Chief Information Officer Full Time

Chief Information Officer  

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, Fugro has successfully transitioned from an oil and gas service provider to a leading geo-data company. This transformation presents exciting challenges and opportunities, particularly in light of the pressing global demand for geo-data insights across energy, infrastructure, and water markets. This Chief Information Officer (CIO) appointment is crucial for navigating this ongoing evolution and supporting Fugro’s ambitious “Towards Full Potential” strategy, which not only aims for profitable growth by 2027 but also focuses on enhancing sustainability and delivering value to customers.  

The CIO’s role extends beyond merely updating Fugro’s digital infrastructure; it involves optimizing, simplifying, and standardizing the IT (information technology) infrastructure and enterprise application landscape, as well as integrating OT (operating technology) systems. The CIO will implement the OTS blueprint alongside security measures to ensure that the IT infrastructure is robust, effective, and scalable. Additionally, the CIO will provide OTS support for technologies, IT, and geo-data solutions used by field staff, all while focusing on delivering scalable and efficient digital geo-data solutions for clients and maintaining strong cybersecurity to keep Fugro safe.  

Collaborating with the Group Director of Strategy & Transformation, the CIO will focus on developing and implementing Fugro’s digital strategy, ensuring that these initiatives align with the company’s long-term objectives. This partnership is vital for setting the stage for Fugro’s future successes.  

Fostering an innovation-led culture within the IT team is another key responsibility for the CIO. This includes streamlining the IT framework, consolidating operations for greater efficiency, and empowering innovation teams across the organization. By doing so, the CIO will create an IT framework that is reliable and responsive to new ideas and technologies, enabling Fugro to stay ahead in the industry.  

Cultivating a high-performing global IT team is central to this agenda. The CIO will focus on further building a team equipped to tackle complex IT and OT challenges, which is instrumental in supporting Fugro’s strategic goals. The commitment to enhancing the team’s capabilities and fostering a culture of innovation is essential for maintaining Fugro’s competitive edge amid rapid technological shifts. Ultimately, this role provides a unique opportunity to lead pivotal change and drive the organization forward, ensuring Fugro remains at the forefront of the geo-data sector while contributing to a safe and liveable world. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership  

• Advise the Executive Leadership Team effectively and efficiently to enable Fugro’s complete value chain worldwide.  

• Set objectives and develop strategies for the Global IT department, focusing on effective strategy deployment by engaging the IT management team and ensuring that all employees understand their contributions to Fugro’s goals while also motivating them to realize and execute these objectives.  

• Identify and advise the ELT and Board of Management on technological advancements that offer Fugro a competitive edge.  

Team Management and Development  

• Lead the Global IT Management team to provide expertise, specialization, create global policies, and standardize operations.  

• Build and enhance IT team capabilities, ensuring the alignment of IT structure with business strategy and addressing critical roles.  

• Navigate and manage dual reporting and hierarchical/functional scope across regions effectively.  

Collaboration and Value Creation  

• Collaborate with business units and functions to understand and meet requirements for value creation.  

• Support and engage with the innovation community within Fugro, including applications for operations and enterprise organization.  

Governance and Security  

• Oversee IT/OT policies and governance, ensuring security and reliability.  

• Implement lifecycle management, infrastructure, and operational support according to Fugro’s strategic pillars.  

Continuous Improvement and Modernization  

• Champion continuous improvement and modernization within IT to future-proof the organization.  

• Focus on the professionalization of enterprise IT through modern technologies like cloud and data infrastructure.  

• Lead major programs focused on IT infrastructure modernization and standardization.  

• Actively participate in the transformation and operation of Fugro’s IT landscape, covering innovation, operational support, and enterprise IT needs.  

Ideal Candidate

The ideal CIO for Fugro is a proven leader with a track record in leading IT transformations, with a strong emphasis on advancing data management strategies within complex, global IT organizations in technically demanding sectors. This leader is skilled at modernizing IT infrastructure, advancing digitalization initiatives, and enhancing data management, while also prioritizing cybersecurity. They are adept at building and leading innovative, high-performing teams internationally, showcasing excellent communication skills to foster collaboration and align with Fugro’s strategic goals for digital expansion. With proven experience in navigating complex environments, the candidate excels at streamlining processes, promoting efficiency, and acting as a trusted strategic advisor, ensuring technology drives business growth effectively.  

• Takes personal ownership for advancing significant change.  

• Communicates a new direction or change with a clear rationale and/or sense of urgency.  

• Creates or takes advantage of multiple opportunities to promote needed change.  

• Adapts communication content, approach, or style around change to appeal to different audiences.  

Driving Digital Leadership  

• Identifies opportunities for digital change within their area of function, using technologies to refine underlying systems and processes.  

• Keeps up to date with the latest trends in digital business, developing expertise in at least one area of digital/technology that extends beyond their function.  

• Recognizes the need to change and works to enact it, identifying areas where change is needed rather than waiting for the wider organization to act.  

Collaborating and Influencing  

• Adapts own influencing approach to individuals, anticipating impact of words and actions.  

• Invites and incorporates the opinions and perspectives of others to achieve alignment.  

• Pre-empts or resolves conflicts by discussing individual issues with each person.  

• Seeks to understand the different sides of an issue or disagreement.  

Leading People  

• Adapts leadership style to each individual team member to get the best outcome.  

• Assigns projects to the team, explaining how they fit into longer-term business objectives.  

• Regularly meets with individual team members to discuss projects and offer any support they may need.  

• Recognizes individual and team successes.  

Other Personal Characteristics

• Adaptive leadership.  

• Strategic visionary.  

• Collaborative communicator.  

• Innovative problem-solver.