Cognizant - Program Manager - Operational Excellence & Cost Optimization

Position Summary:
The role holder is a key member of the Global Operations team and will work closely with FP&A, Delivery and HR to plan and drive execution of corporate annual cost plan with focus on C&B/FTE. He/She will work closely with the BU COO's to rigorously manage cost performance, enabling the BU to consistently achieve its cost and profitability targets while maintaining high client and employee satisfaction.
This strategic, hands-on role is responsible for workforce planning, interlocking cost with P&L, setting BU wise targets on Offshore mix, Pyramid controls, Delivery cost optimization, and industrialization.
Key Deliverables/Responsibilities: Including, but not limited to:
- Facilitate the development and annual refresh of a robust 3 - year business plan with respect to the Workforce and cost of delivery planning
- Develop and manages annual and quarterly C&B/BFTE plan and forecasts
- Responsible for planning and interlock with Market Units and Service line to meet the unit's cost goals
- Sets global and unit CoD targets with geo specific nuances

- Identify, prioritize and proactively mitigate key risks; Establish and refresh contingency plans on an ongoing basis
- Organize disciplined corporate operations reviews, by providing management with actionable insights, then ensuring action plans are developed and tracked until successful implementation
- Drive and successfully execute Corporate or BU strategic initiatives across the companies
- Motivate and lead a high-performance team by attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining highly talented B school graduates or experienced business analysts
Leadership Competencies:
- Ability to connect the dots, analyze key issues, identify trends, provide insights and develop and implement strategic solutions
- Experience in developing and implement a plan for ongoing business improvement
- Capability to lead team and organization through significant change in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, high growth environment with continuously increasing scale and complexity
- Drive a common culture, build an open, transparent and cohesive environment through effective communication and exceptional collaboration
- Ability to influence stakeholders and to execute the corporate vision across the BU's
- Ability to command respect and trust internally and externally
- Strong power point and Data skills with strong senior leadership presentation capability
- Drive for results and credibility to make things happen
Management Responsibility (does this role have direct reports): Yes
Qualifications (Education, Experience)
- MBA from Top institute with least 15+, years of relevant global and cross functional expertise and experience, preferably in a Tier 1 IT Services firm or Fortune 500 company
- High potential future business leader with experience in Business finance and/or cost consulting
- Solid academic background with business management degrees from top tier school
- Excellent consulting experience and proven ability to lead, facilitate, and collaborate with cross functional teams to deliver successful business outcomes
- Excellent interpersonal, communications, public speaking and presentation skills