Associate Director of Data & AI Operations

Key Deliverables in this role

Financial Outcomes E nsure operational reliability and cost efficiency of enterprise-grade data, ML, and AI platforms by managing demand pipelines and optimizing resource allocation. Deliver projects within agreed timelines and budgets, driving measurable ROI through automation, process standardization, and vendor performance governance.

Customer Service Partner with business functions (Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, HR) to ensure timely delivery of data and AI services that meet evolving business needs. Collaborate with analytics and AI teams to maintain seamless access to data and ensure production models are monitored, retrained, and deployed effectively.

Internal Processes Establish and enforce operational frameworks for DataOps and AIOps, including monitoring, incident management, and SLA adherence. Lead and manage vendor relationships to ensure accountability, quality delivery, and cost optimization across all operational engagements.

Innovation and Learning Embed automation and predictive monitoring into operational workflows to enhance efficiency and resilience. Continuously evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., AI observability tools, cloud-native orchestration) and integrate best practices to future-proof operations.

Critical success factors for the Role

Educational Foundation:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or related discipline from a Tier 1/2 institute. Operational Expertise:

Deep understanding of DataOps and AIOps practices, including orchestration, monitoring, and lifecycle management of data pipelines and AI models in production. Cloud & Platform Knowledge:

Strong experience with cloud-native operations across AWS, Azure, and GCP, including automation frameworks and observability tools. Demand &Budget Management:

Proven ability to manage demand pipelines, prioritize workloads, and deliver projects within agreed timelines and budgets while maintaining quality and compliance. Vendor Leadership:

Demonstrated success in managing large-scale vendor engagements—contracting, performance governance, and cost optimization—ensuring accountability and value delivery. Execution Excellence:

Track record of driving operational reliability, SLA adherence, and incident resolution for enterprise data and AI platforms. Stakeholder Engagement:

Exceptional communication and influencing skills to align operations with business priorities and manage expectations across senior leadership. Innovation Mindset:

Ability to embed automation, predictive monitoring, and continuous improvement practices to enhance operational efficiency and resilience. Governance & Compliance:

Familiarity with global data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and ability to enforce compliance in operational workflows. Cultural Fit:

Embody organization's growth behaviors—Consumer First, Ownership, Agility, Integrity, and Continuous Innovation while fostering a high-performance operations culture.

Desirable success factors for the Role Experience in FMCG or consumer products industry is big plus. Familiarity with data architecture and compliance frameworks.