Director - Digital Data & AI

Director (M2) – Digital Data & AI | Gurgaon, India

Why This Role is Different

This is not a traditional Director role.

• You will lead the shift from:
  • Data platforms → Intelligent systems
  • Manual workflows → Agentic AI
  • Scale via headcount → Scale via AI leverage

You are building AI-native capabilities from the ground up, powering:

• Consumer experiences
• Digital commerce
• Decision intelligence across markets

This is your opportunity to shape how AI is operationalized at scale in a global enterprise.

Your Mission

Lead and scale a high-impact Digital Data & AI organization in Gurgaon, delivering:

• AI-native products and platforms
• LLM-powered and agentic systems
• Measurable business outcomes (not just tech delivery)
• You will bridge strategy and execution, ensuring ideas translate into production-grade, scalable impact.

What You Will Own

1. AI & Data Platform Execution

You will drive the end-to-end lifecycle of AI systems:

• Scale LLM, GenAI, and agentic workflows into production
• Build reusable AI platforms:
• LLMOps (evaluation, monitoring, safety)
• Data & feature pipelines
• Model orchestration & governance

Ensure systems are:

• Scalable (global use)
• Cost-efficient (token + infra optimization)
• Reliable (production-grade)

Focus: From POCs → enterprise-grade AI systems

1. Build & Lead High-Impact Teams

You will lead leaders (M3) and shape the organization:

• Manage Architects, Engineering Leaders, Data Leaders
• Build Gurgaon as a strategic AI hub

Drive:

• Hiring of critical AI & data talent
• Coaching & leadership development
• Strong team engagement (eNPS mindset)

Success = strong leaders who scale independently

1. Define the Operating Model

You will create the system that enables scale:

Establish:

• Clear decision rights
• AI governance frameworks
• Standardized ways of working

Drive:

• Platform-first thinking (build once, reuse globally)
• Cross-functional alignment (Product, Tech, Analytics, Design)

 Principle: “One roadmap. One stack. One governance.”

1. Drive Vendor & Cost Transformation

You will redefine how vendors deliver:

Shift from:

• Ticket resolution → Ticket deflection
• Manual ops → AI-automated operations

Implement:

• AI-first delivery expectations
• Maturity-based vendor engagement

1. Deliver Business Impact

You will ensure AI creates real value:

Define and track:

• AI leverage KPIs
• Speed to market
• Commercial impact (conversion, efficiency, CX)

Translate:

• Technology investments  and business outcomes
• Your Success is defined by how AI leverage is measurable, not experimental

How You Will Lead

You will operate as a Director-level leader at adidas:

• Deliver strategy through teams and systems
• Make high-quality decisions in ambiguity
• Influence without authority across global stakeholders

Balance:

• Short-term delivery
• Long-term platform thinking
• Build a winning culture focused on performance & collaboration

Who You Are

Experience of 15+ years in Data, AI, or Digital Engineering

Proven track record:

• Leading large, cross-functional teams
• Driving complex transformation programs
• Experience managing senior architects / engineering leaders

AI & Technology Depth

You are not expected to code—but you are deeply credible:

Strong understanding of:

• LLMs, GenAI, agentic systems
• Data platforms & cloud architectures
• AI lifecycle (build → deploy → monitor → optimize)

Comfortable challenging:

• Architecture decisions
• Trade-offs (cost vs performance vs scalability)

Leadership Mindset

Business-first thinker (not tech-first)

Obsessed with:

• Outcomes
• Speed
• Simplicity

Challenges:

• Legacy thinking
• Vendor inefficiencies

Builds:

• Systems, not one-off solutions
• Leaders, not followers

What Success Looks Like

Within 12–18 months:

• AI is embedded in core business workflows
• Operational Run costs reduced via automation & AI
• Build and development teams are smaller but more productive
• Clear architecture & governance adopted globally
• Gurgaon is recognized as a strategic AI hub 

Why Join

Work on cutting-edge AI (LLMs, agentic systems, decision intelligence)

Lead high-visibility transformation at global scale

Build and shape a future-ready organization

Operate in an environment that values:

• Speed
• Ownership
• Impact