future — including electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Our people are at the heart of our success, and we’re committed to making a responsible, long-term impact.

We’re at an exciting turning point in our data journey. With a renewed data strategy and a future-proof data platform in the making, we’re restructuring our data organization to unlock new value across the business. This is a unique opportunity to shape that transformation from the ground up.

Your Team

You’ll join a growing central data team that includes our Group Data Manager, a data platform lead, engineers, and analytics specialists. Together, we’re driving data initiatives that streamline processes and generate real business impact.

The Role: Data Governance & Strategy Lead

As the Data Governance & Strategy Lead, you’ll be at the forefront of establishing and embedding data governance across the organization. Your mission will be to ensure our data is reliable, secure, and accessible — creating the foundations for a data-driven culture. Reporting to the Group Data Manager, you’ll collaborate closely with both technical teams and business leaders to define governance processes, establish ownership models, and ensure alignment across functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Governance Framework & Ownership: Design, implement, and maintain a robust data governance framework, including ownership models and a critical data element (CDE) inventory.
• Data Quality & Standards: Define data quality standards, establish monitoring practices, and drive resolution of data issues. Champion data quality awareness across the business.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders across departments to align on data definitions, policies, and best practices. Foster a culture of data stewardship within the organization.

What You Bring

We value curiosity and a growth mindset over a “perfect” background. That said, here’s what we’re looking for:

Must have:

• Proven experience implementing data governance frameworks and managing critical data elements.
• Practical knowledge of metadata management, enterprise data catalogs, and MDM tools (experience with Purview or Unity Catalog is a plus).
• Strong communication skills, able to navigate both technical discussions and business conversations.
• Solid understanding of data privacy, compliance (GDPR), and data security principles.
• Analytical, structured problem-solver with a focus on data standardization and quality.

Nice to have:

• Experience with ERP systems, especially Microsoft Dynamics.
• Familiarity with manufacturing, logistics, or automotive data environments.
• Experience working in Agile settings (Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps).
• Exposure to cloud data platforms like Databricks, Synapse, or Microsoft Fabric.

Who You Are

You’re a critical thinker who loves solving complex data challenges. Detail-oriented and persistent, you enjoy collaborating with diverse teams to develop solutions that make a difference.

What We Offer

• Annual salary between €70,000 – €85,000 + company bonus
• 25 vacation days, with the option to purchase more
• Comprehensive pension plan
• Mobility reimbursement
• Access to onsite facilities, including a gym and yoga sessions
• Regular team events
• Flexible working hours and hybrid work model (2/3 days per week in the office)
• Ongoing career development through training and mentoring
• A collaborative, people-first company culture

Interested?

If this sounds like your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you. Not sure if you tick every box? Let’s talk anyway — we’re open to conversations and eager to hear your perspective.