Job description

Job Description **Senior Director – Architecture \& Strategy (Data \& Analytics)** ================================================================== Location: Hyderabad, India Level: Senior Director **Role Overview** ----------------- We are seeking a senior leader to drive the Architecture and Strategy as a function for Data \& Analytics within the Chief Data Office (CDO) organization. This role is responsible for defining and advancing enterprise\-wide technology architecture, shaping cross\-product strategy, and driving forward\-looking innovation across data and analytics capabilities. Reporting directly to the leader of Product, technology strategy, this leader will operate at the intersection of technology, product, and business strategy, ensuring that architectural decisions enable scalable, sustainable, and value\-driven outcomes across the enterprise. This is a high\-impact leadership role requiring strong decision\-making, enterprise influence, and the ability to translate emerging trends into actionable strategies. **Key Responsibilities** ------------------------ ### **1\. Enterprise \& Technical Architecture Leadership** * Define and evolve the enterprise data and analytics architecture, including reference architectures, patterns, and standards * Establish and govern architecture frameworks, best practices, and design principles across the organization * Lead architecture governance mechanisms to ensure consistency, scalability, and compliance * Own technology lifecycle management, including standards for adoption, containment, and deprecation ### **2\. Product \& Platform Architecture** * Provide architectural leadership for enterprise data and analytics products and platforms * Define integration, platform, and solution architecture patterns across enabling products * Ensure sustainability, scalability, and interoperability across the product ecosystem * Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Platform teams to align architecture with delivery and adoption ### **3\. Emerging Technology \& Innovation** * Continuously scan the market for emerging technologies, tools, and industry trends * Establish structured frameworks for evaluation, incubation, and scaling of new capabilities * Lead the adoption of next\-generation architectures and innovation initiatives * Translate external innovation into practical enterprise capabilities and competitive advantage ### **4\. Technology Strategy \& Optimization** * Define and drive technology strategy across products and platforms, including investment prioritization * Lead technology ramp\-up and ramp\-down decisions to optimize cost and value * Establish architecture as a business discipline, enabling informed decision\-making and trade\-offs * Drive cross\-product alignment to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency ### **5\. Leadership, Governance \& Influence** * Lead and run architecture and strategy forums, enabling enterprise\-wide alignment and decision\-making * Make and guide critical architecture decisions with long\-term enterprise impact * Collaborate closely with senior leadership, including the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and cross\-functional teams * Act as a thought leader, staying ahead of industry trends and shaping the organization’s future direction **Qualifications \& Experience** -------------------------------- * 10 years of experience in data, analytics, and enterprise architecture * Proven track record of leading enterprise\-scale architecture and strategy functions * Strong experience across data platforms, analytics ecosystems, and modern architecture patterns * Demonstrated ability to operate across product, engineering, and business domains * Experience driving technology strategy, cost optimization, and platform rationalization * Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and C\-level leaders **Technology stack** -------------------- **AWS data and analytics eco system, Databricks, DBT, Matillion, Starburst, PowerBI, Dataiku, ThoughtSpot, Qlik** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Data and Analytics Ecosystem Tools** AWS Databricks DBT Matillion Starburst PowerBI Dataiku ThoughtSpot Qlik **What We’re Looking For** -------------------------- * A forward\-looking, value\-driven leader who can anticipate and shape the future * Someone who makes decisions, not just recommendations * Ability to balance strategic thinking with practical execution * Strong collaborator who can work across complex organizational boundaries * A leader who brings clarity, structure, and momentum to ambiguous environments **Why This Role Matters** ------------------------- As part of the Chief Data Office (CDO), this role will define how data and analytics capabilities are architected, scaled, and evolved across the enterprise. The right leader will play a critical role in building a future\-ready, integrated, and efficient data ecosystem that drives measurable business impact. * Proven leadership experience, including managing and mentoring technical teams. * Deep technical expertise in data engineering, data management and governance, data science, data consumption and reporting, and cloud technologies (e.g., AWS, Databricks, Dataiku, Matillion, DBT, and Airflow). * Strong understanding of data architecture principles, data modeling, and data integration techniques. * Platform integration patterns, Metadata and governance integrations, API\-Driven design, and Developer platform experience * Experience integrating GenAI capabilities into broader data and analytics ecosystems to enhance insights, decision\-making, and automation. * Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. **Required Skills:** Data Modeling, Design Applications, Release Management, Requirements Management, Solution Architecture, System Designs, System Integration**Preferred Skills:** Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE **Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully** Merck \& Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp \& Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre\-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. **Employee Status:** Regular**Relocation:** **VISA Sponsorship:** **Travel Requirements:** **Flexible Work Arrangements:** Hybrid**Shift:** **Valid Driving License:** **Hazardous Material(s):** **Job Posting End Date:** 05/11/2026* **A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day** **BEFORE** **the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day** **BEFORE** **the job posting end date.** **Requisition ID:**R392998