Senior Associate Director - Digital Strategy

Job Family: Enterprise Applications, Digital, Data & AI

Executive Role Summary:

We are seeking a seasoned technology leader to head the organization's Enterprise Applications, Digital Platforms, Data Engineering, Analytics, and AI capabilities, driving large-scale application modernization, Azure cloud transformation, enterprise data platforms, and next-generation AI/ML initiatives.

The role will work closely with the CIO, Promoters, Board of Directors, and CXO leadership team to translate business strategy into scalable technology platforms, measurable outcomes, and digital competitive advantage.

This position requires a strong blend of enterprise architecture, hands-on technology expertise, consulting mindset, and program leadership, with proven experience delivering enterprise-scale solutions in manufacturing environment.

The role will own the end-to-end lifecycle of enterprise applications and digital platforms, including strategy, architecture, development, modernization, integration, analytics, security, and governance.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Application Modernization & Cloud Transformation

- Define and execute the enterprise-wide Application Modernization roadmap across legacy, custom, and digital platforms.

- Lead migration to cloud-native and hybrid architectures on Microsoft Azure.

- Establish standards for microservices, API-first, event-driven, and container-based architectures.

- Drive adoption of DevOps, CI/CD, and modern engineering practices.

- Ensure scalable, secure, and high-performance application ecosystems.

2. Data, Analytics & AI / ML Platforms

- Build and scale enterprise ETL, Data Warehouse, Data Lake, and Data Engineering platforms.

- Enable advanced analytics using Power BI, semantic models, and enterprise reporting frameworks and strong in relational and non-relational databases.

- Lead development of AI / ML / GenAI capabilities, including:

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)

Vision Analytics or Computer Vision

Intelligent Document Processing such as OCR

NLP, Chatbots and AI Assistants

Predictive and prescriptive analytics

- Drive adoption of AI-enabled automation and decision intelligence across business functions.

3. Enterprise Digital Platforms & Integration

Manage enterprise application landscape including:

- ERP integrations (SAP HANA, CRM and Others such as Tally, SalesBabu etc.)

- API using MuleSoft, Boomi, Jitter Bit, Flow Gear and similar systems

- Vendor, Dealer and Customer portals

- Manufacturing & supply chain applications

- Business analytics platforms

- Custom enterprise applications

- Establish integration using API, middleware, and microservices frameworks.

- Enable adoption of low-code / no-code platforms for faster delivery.

4. Enterprise Architecture, Security & Governance

- Define and govern enterprise architecture standards across applications, data, and integration.

- Ensure compliance with security, performance, scalability, and audit requirements.

- Lead VAPT, secure coding, and security review processes.

- Implement best practices aligned with OWASP, cloud security, and enterprise compliance standards.

5. Mobile Applications & Secure Development

- Lead development of enterprise mobile applications using Flutter.

- Design scalable mobile architecture with secure backend integration.

- Prepare Architecture Diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams, Sequence Diagrams, and Technical Design Documents and Figma Designs or Adobe XD Designs.

- Implement secure coding, authentication, encryption, and API security standards.

- Manage VAPT, mobile security testing, and vulnerability remediation.

- Enable CI/CD-based mobile deployment and release management.

6. Executive Leadership & Stakeholder Management

- Partner with CIO, Promoters, Board Members, and CXOs on technology strategy.

- Lead multiple strategic programs across business units.

- Manage internal teams, vendors, and implementation partners.

Drive technology adoption across:

- Manufacturing

- Supply Chain

- Procurement

- Finance

- Sales & Distribution

- Service & Dealer ecosystem

Mandatory Technical Expertise:

- Application Modernization & Enterprise Architecture

- Microsoft Azure Cloud Platform

- ETL / Data Engineering / Data Warehouse / Data Lake

- AI / ML / GenAI platforms

- RAG / LLM / AI automation architectures

- Vision Analytics / OCR / Document Processing

- SQL Server / Enterprise Databases

- API / Microservices / Integration frameworks

- DevOps / CI-CD / Release pipelines

- Business Intelligence / Analytics platforms

- Enterprise security / VAPT / secure development

Preferred / Value-Added Capabilities

- Python, SQL and .NET development

- Power BI, Fabric, Synapse and Databricks

Low-code platforms:

- Microsoft Power Apps

- Power Automate

- Mendix

- Magento

- Mobile app architecture (Flutter)

- Cloud-native application design

- Manufacturing / Engineering domain experience

- AI / Automation / RPA exposure

- Amazon and GCP experience is a plus

Leadership & Governance Competencies:

- Executive stakeholder management (Board / CXO level)

- Consulting mindset with execution ownership

- Enterprise program & portfolio governance

- Vendor & partner management

- High-performance team leadership

- Strong architecture & design thinking

Impact Metrics (Success Measures):

- % Application modernization completed

- Azure cloud adoption metrics

- Data platform maturity & analytics adoption

- AI / automation uses cases delivered

- System performance & uptime improvements

- Deployment cycle time reduction

- Security / VAPT compliance closure

- Cost optimization through platform consolidation

- Business value delivered through digital initiatives

Certifications (Preferred):

- PMP / Project Management Certification

- Microsoft Azure Certification

- Data / AI / Power Platform certifications

- TOGAF Certification

Experience Required:

- 12-15+ years in Enterprise IT, Architecture and Digital Platforms

- Proven experience in large-scale transformation programs

- Experience in manufacturing / engineering organizations preferred

- Strong mix of strategy, architecture, and hands-on delivery