IT Application Manager / R&D

About the job

We are looking for an IT Applications Manager to take ownership of a key application supporting our R&D organization.

At DLF, R&D is a core pillar of our strategy. Through innovation and plant breeding, our R&D teams rely on high-quality data, scalable systems, and efficient processes to develop new and improved seed varieties. The application you will manage plays a critical role in supporting structured data management and execution across R&D activities.

In this role, you will ensure that the application continues to deliver strong business value while evolving in line with business needs. You will work closely with stakeholders across R&D, IT, and external partners to drive improvements, prioritize initiatives, and ensure a stable and high-quality solution.

About DLF

“We enrich land, life and people through seeds and science”

DLF is a Danish-owned, global company that develops, produces, and primarily sells grass seeds for agriculture, sports, and leisure facilities, as well as for private customers. We supply seeds in more than 100 countries and have more than 2,000 employees worldwide. When you become part of DLF, you join an innovative, science-driven company with a strong focus on collaboration, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

As IT Applications Manager, your main responsibilities will include:

• Own the overall application lifecycle, including roadmap, enhancements, and long-term development
• Act as the primary IT counterpart to the business, ensuring strong alignment with R&D needs
• Collaborate with the business owner and stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve processes, data usage, and system value
• Prioritize backlog, enhancements, and investments based on business value and strategic direction
• Ensure stable operations, performance, and quality in collaboration with vendors and support teams
• Manage integrations and data flows between the application and surrounding systems
• Coordinate releases, testing, and deployment of new features
• Ensure proper documentation, governance, and compliance with IT standards
• Drive continuous improvement and value realization

Over time, the role may expand to include responsibility for additional applications, both within the R&D domain and across other business areas.

Growth potential

This role offers strong development opportunities and is expected to evolve over time:

• Expanding ownership within the R&D application landscape, taking responsibility for additional existing solutions
• Taking on responsibility for applications beyond R&D, contributing to a broader and more integrated application portfolio
• Developing into a broader IT Applications Manager role with end-to-end responsibility across multiple systems
• Playing a key role in shaping the future application landscape, including integrations, data flows, and digitalization initiatives
• Building a central role as a link between business and IT across domains

Your profile

We are looking for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of business and IT and thrives in a role with both responsibility and impact.

You likely bring:

• Experience from an application management role, application ownership role, or similar
• A strong understanding of application lifecycle management and continuous improvement
• Experience with prioritization and managing improvements based on business value
• The ability to translate business needs into structured requirements and solutions
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• A structured, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset

Technical capabilities

To succeed in this role, it is important that you bring sufficient technical understanding to work effectively with developers and suppliers:

• Ability to challenge technical solutions, assess quality, and guide developers without being a hands-on coder
• Strong understanding of application architecture, data flows, integrations, and technical delivery coordination in complex system landscapes

It is considered an advantage if you:

• Have experience working within R&D, laboratory environments, or a similar data-driven business area
• Have worked in an application management role with responsibility for business-critical systems
• Have experience with integrated application landscapes or SaaS solutions

Additional information

We review applications continuously, so please apply as soon as possible if you are interested.

At DLF, we encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of background, gender, or age.