Your tasks

Your team You will join the Directorate Digital Euro, which is part of the Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments and is responsible for leading the digital euro project. Following the successful completion of the preparation phase, the next phase of this project focuses on advancing technical readiness, deepening market engagement and supporting the legislative process.

For more information about the digital euro project, please visit the hub page on the ECB's website.

In your role as the Head of the Market Roll-Out Division, you will join the digital euro management team. This new Division is responsible for coordinating that the (selected) use cases for the digital euro are ready in time and in terms of quality for roll-out to the market, for which the announced pilot is the first step.

The Division is the owner of the roll-out plan and will need to ensure that all elements, ranging from the digital euro service platform to communication materials, are ready at the planned dates. This includes the internal readiness of the Eurosystem as well as the readiness of market participants. The team is therefore also responsible together with national central banks for the user testing as well as the onboarding of market participants.

You will join the Division during its set-up phase and will be involved in recruiting and establishing the team and its work processes.

Your role As the Head of the Market Roll-Out Division you will:

• prepare the next steps towards potential issuance of a digital euro and ensure that all stakeholders, both within and outside the Eurosystem, are ready in time for the pilot;
• take charge of the roll-out plan and coordinate activities related to delivering the pilot and potential subsequent launch;
• together with the national central banks, engage with payment service providers, and potentially their providers, and enable them to participate in the pilot and the subsequent steps towards potential issuance;
• together with the national central banks, engage with and support end-users, merchants and consumers participating in the pilot and the subsequent steps towards onboarding;
• prepare and conduct user testing and support onboarding processes for user testing;
• conduct and evaluate the pilot.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of European payments, ensuring people across the euro area continue to have secure and convenient ways to pay, both in cash and digitally. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills

Essential:

• a master's degree or equivalent in business administration, economics, project management, finance, STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering or mathematics), computer science or another relevant field (see How you can join us for details on degree equivalences);
• in addition to the above, a minimum of ten years' professional experience (of which at least three and ideally five in a managerial position) in leading (project) teams, preferably in the payments market;
• professional experience working closely with and guiding internal and external stakeholders and suppliers;
• a track record in developing and managing a diverse and high-performing team and in inspiring and motivating them to deliver results;
• excellent coordination and collaboration skills, with a focus on delivery, and the ability to identify critical issues and balance the needs of the various stakeholders;
• an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Desired:

• experience managing large-scale product roll-outs;
• experience with agile development of large IT systems;
• experience in the retail payments market;
• experience of payment solutions with pan-European or global reach.

You engage collaboratively with others. You pursue team goals and can draw on the strengths of a diverse team to get the best results. You support the efforts of team members to develop their abilities and are able to build up high-performing teams. You facilitate change and can articulate strategic priorities and scenarios for your team.

You are motivated to contribute to the ECB's mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe.

You are highly motivated to guide teams in their daily work and support their professional development.

General Information

Leadership Digital Euro

12896

Type of contract Fixed-term contract which may be converted into a permanent contract after five years subject to individual performance and organisational needs

Who can apply? EU nationals

Salary J (bracket 1 - step 1) full time monthly net salary: €9,438 plus benefits, for further information see what we offer.

Working time Full time

Place of work Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date 21.01.2026

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Further information

For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to the hiring manager, Evelien Witlox on +49 (0)69 1344 23856 between 15:00 and 16:30 on Wednesday, 7 January.

Application and selection process

The recruitment process for this position will be conducted in part remotely. It may include a video interview in the pre-selection phase and - if you are invited to participate in the subsequent selection phase - a written exercise, a presentation and on-site interviews.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list (see step 4 of How we hire), from which you might be considered for similar positions within the ECB.

Find out how to apply for a position at the ECB.

Read more about how you can join us.