Chief Technology Officer

About the Company

Opesly is building an intelligent circular engagement platform that converts citizen participation into validated sustainability actions, impact evidence, and infrastructure for future resource recovery. Its gamified app lets users take part in circularity challenges, earn Opesly Coins for approved actions, and exchange them for eco-friendly rewards in a dedicated marketplace. Brands and municipalities can sponsor challenges, involve communities, and access detailed impact reports generated from verified participation. The platform also enables approved green brands to sell products directly, supporting sustainable commerce. Over time, this engagement layer is intended to create the behavioural, verification, and data base for a traceable resource recovery ecosystem that connects communities, recovery partners, brands, municipalities, recyclers, and buyers of circular materials.

Role Overview

This role is linked to the application for the EXIST Program. The Chief Technology Officer position is a full-time, hybrid opportunity in Heidelberg. The CTO will own the technology direction and implementation for Opesly, guiding the build and scaling of the platform across the gamified app, marketplace, GDPR-compliant data systems, and the infrastructure needed to verify sustainability actions. This is a hands-on leadership role with active coding from day one, responsibility for technical architecture, and accountability for building secure, dependable, and scalable systems that support product and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

The CTO will set the IT strategy, decide priorities for technology initiatives, and manage delivery across projects. The role involves close coordination with product, operations, and sustainability teams, along with assessing tools and external partners that can strengthen the resource recovery ecosystem. In addition, the CTO will define and enforce standards for code quality, DevOps, data governance, and cybersecurity, while recruiting, guiding, and developing a strong technical team.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Background in German and/or European marketing.
• Ability to direct software development across modern web and mobile stacks, APIs, MCP, and cloud-based platforms.
• Demonstrated strength in IT strategy and architecture, with experience building scalable, secure, and data-oriented digital systems.
• Strong project management capability to set priorities, coordinate cross-functional work, and deliver technology roadmaps on schedule.
• Experience working with product and business teams to turn user needs into practical technical solutions.
• Exposure to analytics, reporting, marketplaces, gaming, social networks, supply-chain related platforms, or sustainability/impact measurement frameworks is beneficial.
• Hands-on knowledge of cloud infrastructure such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, plus DevOps practices and information security standards.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working across technical and non-technical functions.
• Strong commitment to sustainability, circular economy thinking, and community-driven innovation.
• A relevant university qualification in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or comparable practical experience.
• Prior senior technology leadership experience, such as CTO, VP Engineering, or Head of Technology, especially in startup or growth-stage settings, is an added advantage.

Additional Information

The role is described as a full-time, onsite position in the header, while the detailed role description specifies a hybrid setup in Heidelberg. No compensation, benefits, or vacancy count are stated in the source.