Associate Director, Technology Strategy & Innovation

We are seeking an Associate Director, Technology Strategy & Innovation to drive strategic technology alignment, innovation initiatives, data-driven decision-making, and AI adoption across business and technology teams.

This role operates at the intersection of business strategy, data, advanced analytics, and emerging technology, serving as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders. You will help shape technology roadmaps, lead complex cross-functional initiatives, prototype solutions, and champion innovation that improves business performance, efficiency, and scalability.

This is a senior individual contributor and leadership role suited for someone who thrives in fast-paced, high-impact environments, excels in ambiguous problem-solving, and can translate complex technology into measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business & Technology Partnering

• Act as a senior technology advisor to business leaders and functional teams
• Lead executive-level governance forums to align business priorities, roadmaps, risks, and delivery outcomes
• Anticipate technology implications of business expansion, new initiatives, and operational transformation
• Bridge business agility and IT governance, ensuring innovation without compromising stability, compliance, or scalability
• Translate strategic objectives into scalable, enterprise-ready technology plans

Technical Analysis, Prototyping & Data Strategy

• Leverage SQL and Python to analyze enterprise datasets and validate business logic
• Build proof-of-concepts, rapid prototypes, and data-driven insights to test ideas before engineering implementation
• Assess data quality, integrity, and system outputs to ensure accurate reporting and analytics
• Partner with engineering and delivery teams to ensure solutions align with real operational needs and workflows

Innovation, AI & Advanced Analytics Leadership

• Serve as a subject matter expert on AI/ML applications in business contexts
• Identify and prioritize high-impact use cases for Generative AI, Predictive Analytics, and Intelligent Automation
• Educate business leaders on AI model behavior, risks, limitations, governance, and value potential
• Champion AI adoption to improve decision intelligence, productivity, and operational efficiency
• Monitor emerging technology trends, digital innovation, and industry best practices
• Develop and maintain a technology and innovation roadmap aligned with business strategy

Leadership, Influence & Delivery Excellence

• Lead cross-functional collaboration across Business, Data, Engineering, Product, and Operations teams
• Influence senior leaders and manage competing priorities in high-pressure environments
• Apply structured thinking and data-driven frameworks to solve complex, ambiguous business challenges
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and technical excellence
• Mentor team members and contribute to organizational capability building

Required Qualifications

Experience & Domain Expertise

• 7–10+ years of experience in Technology Strategy, Data, Digital Transformation, or Enterprise Systems
• Proven experience advising senior business stakeholders and executive leadership
• Strong understanding of enterprise platforms, data ecosystems, and technology operating models
• Experience working in large-scale, complex organizations or regulated environments

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in SQL (complex joins, data modeling, optimization)
• Strong proficiency in Python for analytics, automation, and prototyping (pandas, numpy)
• Solid understanding of AI/ML concepts and practical business applications
• Experience translating data science concepts into real-world business workflows
• Comfortable working with large datasets, analytics platforms, and data pipelines

Soft Skills & Leadership Traits

• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and stakeholder influence
• Ability to simplify and explain complex technical topics to non-technical audiences
• Strong strategic mindset with an enterprise-wide perspective
• Confident decision-maker in high-impact, high-ambiguity environments
• Proven ability to challenge assumptions, prioritize effectively, and drive outcomes

Education

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field
• MBA, Masters degree, or relevant certifications are a strong advantage