Merlijn K.

Senior Manager Data & AI

Amsterdam Area

About

Originally educated as mathematician I became a versatile Data/IT architect and manager focusing on the interface of people and processes. Because of my strong grounding in mathematics and over 18 years of experience in architecture, process, project and people management and my strategical/holistic insight I'm capable of realising proactive and pragmatic solutions with a focus on all aspects. I'm a multifaceted and entrepreneurial 'specialising generalist' with an international background and broad knowledge and interests. I prefer working from a position where oversight, control, insight and knowledge are important and have successfully applied my skills in diverse organisations to realise solutions with impact. I often take a coaching role with a lot of attention for the human side of the job so that everyone feels motivated, respected and has maximal growth potential. As a person I take ownership and proactively strive for complete overarching solutions. I make sure my ideas are shared and supported among the teams. I'm creative, have the customer first and have plenty of experience in transforming difficult processes into successes. Also I'm a multiple times European and Dutch mind sports champion and teacher in ”Go” and am usually volunteering in various positions. My interests include psychology, philosophy, psychology, mediation, macro/meta history and all kinds of strategy.

Experience

  • Senior Manager Data & AI at Valcon
    Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    Data & AI Architect in Infra Tech lead / Architect Data in Fintech

  • De Nederlandsche Bank (Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands · Hybrid)
    • Product Owner Data Lake
      Aug 2020 - Feb 2024 · 3 yrs 7 mos

      Principal Product Owner managing all aspects of the central data lake as well as cross-team/organisational implementation of data lake templates, best practices, data governance, architectural guidance, IAM alignment, etc.

    • Data Architect a.i.
      Jan 2023 - Jul 2023 · 7 mos

      Setting up the prerequisites for domain based data mesh architecture.

  • IT Continuous Improvement Manager at Merlijn Kuin Consultancy
    Mar 2017 - Feb 2024 · 7 yrs

    All round IT Manager working on the intersection between people and technology, specialising in setting up and improving processes, reporting and structures that provide lasting benefit to organisations and people.

  • Operations Excellence Manager - Sr. Consulting Project Mngr. at Altius
    Jan 2019 - Dec 2019 · 1 yr

    Operations Excellence Manager for major Global retail clients in NL and BE. Managing 70+FTE on a 10+M/y program. Manage and improve all delivery and operations SDLC aspects for Azure, Kubernetes based data lakes running multiple data science models. Responsibilities: Delivery management Change and Release management Incident and Problem management Access control management Security management Budgets, time-sheet reconciliation and invoicing Continuous Improvements: 1) Migration and integration of Access control systems with role based security structure 2) Extend and improve ways of working for Incidents and Problems 3) Professionalise Release and Change processes to ensure quality being delivered 4) Automated Invoicing system saving >5d/w manual effort

  • Continuous Delivery Chapter Lead at Ingenico ePayments | Shaping the Future of Payments
    Jan 2018 - Dec 2018 · 1 yr

    NL PoC of the Group Transformation and Metrics Agile Center of Operational Excellence. Lead set up of the R&D reporting structure. I supported the tribe (20 onshore / 30 offshore) as a servant-leader by ensuring that all business and technical aspects of the delivery process were executed smoothly. As CDL chapter lead I coordinate all CDL activities and make sure these were aligned with other chapters and company strategy. Accountable for E2E delivery of new credit card acquirer integration for FO payments platform - Lead the critial cross departmental (150 FTE) PCI Compliancy and Modularisation program using Springboot technology. Finished on time and with the right quality. - Member of the strategic and operational MT - Estimate,plan and deliver programs. - Liaise with all stakeholders to deliver features. - Lead and mentor multi-cultural team members