Chief Data Officer
- Hybrid
- Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
- Management
About Datenna
Datenna tracks China’s dual-use technology development from academic research to military procurement. We have built, and continue to expand, an extensive open-source intelligence (OSINT) data resource covering China’s economic, technological, and defense landscape.
Our team of software developers, data scientists, and China specialists work together to provide users with tools that help analyze China’s defense industrial base (DIB), assess the risks of technology and knowledge transfers to military end-users, and identify emerging research trends and technological hot spots.
Datenna’s platform supports missions that identify and characterize entities within Chinese DIB supply chains, including organizations that directly or indirectly supply the Chinese military and major defense conglomerates.
The Role: The Chief Data Officer leads the strategic direction, governance, and value creation of Datenna’s data assets. This role shapes how data is sourced, structured, enriched, and delivered to support both our intelligence platform and client-driven research.
As a key member of the leadership team, the CDO ensures that Datenna’s data infrastructure, pipelines, and policies enable scalability, quality, and innovation. The CDO brings together the technical, analytical, and strategic elements of Datenna’s data ecosystem — aligning them with product development, research priorities, and customer needs.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Vision
Define and execute the company’s global data strategy, ensuring alignment with Datenna’s mission and long-term product roadmap.
Lead the development of Datenna’s data architecture, pipelines, and governance model, including integration with the Q data cloud and AI-powered enrichment layers.
Translate business goals into data priorities — balancing quality, coverage, and cost-effectiveness.
Partner with R&D and Engineering to embed data strategy into the platform roadmap.
Data Management and Governance
Oversee acquisition, ingestion, normalization, and enrichment of complex, multi-source OSINT datasets.
Establish and maintain rigorous data governance standards, including quality control, traceability, and compliance with privacy and security requirements.
Define and monitor KPIs for data completeness, accuracy, freshness, and usage.
Leadership and Team Development
Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across data engineering, data operations, research, and client-facing data support.
Build a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration across the data organization.
Mentor senior data leaders (e.g., Head of Data & Research, Head of Engineering) to ensure operational excellence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with a variety of teams from technology, Research, and Sales to ensure data initiatives directly support customer needs and market growth.
Partner with the Chief Technology Officer on infrastructure, scalability, and AI integration.
Act as the bridge between technical teams and executive leadership, translating complex data challenges into business-relevant language.
External Representation
Represent Datenna’s data capabilities with key clients, partners, and government stakeholders.
Shape partnerships with academic institutions, research networks, and data providers to expand Datenna’s coverage.
What we are looking for?
Proven track record in leading enterprise-scale data strategy and operations in a data-intensive, OSINT, or intelligence-driven organization.
Deep understanding of data engineering, architecture, and governance principles.
Experience with large, heterogeneous datasets (e.g., corporate, academic, procurement, defense data).
Ability to design and execute a long-term vision for data growth and quality improvement.
Skilled communicator who can align technical and non-technical stakeholders around a shared data vision.
Experience managing senior leaders and growing multidisciplinary teams.
Strong understanding of how data supports intelligence analysis, product development, and customer outcomes.
Comfortable operating in an international, mission-driven environment with evolving priorities.
Why Datenna?
Lead the core of Datenna’s intelligence capabilities — the data that powers our platform, insights, and impact.
Work alongside experts in OSINT, AI, and China-related intelligence to shape the future of data-driven analysis.
Opportunity to design and implement the next phase of Datenna’s data architecture and AI-enhanced data enrichment.
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Thank you for applying!
We have received your application and will be in touch shortly. This is the process we follow: 1. Screening Call with a Recruiter Our journey together starts with a brief call. We’ll discuss your experience, career goals, and provide an overview of the role. It’s an opportunity for us to get to know each other better. 2. Behavioral Interview Next, you’ll have a behavioral interview where we’ll explore your past experiences, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle various situations. This helps us understand how you align with our values and work culture. 3. System Design Interview (for Tech Roles) For technical roles, you’ll participate in a system design interview. We’ll dive into your ability to architect scalable and efficient systems, assessing your design thinking and technical expertise. 4. Skill Assessment In the final stage, you’ll undergo a skill assessment tailored to your role. For technical positions, this will be a technical interview focused on your specific expertise. For other roles, you’ll take part in a case interview that evaluates your problem-solving and analytical skills.
