Senior Manager - Head of Data Enablement & Governance - Aarhus

Do you want to lead a passionate team and position data as one of Arla’s most valuable strategic assets? As Head of Data Governance, you will shape the direction of our data agenda—ensuring high-quality, trusted data that strengthens daily operations and keeps us competitive in an AI-driven future.

Reporting to the Senior Director, CIO Office and Data Enablement & Governance, you will be part of the CIO Office leadership team and lead a team of ten skilled colleagues – including a Product Manager, Product Owner and experts in data governance and adoption. You will also play a visible and active part in the data agenda for Arla’s merger with DMK Group, where strong data and change leadership will help secure successful integration.

How you will make an impact

Above all, you lead people. You build, coach and inspire a team that turns data into a trusted, accessible and actively used asset, governed and embedded into everyday decision-making across the value chain. You will build on a strong foundation already in place and be accountable for both executing Arla’s data strategy and driving adoption of the Data & Analytics Platform across the organisation. You will engage senior stakeholders across Arla – including IT development teams and functional leaders across our business domains – as well as external vendors and consultants.

The team is structured into three sub-teams with different data focus and responsibility areas including; Data & Analytics Platform, Data Governance and User Adoption. Our team philosophy is to act as an enabler – not a controlling function – empowering the business to leverage data as a valuable strategic asset.

In the role you will:

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing, international team – creating an environment where people who are passionate about data can do their best work.


• Drive and maintain Arla’s Data & Analytics strategy – covering data governance, platforms and tools, training and adoption.


• Lead the design and implementation of Arla’s enterprise-wide data governance operating model, including structure, roles and accountability.


• Drive data fluency and lead the change towards proactive, data-driven decision-making, including establishing and supporting Local Analytics Teams across functions and zones.


• Connect closely with senior stakeholders and enable strong, fact-based storytelling that helps people across the business understand why data context and quality matter for the future.


• Keep pushing an innovative data agenda, including the development of the Data Marketplace.


• Play a critical role in the data agenda for the merger with DMK Group – a rare opportunity to help shape what will be the largest cooperative in European history, where data and change leadership are decisive for the combined company’s success.

What will make you successful

You are first and foremost a strong people leader, with several years of experience leading and developing teams and leading transformation – ideally within data, analytics or a related domain in a global and complex organisation. You bring a Master’s-level education or equivalent experience and a proven track record of leading change and delivering results, with and without formal authority.

You have a solid understanding of data governance and data management, and of how data, technology and AI create business value – combined with the courage to challenge and rethink how the data domain is run. Strong stakeholder management skills let you influence and create accountability at all organisational levels.

Last but not least: thanks to your global mindset and strong English skills you would find yourself easily in a global role like this.

What do we offer?
We’re committed to professional development and promoting from within. Our positive and collaborative culture will bring out the best in you. And you’ll join a market leader who produces nutritious household-favourite brands in a way that makes things better for our customers, the farmers who own us, and the whole world. To realise our data-driven ambitions, we are investing substantially in a modern, cloud-based Data & Analytics Platform – giving you the mandate and the tools to take Arla’s data agenda to the next level.

Application and contact

If you want to seize this exciting opportunity, please apply as soon as possible. For additional information, please contact Jens Selling +45 9131 1625 (jesel@arlafoods.com) during week 28 and 29 or Søren Bækgaard Hansen +45  9131 1497 ([email protected]) from week 31.  

Due to the summer holiday period, our recruitment process will be a little longer than usual, and you can expect to hear from us in August—we appreciate your patience.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.