Associate Director Enterprise Applications

About the role

The Director Digital Applications is responsible for leading the strategy, delivery, and operational excellence of application platforms supporting Global business operations, with a core emphasis on integrated application centric environments. The role is in charge of defining, delivering, and continuously improving the organization’s core digital application landscape. This role ensures that core platforms are robust, scalable, secure, and aligned with business strategy, enabling operational excellence and digital transformation. The role reports to the CDIO and is part of the Digital leadership team.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Leadership: Define and drive the digital core application strategy and roadmap aligned with business priorities; act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on technology capabilities and transformation opportunities; lead the transition from legacy systems to modern, integrated, cloud‑based platforms.
• Application Portfolio Management: Own and manage the end‑to‑end lifecycle of core applications (e.g., ERP, CRM, SCM, HRM…); rationalize and optimize application landscape to reduce complexity and total cost of ownership; ensure systems are fit‑for‑purpose, standardized, and scalable across regions and business units.
• Delivery & Transformation: Lead major digital transformation programs as required; ensure delivery excellence through strong program governance, risk management, and change management; drive agile and product‑based operating models for continuous improvement.
• Operations & Service Excellence: Ensure high availability, reliability, and performance of all core applications; oversee application support model (internal teams and external partners); define and monitor KPIs/SLAs for service delivery and user satisfaction.
• Data, Integration & Architecture: Ensure seamless integration across systems and end‑to‑end process consistency; collaborate with Enterprise Architecture to maintain a clean, scalable, and secure architecture; support data integrity and enable data‑driven decision making.
• Stakeholder Management: Manage strategic relationships with key customers (internal and external) and system integrators; ensure continuous value realization from the applications; engage with senior stakeholders globally to drive adoption and alignment.
• Team Leadership: Build and lead a high‑performing global team of application experts, product owners, and delivery leads; develop talent, capabilities, and succession pipelines; foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration; enable effective cross‑functional ways of working across the Digital workforce to drive integrated planning, prioritization, and delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in information technology, Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 10–15+ years of experience in applications and digital transformation.
• Proven leadership in managing large‑scale ERP/HRIS transformations.
• Strong understanding of business processes across Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Manufacturing.
• Experience leading global, cross‑functional teams.
• Strong expertise in cloud technologies, integrations, and modern application architectures.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at executive level and influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience with outsourcing and