Head Digital & IT – Finance & Supply Chain

Job Purpose

To lead the digital and IT strategy for Birla Carbon’s Finance and Supply Chain functions by leveraging standard and emerging technologies including SAP ERP, Finance Applications and Supply Chain Planning applications. The role will focus on enhancing operational efficiency, product quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness through digital transformation and innovation. The role will also have oversight on digital & IT initiatives for Manufacturing, R&D and other functions given the integral nature and will need to work closely with infrastructure and security teams. The ideal candidate will have excellent digital leadership capabilities with demonstrated success leading enterprise wide transformative and ERP initiatives and techno-functional expertise in areas of direct responsibility. Being part of the Digital & IT leadership team, this role will be an integral part of defining and leading the functional agenda for the business while working closely with functional CXOs establishing, leading and executing digital initiatives for the stakeholder functions.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop and execute a forward-looking D&IT roadmap aligned with business goals and relevant technology trends

- Lead ERP strategy and transformation. Continuously improve, enhance and drive effective business outcomes from Birla Carbon’s SAP ecosystem. Evaluate and potentially lead transition to future state ERP such as SAP S/4 HANA

- Drive adoption of S&OP, Supply Chain Optimization and intelligent automation across supply chain, Finance, and manufacturing

- Provide inputs to digital initiatives in Manufacturing using Industry 4.0 / 5.0 technologies to simulate and optimize manufacturing processes, quality improvement, energy efficiency and operational excellence improvements

- Promote sustainability through digital tools that monitor and reduce carbon footprint, energy usage, and waste

- Standardize and centralize digital platforms across global operations to ensure scalability and interoperability

- Lead cross-functional teams and manage vendor partnerships to deliver digital projects on time and within budget

- Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement within the D&IT organization

- Own executive-level relationships with respective business functional leaders and serve as the D&IT Leader for the function

- Collaborate with ABG Group IT, CDIO and D&IT heads of group businesses to leverage synergy

- Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of IT and digital projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget

Job Context & Major Challenges

As the DIT Leader for Finance & Supply Chain, participates in all aspects of operational, tactical and strategic initiatives of the respective functions; actively promotes and implements best in class & differentiating technologies; positions and drives technology implementations as an enabler and driver of the respective business imperatives

Responsible for setting the strategy and leading the organization; drive internal process rigor, actively adopt and promote project management, agile and develops practices; strive for flawless execution and drive on time/ within budget deliverables; proactively manage budget and drive continuous cost out and higher ROI through strategies including in/out sourced teams, shift-left practices, etc.; responsible for internal talent development and organizational talent strategy

As part of the DIT Leadership team, is involved in formulating and driving the strategic direction of the function

Birla Carbon’s global presence and 24x7x365 operations

Job Context & Major Challenges

1) Develop DIT strategy for Finance & Supply Chain organizations; Provide effective leadership to the organization; develop high impact and motivated teams; promote talent development and growth

Effectively manage the SAP ERP ecosystem, drive incremental penetration and digitalization across the SAP ecosystem. As the technology leader for enterprise ERP, own and drive upgrades and ERP technology transformation initiatives. Work with respective functional leaders & teams and develop an executable DIT roadmap to drive relevant business outcomes

2) Identify best in class and implement differentiating technology solutions for business outcomes and ROI

Leadership in SAP ERP ecosystem and relevant trends

Thorough understanding of S&OP and supply chain optimization solutions

Be abreast with Industry trends such as Industry 4.0 / 5.0

3) Implement prioritized and approved projects within budget and on time; Drive business adoption of the solution and business benefits realization

Partner with business teams for benefits realization

Establish and drive project management rigor

Collaborate with business to drive adoption and business benefit realization

Effectively recruit & manage vendor partnerships

4) Ensure delivered projects are sustained; Continuously increase penetration and adoption of implemented technologies; Govern, measure and continuously improve IT operations and business value realization

Work internally and with vendor partners to establish YoY improvement in IT operations and business value realization of implemented technologies; Ensure service uptime, change management and service delivery from outsourced partners

5) Identify digital and analytics opportunities for predictability and differentiating business models

Deliberate and drive master data strategy and data standardization as part of technology implementations

Establish a forum for sharing the strength and promoting best practices

Establish & drive enterprise systems governance rigour

Knowledge Skills and Ability

- SAP, Supply Chain and Finance technologies - SAP ECC and S4 HANA; deep domain expertise in FICO - Industry 4.0 / 5.0 - Business Process Transformation - IT processes and methodologies - Data and Analytics - IT & OT environments and security - Excellent analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

Experience in budget planning, cost optimization, and vendor negotiations

Related Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or IT

Over 15 years of demonstrated Leadership and execution experience in IT, Finance and Supply Chain domains