Deputy Information Systems Programme Manager

About the Role

ESO’s Information Systems Programme (ISP) leads the planning and implementation of projects for a specific group of ESO's organization-wide information, documentation, and configuration systems, aligning them with organizational needs, managing project execution and resourcing, and driving modernization and digitalization across the organization. Upon project completion, the delivered systems are handed over to the operational owners.

Currently in the portfolio are projects for ERP (Oracle Fusion), Enterprise Asset Management (Maximo), Content and Document Management, Web Content Management (Adobe AEM), and Digital Engineering Data (including PLM, CAD, and links with BIM and Digital Twin at ESO observatories).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide end‑to‑end leadership across projects within the ISP.
• Define target application landscapes, integrations, data flows, lifecycle management, and system dependencies.
• Work with ESO's IT department, quality management, and organizational stakeholders to align business processes and requirements with system architectures and platform capabilities.

Data & Governance

• Lead and oversee data lifecycle approaches, including migration, cleansing, enhancement, transformation, validation, reconciliation, and traceability across systems.
• Collaborate with ESO IT and the organizational system owners to define system‑of‑record, data ownership, and governance/operating models.
• Support the programme manager and project leads with architectural guidance, solution assurance, and dependency management.
• Support programme-level decision‑making, risk management, and prioritisation.
• Act as a senior point of contact for external system integrators/vendors.
• Contribute to roadmap development, investment planning, and long‑term platform sustainability for the projects with the ISP.

Competencies and Experience

• Minimum of five years experience leading programmes, portfolios, or large‑scale projects with demonstrable success in business transformation and digitalisation.
• Track record of implementing and scaling enterprise and/or engineering platforms across complex environments, including ERP (Oracle Fusion or equivalent Tier‑1 ERP), Enterprise Asset Management, Content and Document Management, Web Content Management, and engineering data environments (PLM, CAD, BIM, or Digital Twin).
• Hands‑on experience in process design and optimisation.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong problem‑solving, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Comfortable working in a diverse, international, and multicultural organization.

Qualifications

University degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Excellent command of English, both written and verbal. Working knowledge of Spanish desirable.

Remuneration and Contract

We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary (free of income tax for applicants from ESO member states), a comprehensive pension scheme, medical and educational benefits, and financial support for relocation. The fixed‑term contract lasts three years, subject to successful completion of the probation period. Extension may be considered based on performance and organizational requirements. For details on the salary structure, visit

ESO aims to support work‑life balance and offers family‑friendly support, flexible working arrangements, and financial assistance for families.

Duty Station

Garching near Munich, Germany, with regular duty trips to all ESO sites in Chile. The role is based on‑site at ESO; relocation to the duty station area is required. Hybrid working is limited due to the on‑site requirement.

Application

To apply, visit and complete the application in English, including a motivation letter and CV. Provide names and contact details of three referees who can provide recommendation letters upon request. The deadline for application is 31 July 2026. Interviews will start shortly thereafter.