Freelance Head of Enterprise Applications & Platforms | Dutch Speaker

Senior Leadership Opportunity in Financial Services

Join a major financial institution in the Netherlands on a 12-month contract starting as soon as possible. This role offers a senior leadership position to establish, structure, and lead a new Enterprise Applications & Platforms department within a complex IT organisation. The position focuses on consolidating shared IT services, improving standardisation and reuse, reducing bespoke solutions, and shaping the strategic direction of enterprise applications, platforms, and data services.

Scope of Leadership

The department comprises approximately 100 FTE, including internal employees and external professionals, with two Section Heads reporting directly to this position. The successful candidate will drive enterprise-wide standardisation, consolidation, and rationalisation initiatives while ensuring the quality, continuity, stability, and ongoing development of enterprise applications and platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, structure, and lead the new Enterprise Applications & Platforms department.
• Manage approximately 100 FTE, including internal and external resources.
• Develop and execute the strategy for enterprise applications, platforms, and data services.
• Drive enterprise-wide standardisation, consolidation, and rationalisation initiatives.
• Promote shared platforms, reusable solutions, and consistent IT service delivery.
• Ensure the quality, continuity, stability, and ongoing development of enterprise applications and platforms.
• Lead organisational transformation and change programmes to reduce complexity across the IT landscape.
• Advise executive leadership and senior stakeholders on strategic application and platform decisions.
• Collaborate with business and technology leaders to align IT capabilities with organisational objectives.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent level of professional expertise.
• Minimum five years of senior leadership experience within complex IT environments.
• Proven experience managing large IT departments of 100+ FTE.
• Demonstrated success establishing new organisational units and leading organisational transformation.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise applications, including HR, Finance, and corporate support systems.
• Experience with enterprise platforms, shared IT services, and data services.
• Proven ability to deliver application rationalisation, standardisation, and platform consolidation programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience operating at executive and board-facing levels.
• Strategic mindset combined with the ability to drive operational execution and organisational change.