Head of Engineering

  • FI HQ Bonn
Head of Engineering, 1. image

OVERVIEW

Fairtrade is the most recognized and trusted sustainability label, working to make trade fairer for people and planet.

For more than three decades, Fairtrade has been making an impact on the way trade works. We believe that every farmer and worker should have access to a better way of doing business, and a better way of living. 

Fairtrade International is an independent non-profit organisation representing more than two million small-scale farmers and workers worldwide. It owns the FAIRTRADE Mark, a registered trademark that appears on more than 37,000 products. Beyond certification, Fairtrade International and its member organisations (three producer networks and 19 national Fairtrade organisations) partner with producers and businesses, engage consumers, and advocate for a fair and sustainable future.

Unit’s description and purpose: 

Fairtrade Digital manages a portfolio of internal and client facing solutions. We are responsible for design and implementation. There is a strong focus on engaging with our customers to bridge the gap between people, data and technology in the supply chain.  We deliver in-depth, intuitive and insightful solutions that span the value chain from producers to retailers

PRINCIPAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking an Engineer Manager who is continuously adapting and excited to work on products that affect our customers every day. In this role, you will lead a team of developers as well as participate directly in hands-on development

You will take responsibility for the following.

Development:

  • Hands on development of Fairtrade Applications (.NET)
  • Database Management and Performance (SQL, MongoDB)
  • Manage Integrations platform between Fairtrade Applications and or third-party application
  • Develop Fairtrade API Hub enabling automated data interaction with third parties and customers
  • Participate in Agile Development events such as Scrum, Technical Reviews, Sprint Planning

Leadership:

  • Define and drive the data engineering strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and the broader digital transformation roadmap
  • Lead the data engineering team in designing, building, and optimizing scalable data pipelines and data warehousing solutions using Microsoft Fabric.
  • Drive the adoption of cloud-native and microservices architectures within the engineering organization.
  • Mentor and develop both software and data engineers, fostering a high-performance, inclusive team culture.
  • Conducting code reviews and maintaining quality standards
  • Addressing technical blockers and facilitating problem-solving
  • Assisting with the onboarding of new team members
  • Providing feedback and conducting performance reviews
  • Developing and tracking key performance indicators for engineering teams
  • Leading cross-functional initiatives and collaborating with product management
  • Implementing best practices for software development and deployment
  • Facilitating professional development and career progression for engineers

Perform other duties and tasks, consistent with the skills and expertise as required 

SKILLS REQUIRED

Level of education: The position holder will have a Degree in Computer Science or Equivalent

Years of professional experience: A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a relevant area of work.

Job Specific Competencies/Knowledge:

  • Advanced Software Development Practices
  • System Architecture and Design
  • Proficiency in Multiple Programming Languages
  • .NET
  • Python
  • SQL
  • DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
  • Azure Cloud Computing and Platform Management
  • Data Platform Design, preferably Microsoft Fabric
  • Database Management and Optimization
  • Security Best Practices and Compliance
  • Code Review and Quality Assurance
  • Performance Engineering and Scalability
  • Proven experience leading data engineering teams and delivering enterprise-scale data solutions
  • Deep understanding of data governance, data quality, and compliance frameworks
  • Expertise in cloud-native development, automation, and observability practices. 

Personal Qualities:

  • Collaborative and supportive approach to teamwork and people management
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills, including conflict and facilitating resolution skill
  • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
  • Solution-oriented team player
  • High level of accuracy and attention to detail
  • Services oriented, outgoing and friendly
  • Strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
  • Ability to work in pressurised situations
  • Very good organizational and work prioritization skills (E)
  • Highly collaborative and supportive approach when providing assistance (E)
  • Motivation for Fairtrade 

Software Tools:

  •  Devops
  • .NET
  • Python
  • SQL
  • Microsoft Fabric
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Miro
  • Microsoft 365 suite
 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  • This is a full-time position (38,5 hours per week) within Fairtrade International
  • Location: Bonn, Germany with remote working options available
  • The office language is English
  • Salary as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Wholesale and Foreign Trade Industries for North Rhine Westphalia Group VIb and over tariff payments, starting from 5,801.17 Euros gross per month  
  • Holiday Bonus and 13th salary  
  • 30 days of holidays per year (for fulltime employees)

Please note that Fairtrade International is strict on compliance with the required qualification criteria mentioned above, and only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.