Director Development & Innovation (m/f/d)

We, the HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP, have an important mission as a leading media house for economic and financial information in Germany and Europe: “We want to empower people to understand the economy.” We need you for that! At our headquarters in Düsseldorf, nearly 1000 employees work: within every day, to vigorously implement the dissemination of economic expertise. This includes iq digital media marketing GmbH. We are a joint venture of FAZ Verlag, Süddeutsche Zeitung Verlag, ZEIT Verlag and the HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP, and are the leading marketer for digital quality media and mediabrands. Since 1 January 2024, we have expanded our quality portfolio by the SPIEGEL publishing company. We stand for high ranges in premium target groups as well as for special-interest target groups. We are looking for a:n Director Development & Innovation (gn) from summer 2026. In this function, you report directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and are responsible for the strategic area Development & Innovation with the pillars IT Infrastructure, Development and Product & Emerging Technologies (focus KI). Together with your leadership team, you'll run a 20-headed area and keep developing it both strategically and operationally. In your role, you act as a strategic leader, integrator:in and impulse generator:in for technology-driven further development. At the higher level, you are responsible for the overall technological architecture, all innovation initiatives and the strategic management of all AI activities of the company – always with the aim of ensuring long-term competitiveness, scalability and sustainability.

Strategic and operational overall responsibility for Development & Innovation Joint leadership and further development of a 20-member interdisciplinary team together with the leadership team Development and implementation of a company-wide technology, innovation and AI strategy in close coordination with COO and management Responsibility for the strategic management of all AI activities (use-cases, governance, responsible use, scaling) Continuous observation, evaluation and integration of relevant technology and market trends (e.g. AI, automation, data architecture) Ensuring competitiveness through continuous product and platform development and targeted innovation and pilot projects Total responsibility for the cross-departmental technology stack of the marketing unit (including AdServer, SSPs, CDP, tracking and analysis systems) incl. Performance, scalability, conformity and technical governance Close cooperation with internal interfaces, in particular programatic, data management and operating teams, to establish efficient, community development and production processes Strategic exchange with market partners, technology providers and industry actors Company representation in market bodies (e.g. BVDW), trade fairs and relevant industry events Control and further development of service provider and partner structures incl. Budget, Cost and Resource Responsibility

Complete university studies in the field of computer science, business informatics, economics or comparable Multiannual disciplinary leadership experience in complex, technology-driven organisations Outstanding experience in managing executives and working with leadership teams Deep understanding of modern software, platform and data architectures as well as technological decision-making processes Found experience in agile work, in hybrid organisational models as well as in the control of complex development and transformation projects, as far as possible with detectable project management expertise Strategic consulting skills and entrepreneurial thinking Experience in strategic classification and responsible use of AI technologies Very pronounced analytical, conceptual and structural skills Decision strength, communication and moderation competence on Executive level Innovation spirit, willingness to design and the ability to inspire people for common goals

FLEXIBILITY Your work adapts to your personal circumstances and individual professional requirements. Use our 50 % mobile control to work together with your team in our modern office.

NEW PERSPECTIVES You dive into a diverse working environment with a large design playroom. Bring your ideas with us.

DEVELOPMENT Train your skills with the offer of our “GROW Academy”, regular impulses and a 24/7 access to our learning platform.

DIR TREU Work as you feel. You are unique and we are looking for that.

THE CLASSIFICATIONS: A comprehensive onboarding, 30 days vacation, a grant company ticket, cycling offer, fitness studio collaborations, retirement benefits, discounted book ordering, in-house KITA, corporate events etc. Promoting equal opportunities and diversity is an important concern to us. We therefore encourage explicitly motivated persons who do not comply 100% with the criteria mentioned to apply. We look forward to all applicants: women, regardless of origin, nationality, skin color, religion, age, disability, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. .