Senior Director, Centre of Excellence

Akeneo is the Product Experience (PX) company and global leader in Product Information Management (PIM), creating a world where every product interaction is an experience that guides consumers and professionals to the best purchase, anytime, anywhere.

We're all about experience - from the best-in-class product we build to the inspiring environment we create for our employees. You'll grow in a dynamic environment where your ideas and expertise will make an impact from day one. Our flexible work model empowers you to thrive, balancing professional success with personal fulfilment. At Akeneo, you’ll be part of a supportive and collaborative team that values open communication, shared successes, and meaningful relationships.

Learn more about our culture and values via our Career page .

Job description

In this role, you will define, build, and scale a global Centre of Excellence (CoE) that serves as the "brain" of Akeneo’s Product Experience Management (PXM) expertise. You will lead a unique, multi-disciplinary organization of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) and Strategic PXM Consultants to support our most complex customers in their business transformations.

You are responsible for ensuring that high-value customer use cases are solved quickly and sustainably. You’ll ensure the CoE rapidly understands customer organizations, data models, workflows, and technology stacks, delivers solutions in real production environments, and converts those learnings into reusable patterns, product capabilities, and methodological evolution.

Key responsibilities:

• Define and own the vision, charter, and operating model of the CoE.

• Build, lead, and scale a global team combining PXM experts and Forward Deployed Engineers.

• Ensure premium accounts receive differentiated, high‑impact engagements aligned with product strategy.

• Establish clear intake, prioritization, and engagement models for CoE involvement.

• Partner tightly with Product leadership to influence roadmap, prioritization, and platform evolution.

• Codify PXM best practices, architectures, and methodologies into reusable standards and assets.

• Act as executive sponsor for the most complex and strategic customer engagements.

• Guide go‑to‑market teams on when and how to leverage the CoE for maximum impact.

• Ensure CoE efforts remain scalable and product‑aligned, avoiding bespoke or non‑repeatable work.

• Represent customer and field insights in executive and company‑wide forums.

• Be accountable for the P&L of the CoE.

What we look for

• You have +12 years of experience in consulting and/or engineering roles.

• You have a proven history of leading high-impact customer projects, delivering solutions in production environments with high business impact.

• You have a solid background in modern SaaS platforms, APIs, integrations, data systems, and enterprise architectures.

• You have extensive experience in managing and scaling international teams and leading them through change.

• You have excellent communication skills with the ability to influence C-suite stakeholders and align internal teams, from R&D to Go-To-Market.

• You speak English fluentl y.

You don't need to tick every box. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. If you are excited about this opportunity but your experience is slightly different, we still want to hear from you!

Interview process

1. 30-minute screening call with a member of our Talent Acquisition team

2. 60-minute interview with the Chief Operating Officer

3. 90-minute behavioural interview and case study with multiple stakeholders

4. 60-minute interview with our Sales leadership team

Life at Akeneo

Work Environment

- Work-Life Balance: Flexible working hours, and a hybrid setup allowing 3-4 days working from home and option to Work from Anywhere for up to 30 days per year.

• UK: Enjoy 25 days of annual leave.

• France: Enjoy 34 days of annual leave and RTTs.

- Home Office & Commuting Allowance/Benefits:

• UK: Enjoy a £450 budget to enhance your home office and an £80 monthly sustainable transportation allowance for eco-friendly commuting.

• France: Enjoy a €500 budget to enhance your home office. 50% discount on the public transportation pass of your choice or a €45/month Sustainable Transportation Allowance to support eco-friendly commuting.

-  Meal vouchers (France only): Get your 50% employer-funded Swile card and benefit from €9,5 worth of meal vouchers per working day.

Inclusivity

- Generous Parental Leave:

• UK: Benefit from 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, 4 weeks of paid leave for the second parent, and up to 20 weeks of fully paid shared parental leave. A gradual return to work program is also available.

• France: Benefit from 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, 4 weeks of paid leave for the second parent.

- Community & Support: Engage in 2 paid volunteering days annually and join Employee Resource Groups dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the company.

Growth and Development

- Professional Development: Access a £1,000/€1,000 annual budget for personal professional development and take advantage of career paths, internal mobility opportunities, and a "Women in Leadership Programme."
- Comprehensive Onboarding: Start on the right foot with an 8-week onboarding program.

Wellbeing

- Health & Insurance: Receive company-paid private medical insurance for you and eligible dependents.
- Financial Security:

• UK: Benefit from a pension plan and protect your loved ones group income protection and a group life cover.

• France: Protect your loved ones with life insurance covering up to 5 years of your salary, and safeguard your own financial stability with comprehensive income protection.

- Mental Health Support: Access individual and confidential sessions with a mental health practitioner or coach of your choice.

For more information about benefits, don’t hesitate to contact our Talent Acquisition team.