Head of Data & Analytics

Vandemoortele

Ghent, Belgium

Your role

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking individual to join Vandemoortele as the Head of Data & Analytics within our Global Digital Strategy & Transformation team, reporting to the Chief Digital Officer.

As the Head of Data & Analytics, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive data strategy & vision that aligns with our business objectives, drives innovation across our different business lines, and leverages the power of data as an asset to steer business decisions.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify data-driven opportunities, establish an operating framework with business functions, and champion a data-driven culture.

Your key responsibilities

You develop and lead a team of data SMEs (subject matter expert) , providing guidance, mentorship, and fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making and innovation.
You are responsible to create a Data Center of Expertise and identify the right organisational set-up to enable Vandemoortele to become a data-driven organisation.
By collaborating with key stakeholders, including senior management, Business Process Owners, BU leadership teams and our IT teams, you identify strategic opportunities for leveraging data to drive business growth and operational efficiency.
You establish a framework for the development of data products & collaborate with data scientist and owners to define technical requirements and ensure successful implementation and delivery.
You will drive the product development process and lifecycle, from ideation to launch, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality discoverable data products to gain rapid ‘time to insight’ of information and content.
You will identify and prioritise data initiatives and projects based on their potential business impact, feasibility, and alignment with the data strategy.
You drive the adoption of advanced data analytics and data science techniques to extract actionable insights from large and complex insurance datasets.
You foster a culture of data literacy and data-driven decision-making across the organisation, providing training and resources to enhance data literacy and analytics capabilities.
You collaborate with IT teams to assess and implement the necessary infrastructure, tools, and technologies to support the data strategy.
You closely follow emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in data strategy, analytics, and assess their potential impact on business operations.
You monitor and evaluate the performance of data initiatives, track key metrics, and provide regular reports to senior management on the effectiveness and ROI of data strategy efforts.

Are you the one we’re looking for?

You have min. 10 years of proven experience in data strategy, data management, or a related field, preferably in the FMCG and Food Industry. Experience in a leadership role is highly desirable.
You have a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as computer science, information management, or a related business discipline. Certifications e.g., Certified Data Management Professional are a plus.
You have in-depth expertise in data strategy frameworks, data governance, and regulatory requirements related to data privacy and security in FMCG industry.
You are familiar with advanced data analytics techniques, statistical modelling, machine learning algorithms, and data visualization tools.
You bring significant experience in leading and managing matrix teams, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment. You are able to inspire and guide a team of data strategy professionals.
You have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into strategic insights and actionable recommendations.
You are familiar with programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL, and experience using data manipulation and analysis tools like Qlik Sense, Power BI and Tableau.
You’re a strong communicator, capable of working collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Thanks to your strong business acumen, you can align data strategy initiatives with the strategic goals of the organisation.
You are proficient in:
- Office 365 (MS teams, MS Power Point, MS Excel, MS Word, SharePoint, Yammer).
- Business Intelligence Applications (PowerBI, QLIK Sense, Tableau, or similar etc.).
- SQL and SQL server reporting services (SSRS).
- Data Science & Machine-Learning Platforms (Databricks, DataIQ, SAS, Alteryx, or similar etc.).
Knowledge of Master Data Management Solutions (Informatica, Semarchy, IBM, or similar etc.) & Meta Data Management Solutions (Colibra, Alex Solutions, or similar etc.) is a plus.