Vice President IT Systems and Data Networks (m/f/d)

We are looking for a Vice President IT Systems and Data Networks (m/f/d) to join our team at our headquarters as soon as possible.
 
The IT Systems and Data Networks (ITS) service unit aligns itself with the strategic goals of FIZ Karlsruhe and provides the necessary IT infrastructure for the operation of workstation, server, storage, and network systems. We operate IT systems and the applications based on them in our own data center and as a cloud service.

Your responsibilities:

• Managing the service unit “IT Systems and Data Networks” with currently 20 employees
• Operating and strategically developing the unit by
  • Bearing responsibility for the highly available, performant and secure operation of our information and hosting services 
  • Bearing responsibility for all components of the IT infrastructure (server, storage, data networks, workstation systems, communications, media technology) within a hybrid-operated data center (on-site/co-location/cloud) 
  • Implementing and further developing the organization’s global IT strategy at the Karlsruhe and Berlin locations, together with the CIO  
  • Proactively advancing IT projects, in particular in the fields of IT transformation (moving to a co-location) and automation of IT operation (OpenStack, Terraform, Ansible) 
  • Supporting collaborative R&D projects through appropriate IT infrastructures
• Participating in internal and external boards

Your qualifications:

• University degree or equivalent qualification
• Several years of professional experience in an executive position in the field of information technology, with a proven record of success
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, as well as strong teamwork abilities
• Excellent command of German and English
• Strong service orientation and interpersonal skills, high resilience, and a proactive mindset
• Very good project management skills and knowledge of relevant methods, ideally including ITIL
• Very good knowledge of quality assurance to ensure highly available and high-performance IT operations
• Experience with the specific IT infrastructure requirements of research fields

Why FIZ Karlsruhe is a good employer for you:

• You will work in a highly dynamic scientific and technical environment with a supportive workplace culture
• Performance-based career and advancement opportunities
• Flexible work schedules and remote work options of up to 80 percent
• Compensation in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement for the public sector (TVöD (VKA)), including a company pension plan through VBL
• Good work-life balance, certified by the berufundfamilie audit
• Access to company bicycle leasing and a €25 employer subsidy for the Deutschland-Ticket

This is a full-time, permanent position with the option of working part-time (at least 80%). Compensation is based on pay grade 15 TVöD (VKA), with possible additional allowances depending on professional and personal qualifications.

Contact

If you have any technical questions, please contact Mr. Andreas Schwartz (andreas.schwartz [at] fiz-karlsruhe.de (andreas[dot]schwartz[at]fiz-karlsruhe[dot]de)) or Mr. Matthias Razum (matthias.razum [at] fiz-karlsruhe.de (matthias[dot]razum[at]fiz-karlsruhe[dot]de)).

Have we sparked your interest?

Please send us your application through our career portal online.
Reference number: 07/2026
Deadline: July 21, 2026
Applications from persons with severe disabilities will be given preference, provided they are equally qualified.