Data Operations Lead

Why we're hiring:

WPP Media is embarking on a transformative data journey through Databridge—our internal comprehensive data strategy and framework designed to unify our fragmented global data landscape. We are moving from isolated, market-specific implementations to a standardized, scalable, cloud-agnostic, and AI-ready data platform built on a modern tech stack: dbt, Databricks, Python (dlthub), and GitHub Actions.

As Data Operations Lead, you will establish and head our new Data Integration & Operations team in Chennai. This is a build-and-run role: you'll define how the team operates while leading day-to-day delivery of operational excellence across global data products.

You will be the custodian of production—owning the operational layer including CI/CD automation, deployment pipelines, monitoring, data quality enforcement, incident management, and support. This role requires deep technical knowledge of Databricks and modern data platforms, alongside the ability to lead, mentor, and scale a growing team.

What you'll be doing:

Technical Ownership & Execution

• Lead the team responsible for data integration, orchestration, and platform operations across Azure and GCP environments

• Build and maintain automated CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions and Databricks Asset Bundles for data workflows

• Design platform-wide monitoring, logging, and alerting covering pipeline execution, data quality, SLA compliance, and cost

• Manage production deployments and own centralized job orchestration via Databricks Jobs/Workflows (scheduling, dependencies, retries, notifications)

• Implement comprehensive data quality testing and validation using dbt's testing framework and custom checks

Operational Standardization

• Create and roll out standard operating procedures, runbooks, onboarding guides, and automation patterns

• Establish reusable deployment frameworks and project templates for consistent implementation across markets

• Build and maintain the Central Data Solution Repository with reusable assets (dlthub pipelines, dbt models, tests, macros)

• Define repeatable deployment patterns ensuring standards and best practices are followed globally

Platform Support & Governance

• Set up and manage SLAs, incident workflows, and escalation models

• Proactively identify and resolve operational risks in cloud-based data platforms

• Partner with DevOps to leverage Databricks Unity Catalog for governance, access control, and lineage

• Enforce data quality standards and governance policies embedded within pipeline code

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor the Data Integration & Operations team in Chennai

• Shape the team's operating model, priorities, and capabilities

• Act as subject matter expert and escalation point for technical operations
• Facilitate regular retrospectives to drive continuous improvement and optimize processes
• Collaborate with Data Engineering, DevOps, and Product teams globally

What you'll need:

Experience

• 7+ years in data operations, platform engineering, or data engineering with hands-on production experience

• 3+ years in technical leadership or team lead capacity, with proven ability to build and scale teams
• Demonstrated experience establishing DataOps practices and operational frameworks from the ground up

Technical Expertise

• Deep, hands-on experience with Databricks platform, specifically:

• Databricks SQL Warehouses, Unity Catalog, Jobs/Workflows

• Databricks Asset Bundles for Infrastructure as Code

• Delta Lake performance optimization

• Strong proficiency with dbt (Core): project structure, macros, tests, documentation, CI/CD integration, production troubleshooting

• Expert-level cloud platform knowledge (Azure and/or GCP):

• Object storage (ADLS/GCS), secret management (Key Vault/Secret Manager)

• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform)

• CI/CD mastery with GitHub Actions: workflow design, secrets management, automated testing and deployment

• Proficient in Python for automation and scripting (experience with dlthub is a major plus)

• Strong SQL skills for data validation, quality testing, and troubleshooting

Operational & Leadership Skills

• Proven ability to design operational frameworks: monitoring, alerting, incident management, SLA tracking

• Experience managing production data platforms with high uptime requirements

• Excellent communication skills with ability to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Strong documentation skills and commitment to knowledge sharing

• Preferred Skills

  • Experience working in multi-cloud environments (Azure + GCP)
  • Familiarity with Power BI or similar BI platforms
  • Understanding of FinOps practices for cloud cost optimization

Who Should Apply

This role is ideal for candidates with:

• Real, hands-on project experience building and running production data platforms at scale

• Proven leadership in establishing DataOps practices and growing high-performing teams

• Deep technical expertise in the Databricks ecosystem and modern data stack

• Entrepreneurial mindset—comfortable with ambiguity and building systems from the ground up

This role is not a fit if your experience is primarily theoretical, course-based, or lacks production-grade exposure to the core technologies outlined above.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?