Director of IT - SAP & Enterprise Applications

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Job Description: Director, IT, SAP & Enterprise Applications - Bengaluru

About the Role:

We are seeking an exceptional Information Technology leader to build, manage, and lead our growing IT team in Bengaluru, India, with a specific focus on Enterprise Applications, including the SAP ERP platform. This role serves as the Site Lead for the IT organization in Bengaluru, responsible for cultivating a high-performing team, driving operational excellence, and ensuring alignment with global IT strategy and business priorities.

The Director will be a critical member of the global IT leadership team, collaborating with cross-functional teams worldwide to deliver high-quality solutions, drive continuous improvements, and maintain existing systems. This position will specifically champion the vision, strategy, and execution roadmap for key Enterprise Applications within their purview, leveraging strong functional and technical domain expertise specifically in the SAP platform and related technologies.

Responsibilities:

Site & Team Leadership:

• Build, manage, and mentor a large, high-performing information technology team in Bengaluru, India (including managers and teams up to 100+ reports).
• Responsible for budgetary, people development, and operational objectives of the Bengaluru IT team.
• Lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams within a time-sensitive and demanding environment, ensuring delivery against team KPIs and operational goals.
• Drive creation of staffing plans, schedules, quality initiatives, process change (Lean/Six Sigma), and other initiatives to enable the team to meet and exceed performance targets.
• Set and clarify requirements and expectations for direct reports, measure performance, provide feedback, and hold them accountable.
• Foster positive employee relations, coach/mentor team members, and build leadership bench strength within the Bengaluru site.
• Work closely with local support staff (HR, Finance, Facilities) to secure resources and address site-specific operational and personnel issues, escalating broader issues to relevant global partners.

Strategic & Collaborative Leadership:

• Partner with global IT leadership and cross-functional business stakeholders to contribute to and execute company-wide IT strategy and capability roadmaps.
• Effectively conveying strategic direction and technical information to all levels within the organization and senior leadership.
• Collaborating with Global Business Owners and Process Leads to understand business needs, prioritize initiatives, and represent IT in relevant business forums (e.g., GBP forums, SteerCo meetings).

Enterprise Applications & SAP Domain Leadership:

• Defining and driving the technology vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap for key Enterprise Applications, with a significant focus on the SAP platform.
• Acting as a functional and technical subject matter expert for designated Enterprise Applications, overseeing solution design, SAP architecture management, and delivery for domain-specific applications (e.g., S/4HANA, ECC, BW/4HANA, and integrated modules).
• Leading global project execution within the Enterprise Applications portfolio (including projects over $1MN), ensuring successful delivery within defined scope, timeline, and budget, with a focus on SAP and related initiatives.
• Managing relationships with key domain-specific vendors (e.g., SAP, hosting partners, and specialized system integrators), including overseeing SOWs, change requests, support, and enhancements.
• Owning incident, problem, and request processes for designated applications (e.g., SAP modules and integrations), managing SLAs, and collaborating with Application Management Service providers.
• Contributing to the definition and execution of the Digital Thread strategies as they relate to the integration of SAP with engineering and manufacturing systems.

Listed responsibilities are essential but not exhaustive; duties may change based on business needs.

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent practical experience. Higher level degrees and certifications (e.g., SAP Certified) are a plus.
• At least 20 years of progressive experience in Information Technology roles.
• 10+ years of experience building and managing high-performing IT teams, preferably including experience in India.
• 10+ years of direct management experience, including managing teams of 50+ reports and leading leaders/managers.
• Proven track record of successfully leading large-scale enterprise-wide IT initiatives and delivering high-quality software solutions in a timely manner within a large-scale, high-growth environment.
• 15+ years of domain experience in Enterprise Applications, with significant depth specifically in SAP.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in large-scale enterprise SAP implementations (greenfield and brownfield/migrations to S/4HANA).
• Sound knowledge of SAP architecture and various ERP domain functions (Finance, FICO, SD, MM, PP, WM, Quality Management, etc.).
• Experience leading/implementing integrations for SAP-PLM (preferably Teamcenter), SAP–MES, SAP–CRM, and SAP–ALM using various methodologies (e.g., PI/PO, BTP).
• Experience in managing release cycles for continuous system improvement for platforms like SAP.
• Experience with performance metrics, process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma).
• Experience with the full staffing lifecycle (interviewing, hiring, performance management, development).
• Proven ability to influence effectively across a complex, matrixed organization.
• Excellent leadership, management, and communication skills (both verbal and written), with the ability to convey strategic direction to all levels.
• Project management experience.
• Experience working with a contingent workforce.
• Flexibility to work hours required to support global business demands.

Nice To Have:

• Familiarity with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems, specifically Siemens Teamcenter.
• Familiarity with MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and their integration with SAP.
• Proven track record in delivering IT transformation projects, preferably with Salesforce or other major enterprise software solutions.
• Familiarity with ISO Standards, design controls, FDA, CSV processes, and regulatory domain knowledge, particularly in a Medical Device or Life Sciences context as it relates to SAP implementation and use.
• Experience implementing SAP specifically for Medical Device companies.

If you are a dynamic IT leader with a strong background in Enterprise Applications and deep expertise in SAP, passionate about building and leading high-performing teams in India, and have the strategic vision and operational expertise to drive success, we encourage you to apply.

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [email protected]. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.