Senior Application Manager

Function

Our client’s Managed Services team is looking for a Senior Application Manager to lead and support applications within the Open Science ecosystem. This role combines technical expertise, identity and access management (IAM) know-how, and customer-facing responsibilities, making it ideal for someone who enjoys managing complex services while collaborating closely with internal teams and external stakeholders.

The Role
As the Senior Application Manager, you will act as the product owner for Open Science–related applications (e.g., DMPOnline, PID services, ORFEO), focusing on identity and access management, service continuity, and user support. You will manage the full lifecycle of services, including feasibility studies, development, procurement, IAM integration, pilot deployment, operational maintenance, and customer support. You will coordinate with internal teams (Services & Security, Customer Service, Communications, Legal, Accounting) and external partners, ensuring robust IAM integrations, federated login flows, and secure access management. You will also advocate best practices for IAM, provide guidance on Microsoft identity infrastructures, and support customers in connecting to the federated ecosystem.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as product owner and primary functional administrator for Open Science applications

• Ensuring IAM integrations, including federated login, authorization flows, and role management

• Supporting customers with IAM configuration, troubleshooting authentication flows, and secure access

• Collaborating with internal stakeholders to capture requirements and maintain a structured backlog

• Participating in service delivery, continuity, security, and governance activities

• Providing knowledge transfer to internal teams and promoting Open Science services through presentations and workshops

• Staying current on IAM and ICT developments, particularly around federated identity, OAuth/OIDC, and access management

The Ideal Candidate
You are a proactive, organized, and customer-oriented professional with a strong interest in open-source technologies and the Open Science ecosystem. You have a solid technical background, understand IAM-intensive environments, and can translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.

Your profile includes:

• University degree or IT bachelor

• 3–6 years’ experience as System Engineer, Application Owner, or similar role with exposure to IAM

• Strong experience with Linux systems (Ubuntu/RedHat) and Microsoft identity environments (Active Directory, Entra ID/Azure AD)

• Knowledge of cloud environments (preferably open cloud)

• Foundational programming skills (Java, PHP, Python, or Ruby)

• Understanding of federated IAM solutions, authentication/authorization protocols (OAuth2, OpenID Connect), and federation workflows

• Familiarity with modern development practices (CI/CD, DevOps) and networking basics (TCP/IP, firewalls, routing, security)

• Strong collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills

• Interest or experience in education, research, or public-sector environments

• Languages: Dutch or French, with good knowledge of English and the other Belgian language

Assets include:

• Prior experience with Open Science platforms and tools (DMPOnline, publication/data repositories, research data management)

• Experience with automation tools (Ansible, Puppet)

• Basic knowledge of project management and ITIL processes