Lead Functional Application Manager - Job Opportunity at Ortec

Zoetermeer, Netherlands
Full-time
Senior
Posted: May 27, 2025
Hybrid
EUR 63,600 - 85,200 per year

Benefits

Permanent employment contract providing long-term job security and career stability
13th month year-end bonus enhancing total compensation beyond base salary
Holiday allowance providing additional financial support during vacation periods
Private internet connection reimbursement supporting remote work infrastructure
Company smartphone with subscription enabling seamless business communication
Home working allowance compensating for remote work expenses
Generous vacation package starting at 25 days with age-based increases up to 31 days
Mobility allowance of 3% gross monthly salary plus comprehensive mileage reimbursement
Company pension contribution securing long-term financial planning
Electric vehicle lease program with budget integrated into mobility allowance
Hybrid working arrangement optimizing work-life balance and productivity
Complete home office setup including furniture and IT equipment
Comprehensive health and well-being programs supporting employee wellness
Regular social events and team building activities fostering company culture

Key Responsibilities

Drive strategic transformation from legacy ERP systems to best-of-breed application ecosystem, positioning the organization for scalable growth and operational excellence
Lead and develop a high-performing functional application management team, transitioning from contractor-dependent operations to internal capability building
Orchestrate seamless daily operations across diverse business-critical applications including CRM, ticketing, and financial systems impacting customer satisfaction and revenue
Establish vendor relationship management protocols ensuring optimal application support, maintenance standards, and service level agreements
Design and implement industry best practices for functional application management, creating standardized processes that enhance operational efficiency
Provide transformational leadership and mentorship fostering continuous improvement culture and technical excellence within the team
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration ensuring business process alignment with application capabilities, driving organizational synergies and process optimization

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field

Experience

Strong experience with functional application management of business applications like CRM, HRM, Ticketing and/or ERP

Required Skills

Proven track record of leading software implementation projects Excellent project management and organizational skills Strong leadership skills with the ability to build and develop high-performing teams Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Knowledge of best practices in functional application management Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities Experience with Salesforce, Zendesk, Exact Synergy Enterprise and/or Exact Globe is a plus Experience with implementation and/or application management of financial management systems is highly desirable
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Enterprise software landscape is rapidly shifting from monolithic ERP systems to best-of-breed solutions, driven by the need for specialized functionality, faster innovation cycles, and reduced vendor lock-in. Organizations are increasingly adopting cloud-native applications that offer superior user experiences and integration capabilities. Digital transformation initiatives are accelerating the demand for application management professionals who can orchestrate complex software ecosystems. Companies are investing heavily in customer experience platforms, automated workflows, and data-driven decision-making tools. The rise of low-code/no-code platforms and API-first architectures is changing how functional application managers approach system integration and customization, requiring new skills in workflow automation and citizen development governance.

Salary Evaluation

The offered salary range of EUR 63,600 - 85,200 annually is competitive for the Netherlands market, aligning well with senior application management roles in mid-size technology companies. When combined with the 13th month bonus and comprehensive benefits package, the total compensation approaches EUR 75,000 - 95,000 annually, which is appropriate for the leadership responsibilities and technical expertise required.

Role Significance

Currently managing a team of 5 contractors with plans to build an internal functional application management team. The role suggests responsibility for 8-12 team members in the mature state, typical for application management departments in mid-size technology companies.
This is a senior leadership position requiring both technical depth and people management capabilities. The role involves strategic decision-making around technology architecture, vendor relationships, and team development, indicating significant organizational trust and responsibility.

Key Projects

Leading the migration from Exact ERP to a suite of specialized applications including Zendesk implementation and CRM selection Establishing internal application management capabilities to reduce contractor dependency Implementing integration frameworks and data synchronization between best-of-breed applications Developing application governance policies and change management processes

Success Factors

Demonstrated experience in large-scale ERP transformation projects with proven ability to manage complex technical migrations while maintaining business continuity and stakeholder confidence Strong vendor management and negotiation skills to optimize software licensing, support contracts, and service level agreements across multiple application providers Change management expertise to guide organizational adoption of new systems, processes, and workflows while minimizing business disruption Technical architecture understanding to design integration strategies, data flows, and security protocols across diverse application ecosystems Team building and leadership capabilities to attract, develop, and retain top application management talent in a competitive market

Market Demand

High demand exists for senior application management professionals who can lead ERP transformation projects and manage best-of-breed software ecosystems. The combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and change management experience makes this a sought-after role in the current market.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

ERP transformation experience is absolutely essential as the role centers on migrating from Exact ERP to best-of-breed solutions. This requires deep understanding of data migration, process re-engineering, and change management in complex enterprise environments. Leadership and team development skills are critical for transitioning from contractor-based operations to internal team management. Success depends on ability to attract, develop, and retain application management professionals in a competitive talent market. Vendor management expertise is crucial for optimizing relationships with multiple software providers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring service quality across diverse application portfolio including Salesforce, Zendesk, and financial systems.

Beneficial Skills

Experience with mathematical or scientific software environments would be valuable given ORTEC's optimization focus and technical customer base Knowledge of API management and integration platforms to support the best-of-breed architecture strategy Understanding of data governance and security frameworks to ensure compliance across multiple applications and customer data requirements Project management certification (PMP, Prince2) to formalize approach to complex transformation initiatives

Unique Aspects

Leading a transformation from contractor-dependent operations to internal capability building, providing valuable experience in organizational change and talent acquisition strategies
Working within a mathematically sophisticated organization where application management directly supports complex algorithmic and optimization software development
Managing the technical infrastructure that enables ORTEC's global customer success, creating direct visibility into how enterprise software impacts business outcomes
Opportunity to implement modern application architecture principles in a company with strong technical heritage and customer-focused culture

Career Growth

Progression to executive IT leadership roles typically occurs within 3-5 years given the strategic nature of this position and the valuable transformation experience gained.

Potential Next Roles

IT Director or CTO positions focusing on enterprise architecture and digital transformation strategy Senior roles at larger organizations managing more complex application portfolios and bigger teams Consulting positions helping other organizations navigate similar ERP transformations and application modernization initiatives Product management roles at software vendors leveraging deep customer perspective and implementation experience

Company Overview

Ortec

ORTEC is a well-established global leader in mathematical optimization and data science solutions, serving enterprise customers across multiple industries with sophisticated algorithmic software. The company operates in the specialized niche of operations research and advanced analytics, providing mission-critical optimization solutions to major corporations worldwide.

Strong market position as a recognized leader in optimization software with nearly 1000 employees across 14 countries. The company maintains a stable customer base of large enterprises and has demonstrated consistent growth in the competitive analytics and optimization market.
Netherlands headquarters in Zoetermeer positions this role at the company's primary operational center, providing exposure to global operations while maintaining strong European market focus. The location offers excellent access to European customers and business partners.
Technology-focused organization with emphasis on innovation, mathematical excellence, and customer success. The flat organizational structure and informal atmosphere suggest collaborative decision-making and open communication, typical of successful Dutch technology companies.
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