Key Skills

Job Description

NXTminds is looking for an INTERIM Engineering Director (IT/Software) with experience within the RETAIL domain. About the Company For a large, digitally mature organisation, we are looking for a highly experienced Interim Technology Director – Retail & Digital Customer who can step directly into a business-critical technology domain for approximately three to six months. You will join a large Dutch organisation serving a substantial consumer market through a combination of physical and digital channels. Technology plays a critical role in both day-to-day operations and the continued development of the customer experience. A significant part of its digital products and platforms is developed and operated by internal multidisciplinary teams. The environment combines considerable scale and complexity with high expectations around reliability, speed of change and commercial impact. Technology, Product and Data are increasingly developing towards a more integrated way of working. About the Role You will take senior leadership responsibility for technology supporting retail, commerce and digital customer interaction. This is an omnichannel environment in which physical and digital customer journeys are increasingly interconnected. Technology therefore extends beyond digital channels alone and supports the broader retail landscape, including customer-facing platforms, apps, commercial propositions, marketing technology and the underlying engineering and cloud capabilities. Your first priority is to provide continuity, leadership and execution power. At the same time, you will act as a senior sparring partner on the future organisation of Technology, Product and Data, helping shape organisational structure, ownership, leadership and technical priorities. This is not primarily a programme management, SaaS or Data & AI leadership position. We are looking for an experienced technology executive who has led sizeable engineering organisations and understands how technology directly supports customers, commercial performance and retail operations. Responsibilities Provide immediate leadership and continuity across the retail, commerce and digital customer technology domain. Quickly establish a clear overview of teams, leadership, technology, roadmaps, dependencies and business-critical initiatives. Lead engineering managers and senior technical leaders and help teams resolve complex technology and delivery challenges. Ensure technology priorities remain closely connected to retail, commercial, marketing and customer objectives. Act as a senior sparring partner on the future organisation and collaboration of Technology, Product and Data. Help shape ownership, responsibilities, team structures and the technology operating model. Understand and challenge senior-level technical decisions across web, mobile, frontend, backend, platforms, integrations and cloud. Combine operational stability and delivery with preparation for longer-term organisational and technological change. Ensure an effective handover and sustainable embedding within the permanent organisation. Qualifications Extensive experience at Technology Director, VP Engineering, VP Technology or comparable senior technology leadership level, with responsibility for multiple teams and management layers. Demonstrable leadership experience within large-scale retail, omnichannel commerce or a comparable consumer-facing environment; experience predominantly within pure SaaS environments is not sufficient. Professional English is essential; Dutch is an advantage. Required Skills Strong experience with technology directly supporting retail, customer interaction, commerce and marketing, preferably across both physical and digital channels. A solid foundation in software engineering and product development, combined with sufficient technical depth to challenge senior engineers, architects and technology leaders. Experience with high-scale web and mobile products, frontend and backend architectures, APIs, platforms, integrations and modern cloud environments. Proven experience leading sizeable engineering organisations through managers of managers and senior technical leadership. Comfortable approaching Technology, Product, Data and business priorities as an interconnected operating model rather than separate disciplines. Experience with organisational design, operating models, ownership structures and/or large-scale technology transformation. Able to combine strategic leadership with operational execution: credible at senior management level while remaining sufficiently close to technology and teams to understand what is actually happening. Experience within international and/or large-scale technology organisations is strongly preferred. Preferred Skills Affinity with AI and an understanding of its impact on software engineering, product development and retail is a plus, but Data & AI is not the primary focus of this assignment. Pay range and compensation package Assignment duration: approximately 3–6 months. Hourly rate €150,- inc. travel exc. VAT

Core Responsibilities

Provide senior leadership and continuity for technology supporting retail, commerce, and digital customer interaction. Act as a strategic partner to shape the future organization of Technology, Product, and Data while ensuring operational stability.

Requirements

Requires extensive experience at a VP or Director level within large-scale retail or omnichannel environments. Must possess deep technical knowledge in software engineering, cloud platforms, and organizational transformation.