1. Presentation of ETNIC

ETNIC (Entreprise pour les Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication) is the IT operator of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. As a public interest organization, ETNIC’s mission is to design, develop, maintain, and evolve information systems and technological infrastructures serving the administrations and institutions of the FWB.

A central player in the digital transformation of the French-speaking Belgian public sector, ETNIC operates in various fields such as:

• Management of IT infrastructures (networks, security, data centers, cloud),
• Development of custom business applications,
• Support for digital projects (functional analysis, UX/UI, project management),
• Cybersecurity and data protection,
• User support and training.

2. Mission

As part of the ETNIC transformation, it is necessary to structure, steer, and professionalize the project and program management function. This interim management mission aims to secure the delivery of priority projects, develop team skills, and establish robust governance, pending the recruitment of a permanent manager.

Contractual data

Start date: February 9, 2026
Duration: 5 months (renewable for 3 months)
Workload: 60%

Scope

Under the authority of the Director of the Transversal IT department, responsibility for the Competence Center composed of:

• 15/20 project managers
• 6 program managers
• 4 PSO collaborators
• ~50 active projects

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Governance & Strategic Steering

• Define and implement project and program governance (bodies, processes, arbitration)
• Structure decision-making bodies (steering committees, project committees, arbitration processes)
• Establish a portfolio prioritization framework aligned with ETNIC’s strategic axes
• Ensure consolidated reporting to CODIR and governance bodies
• Contribute to the Investment Committee (validation of projects >€250K)

Competence Center & People Management

• Supervise and coordinate program managers and project managers (34 people)
• Define and enforce roles, standards, methods, and best practices (O10C/PRINCE2, Agile)
• Support the maturity development of the project organization
• Act as a senior reference and coach (skills development, training, mentoring)
• Create a climate of trust fostering team autonomy and accountability

Transformation Programs

• Lead or supervise complex transversal programs and priority projects (top 24)
• Ensure alignment of IT/business/strategy and facilitate stakeholder dialogue
• Contribute to the definition of Target Operating Models (TOM) for the project organization
• Secure value creation from investments (monitoring ROI, benefits, achievement of objectives)
• Manage interdependencies and transversal risks

Continuous Improvement & Transition

• Propose improvements to processes, tools, and governance of the Competence Center
• Document best practices and lessons learned
• Prepare the transition to the permanent manager (knowledge transfer, documentation)
• Contribute to the sustainable structuring of the function

DESIRED PROFILE

Mandatory requirements

Professional experience

• 15 to 20+ years in Program/Portfolio Management
• Proven experience in leading PMO or competence centers
• Management of managers (teams of project managers and/or program managers)
• Steering of complex transformation programs (>€5M, multi-year, multi-stakeholder)
• Demonstrated ability to structure project organizations (implementation of frameworks, processes, governance)
• Experience in institutional environments or large organizations (>500 people)

Methodological skills

• Advanced mastery of PRINCE2 (Practitioner certification strongly desired)
• Understanding of project/program management tools
• Creation of reporting on a basis

Behavioral and leadership skills

• Cross-functional leadership and ability to influence without direct hierarchical authority
• Decision-making and arbitration in complex and constrained environments
• People management: coaching managers, talent development
• Executive communication (CODIR, ministerial offices, technical teams)
• Change management and support for organizational transformations