Head of IT/Tech Governance

Where passion meets opportunity

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Your Purpose

MSC Cruises is embarking on a transformative journey to build a future-ready, digital-first organisation. This ambitious endeavour integrates cutting-edge technologies across our fleet, operations, and customer experience. We seek a visionary Head of Technology Governance to lead the development and enforcement of robust technology governance frameworks that align our digital initiatives with business objectives and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to the COO and CIO, ensuring that technology governance processes, strategic project portfolios, and stakeholder communications are seamlessly aligned with MSC Cruises' mission of delivering excellence and innovation.

Your Impact

The Head of IT/Tech Governance will play a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness and consistency of the Technology operational model across multiple locations worldwide. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and dotted line to the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the jobholder will be responsible for overseeing the governance of technology processes, managing the technology project portfolio, and ensuring effective communication with stakeholders, including the board. This position requires a strategic thinker with strong
leadership skills and a comprehensive understanding of technology governance, project management, and financial oversight.

Technology Governance Responsibilities
* Strategy Setting: Develop and implement strategic plans to drive technology governance initiatives, aligning them with the broader organisational goals.
* Ensure Consistency of the IT/Tech Operational Model: Standardise technology processes to align with business objectives and industry best practices, ensuring operational efficiency.
* Manage Technology Project Portfolio: Oversee technology projects, prioritising initiatives and ensuring delivery within scope, budget, and timelines.
* Communicate with Stakeholders and the Board: Provide regular updates to internal and external stakeholders, including board-level communication, to articulate the value of technology strategies and investments.
* Manage Budget and Extra Budget Process: Oversee technology governance budgets, managing forecasts, monitoring expenses, and handling additional budget requests.
* Maintain and Evolve Project Management Platform: Optimise project management tools to enhance visibility, collaboration, and delivery efficiency across teams.
* Support Technology Investment Benefit Tracking: Design mechanisms to track and ensure the delivery of business benefits from technology investments in an effective and efficient way (eg. Licenses usage).
* Measure Vendor Performance: Establish and monitor vendor KPIs to optimise service delivery, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and organisational standards.
* Coordinate Contract Management with Procurement: Collaborate with procurement teams to ensure contracts align with organisational goals and deliver value.
* Act as First Point of Escalation for Critical Programmes: Lead the resolution of critical programme issues to minimise disruptions and maintain momentum.
* Support Regular Communications: Prepare and disseminate updates, reports, and strategic insights to maintain alignment and transparency with stakeholders.

Technology Strategy and Portfolio Responsibilities
The jobholder will ensure that MSC Cruise Division Technology strategic committee is fully supported with the information, analyses, and resources to make effective decisions on key technology initiatives. The role entails optimising meeting schedules, facilitating executive discussions, tracking decisions, providing updates, overseeing technology initiatives for strategic alignment, reviewing budgets, managing risks, and refining governance frameworks. Beyond committee responsibilities, the role provides portfolio oversight, ensuring that all technology investments are aligned with the organisation's strategic objectives and deliver measurable value.

Your Journey so far

* 10-15 years in technology governance, project portfolio management, and large-scale transformation in multinational organisations, preferably in strategic consulting firms.
* Proven experience in designing and managing shared service centers.
* Demonstrated track record of organising executive-level committees.
* Bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, Economics, or a related technical field. MBA is preferred.

Your Essentials

* Analytical Mindset: Ability to distill complex data sets (project metrics, financials, risk factors) into concise, executive-ready insights.
* Project & Program Management: Familiarity with tools (e.g., Jira, MS Project, or ServiceNow) and methodologies (e.g., Agile, ITIL, SAFe).
* Strong Communication: Adept at engaging stakeholders across different levels and presenting complex ideas with clarity.
* Collaboration & Influencing: Skilled at building consensus among cross-functional teams with competing priorities.
* Financial Acumen: Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and cost-benefit analyses for large-scale technology programs.
* Leadership: Integrity, fairness, and a people-first approach to leadership.
* Languages: Fluent in English; additional European languages are an advantage.
* EU Passport or right to work in Switzerland.

Our commitment

We are committed to building a future that values diverse perspectives, embraces the world beyond borders, and fosters an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves. Our commitment extends to taking meaningful, measurable actions that have a long-term positive impact on our guests, our employees and our planet.

Ready to turn your passion into something extraordinary? Join us at MSC Cruises, where new opportunities await. Apply today to be part of a global team that is pushing boundaries and achieving something remarkable. Your journey starts here