IT Governance Manager (m/f/d)

Role Purpose

Founded in 1921, OLDENDORFF CARRIERS combines its history as a German shipowner with the network of one of the world's leading drybulk operators. We currently control some 750 chartered and owned vessels of 67 mio tdw, and we carry around 330 mio tons of raw materials and semi-finished products across the seven seas each year. Our customers can expect 100% performance. All the way.

As part of our ongoing journey towards a modern and innovative Technology organization, we are looking to further strengthen our IT Governance Team. We are searching for an IT Governance Manager who will play an integral part in shaping Oldendorff’s digital future.

Job Responsibilities:

• Further develop, maintain, and monitor a fit-for-purpose IT governance framework aligned with business strategy, regulatory expectations, cyber resilience requirements, and operational realities across shore-based offices and vessels, ensuring traceable conformity with legal and regulatory requirements, internal policies, contractual obligations, audit expectations, and recognized good-practice frameworks.
• Define, implement, and continuously improve IT policies, standards, procedures, control objectives, KPIs, and evidence requirements covering IT processes, organization, people, technology, data, and third-party services.
• Strengthening governance over digital transformation initiatives, including cloud services, data platforms, automation, AI, vessel connectivity, OT (operational technology) interfaces, and integrated maritime applications, and advise on IT operating models, decision rights, process ownership, service management, tool governance, and documentation standards.
• Develop and operate the internal IT control system, covering policy and guideline management, control design, control performance monitoring, evidence collection, remediation tracking, and management reporting.
• Coordinate IT risk, compliance, and control activities with Information Security, Legal, Data Protection, Finance, and operational departments to ensure clear ownership, accountability, and traceability, and drive audit readiness by managing findings, supporting root-cause analysis, defining sustainable remediation actions, and tracking implementation.
• Support operational implementation of IT governance through guidance, training, and coaching for IT teams and business stakeholders in international locations.
• Establish and maintain quality and process management principles for IT governance, ensuring that processes are practical, measurable, and scalable for a decentralized global organization.
• Collaborate with IT departments, fleet-related stakeholders, and corporate functions to balance regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, innovation, and residual risk transparency.

What You Bring Along

• University degree in computer science, information systems, business administration, or a comparable IT-focused qualification.
• Practical experience in IT governance, controls, compliance, quality management, process management, or a related discipline.
• Good understanding of IT governance principles, policy management, control design, evidence requirements, and audit-ready documentation.
• Ability to translate regulatory, audit, and internal policy requirements into practical processes, controls, guidance, and reporting.
• Confident communicator able to explain governance requirements clearly to IT teams, business stakeholders, management, and external parties, and comfortable collaborating across cultures, time zones, functions, and levels of seniority.
• A structured, analytical, and solution-oriented working style, balancing governance requirements with practical business needs.
• A proactive team player able to work independently, drive topics forward, and follow up on actions with persistence and professionalism.
• Willingness to occasionally travel internationally or visit vessels as part of global IT governance activities.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Nice-to-have

• Experience with IT strategy, organizational development, internal control systems, audit management, or risk management.
• Familiarity with cyber resilience, data protection, supplier governance, AI, cloud services, or maritime IT environments.
• German language skills.

What we offer

• A collaborative, international working environment with flat hierarchies.
• Fast decision-making and a strong culture of ownership.
• Plenty of room for initiative, new ideas, and personal growth.