Group Services

Metsä Group is a successful forest industry group with roots in the Finnish forest - Our parent company is a cooperative of over 90,000 forest owners. Metsä Group’s Group Services employ some 1,000 professionals in finance, IT, sourcing and logistics, HR, technology, business process development, communications, law, and many other fields. Their task is to support Metsä Group and its Business Areas in implementing their strategy. Our specialists’ independent work is supported by a strongly networked workplace community.

We welcome people from diverse backgrounds and different stages of life. Metsä has space and opportunities for many kinds of talent, regardless of age, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation, disability or other characteristics – Metsä is for all. Read more: metsagroup.com/metsaforall.

This recruitment is carried out anonymously.

Metsä Group is looking for a

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, DATA

to join our Digital & AI function in Espoo, Finland.

What is the job that awaits you?

As a Development Manager, Data, you will lead Metsä Group IT’s Data team and play a key role in shaping our data development landscape. You will be responsible for the Data development portfolio, ensuring that development initiatives are prioritized, resourced and delivered effectively in close collaboration with business and IT stakeholders.

In this role, you will drive the continuous development of data platforms, data architecture, and data management capabilities, enabling secure, governed and reusable data for AI, analytics and other data-driven solutions. Your team is the owner of Metsä Group Azure data platforms. You will work closely with multiple stakeholders across Metsä Group to identify development opportunities, maximize synergies and ensure alignment with our architecture, governance and business objectives.

As a people leader and line manager for the team, you will support the growth and success of your team through coaching, competence development and resource planning. You will also collaborate with external partners and suppliers, manage contracts and contribute to annual planning, budgeting and forecasting activities.

This is a permanent position and you will report to Head of IT, Analytics & AI.

What are we expecting of you?

To succeed in this role, you have solid experience in developing and managing modern enterprise data platforms and hands-on understanding of Azure Databricks and related Azure data technologies. You have successfully played a key role in large-scale data platform, data warehouse or reporting transformation programs and understand the challenges of modernizing legacy analytics environments into cloud-native architectures.

You combine strong technical credibility with leadership capabilities and can effectively challenge architecture decisions, guide senior specialists and steer complex data initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and suppliers. You understand data architecture, data engineering, master data management (MDM), product information management (PIM), and data management and data modelling practices that support analytics and AI-driven business development.

You have previous experience leading teams and coordinating the work of multiple stakeholders in complex environments. Your leadership style is collaborative and supportive, and you enjoy coaching team members and enabling them to perform at their best.

In addition, we expect you to have:

• Strong expertise in Azure Databricks and modern cloud-based data platform architectures
• Experience in governing and developing enterprise-scale cloud data platforms, including data modelling, data integration, security and platform operations
• Understanding of how AI-ready data platforms, data products and data architectures are built
• Experience leading data engineers and data architects
• Experience leading data warehouse and reporting modernization programs and familiarity with SAP as a data source are considered an advantage
• Strong understanding of business processes and IT solutions
• Experience working with agile development methods and portfolio prioritization
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and coordination skills
• The ability to balance business needs, technical quality, governance, security and cost efficiency
• Experience working with external suppliers and managing development initiatives in a matrix organization
• Relevant university degree (Master’s degree or higher).

Most importantly, you are a proactive and solution-oriented leader who can bring people together, drive change and help us unlock the full value of data across Metsä Group.

Career in the new era at Metsä Group

An international growth business – build a successful career At Metsä Group. The forest industry is a prime example of the bioeconomy and circular economy, and shows the way to the future. Megatrends such as urbanisation and rising living standards are driving Metsä Group’s business and the shift to renewable fossil free raw materials. With us, you’ll get to develop future skills, business and products with a long-term perspective, together with our top professionals. Our big company offers a wide range of career opportunities and many interesting challenges. 

Metsä Group has a responsible corporate culture that creates a safe working environment for all of us. We value good leadership and support for personal career development. We encourage you to display your competence and will provide you with opportunities to use it.

Anonymous recruitment - this is how it works

This is an anonymous recruitment process. The gender and date of birth of the applicant are not asked for on the application form. Personal details such as name, mother tongue, time of studies, name of educational institution and contact details are hidden until the interview stage. Attachments (such as CVs) are also hidden.

Recruiters have access to the contact details of those invited for interview once the applicant has been selected for interview.

Our system will guide you through the application process. The questions on the application form will help you present your skills and experience anonymously. Answer all questions carefully. If you’re invited for interview, your CV will be displayed to the recruiters to support the interview.

Read more and watch the video on anonymous recruitment. 

https://www.metsagroup.com/careers/work-with-us/anonymous-recruitment/

Would you like to know more? Contact us!

Because the application process is anonymous, we don’t record any information about people who contact us. So don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions about the position or the recruitment process itself. For more information about the position, please contact Development Manager, AI Erik Lajunen. You can reach Erik by phone +358 (44) 9735512 best on 9.10. between 9-10 and on 15.10. between 13-14.

What happens next?

Click on the link above to apply. Note that attachments won’t be visible in anonymous recruitment until the interview stage, so it’s important to fill in the application form carefully. Please send your application as soon as possible, as we’ll already start processing applications during the application period. Please include your cv and salary request. You’ll receive a confirmation message the next morning after your application has been received.

The application will be open until 19.10.2026. We wish you the best of luck!