Granules India - Head - IT Operations

Position: Head of IT Operations

Location: Hyderabad, India

Reports To: Chief Information & Digital Officer (CIDO)

Role Summary:

The Head of IT Operations will lead comprehensive IT operations across all manufacturing plants and R&D facilities, ensuring high availability, security, and compliance with pharmaceutical regulatory requirements. This role encompasses management of IT infrastructure, applications, operational technology, and service delivery with a keen focus on enabling Pharma 4.0 digital transformation. Collaboration with specialized IT Centers of Excellence (COE)-including Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, SAP, MES, Validation and Digital teams-is critical to provide integrated, compliant, and innovative IT solutions that support manufacturing, quality and research excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

IT Operations & Infrastructure:

- Oversee management and continuous availability of Data Centers, Network services, Cloud platforms, and End-User Computing across all sites.

- Collaborate with Infrastructure COE for capacity planning, hardware/software standardization, and future scalability.

- Deploy ITIL-based monitoring, incident, and problem management processes with joint adherence across IT COEs.

- Ensure disaster recovery, backups, and high-availability systems are designed and tested regularly to safeguard operations.

Application & Plant Systems Support:

- Manage IT operations related to ERP (SAP), MES, LIMS, QMS, R&D & other digital platforms in close association with respective COEs.

- Uphold GxP and Computer System Validation (CSV) standards through coordinated governance with Quality and Compliance teams.

- Rapidly resolve system disruptions by coordinating with COEs and business units to minimize production impact.

- Support continuous process improvement and integration across systems to advance digital manufacturing initiatives.

Cybersecurity & Digital Operations:

- Collaborate with Cybersecurity COE to safeguard plant and corporate IT landscapes from cyber risks.

- Support implementation of Pharma 4.0 Smart Factory technologies by partnering with Digital and Cybersecurity teams.

- Assist with identity and access management, vulnerability assessments, and regulatory compliance (21 CFR Part 11, FDA, EMA requirements).

- Partner on incident response and proactive risk mitigation strategies covering IT and OT environments.

- Drive physical security solutions implementation such as CCTV & Access Control.

Vendor & Governance:

- Lead multi-vendor relationships and contract negotiations aligned with company goals and regulatory compliance for IT Operations.

- Implement robust governance frameworks with KPIs and operational dashboards reflecting multi-COE collaboration.

- Manage IT operations budget prudently and identify cost optimization opportunities without compromising service quality.

People Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

- Lead IT operations managers and local site IT teams, ensuring a cohesive, service-driven culture.

- Drive collaboration and communications among IT Operations and COE teams to align initiatives, resolve issues, and deliver projects successfully.

- Mentor and develop talent, fostering a skilled and motivated workforce capable of supporting business and technological evolution.

Key Skills & Competencies:

- Demonstrated leadership in complex multi-site IT operations within regulated pharmaceutical or manufacturing environments.

- Deep technical expertise spanning Infrastructure, Cloud, Cybersecurity, ERP/MES/LIMS, and Digital Operations.

- Strong experience with ITIL frameworks and process integration across multiple specialized IT teams.

- Thorough knowledge of GxP regulations, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, and Pharma-specific IT governance.

- Skilled in vendor management, budget control, and contract negotiations in multi-vendor ecosystems.

- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement abilities.

- Proven capacity to manage hybrid IT and OT landscapes with manufacturing automation familiarity.

Qualifications & Experience:

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related discipline.

- Minimum 15 years of IT experience with 7-8 years in senior IT operations management positions.

- Extensive pharmaceutical or regulated manufacturing industry experience preferred.

- Relevant certifications such as ITIL Expert, PMP/Prince2 highly desirable.

Success Metrics:

- Achieving >99% uptime for core applications and IT services across manufacturing and R&D facilities.

- Maintaining compliance with no major non-conformities in regulatory and internal audits.

- Meeting or exceeding SLA targets across all operational IT services.

- Enhancing incident management effectiveness with measurable reduction in resolution times and incident volume.

- Delivery of IT & Digital Roadmap Implementation & Service Delivery adoption of those platforms

- Delivering cost optimization and value generation from IT operations and vendor contracts.

- Building a high-performing, collaborative IT operations