GCC IT Lead – India
Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India
Reporting To: GCC Head, India
Career Progression: Potential progression toward a Global CIO role as the GCC matures.
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced GCC IT Lead – India to establish, lead, and progressively take ownership of the global IT function for a multinational organisation in the industrial manufacturing and engineering sector.
Based in Pune, this is a strategic leadership opportunity to drive the phased transition of global IT capabilities to India, ensuring business continuity, structured knowledge transfer, operational stability, and long-term capability development.
The role will initially focus on building the India-based IT operating model and transferring responsibilities from international headquarters. Over time, the position will evolve into end-to-end ownership of global IT strategy, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, data platforms, and technology operations.
The successful candidate will combine strong enterprise IT expertise with experience in global transformation, capability transfers, stakeholder management, and building high-performing technology teams. The position offers a long-term opportunity to grow into a Global CIO-level leadership role as the organisation's India capability centre matures.
Key Responsibilities
1. Global IT Strategy and Leadership
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Define and execute the global IT strategy, technology roadmap, enterprise architecture principles, and platform standards.
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Progressively assume ownership of global IT operations, technology decisions, vendor strategy, and investments.
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Align technology priorities with business objectives, operational requirements, and long-term organisational goals.
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Represent India in global technology discussions and contribute to enterprise-wide decision-making.
2. IT Capability Transfer and Transformation
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Lead the structured, phased transfer of IT capabilities from international headquarters to India.
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Evaluate capabilities based on complexity, business criticality, readiness, and resource availability.
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Establish transition roadmaps, milestones, governance mechanisms, and risk-mitigation plans.
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Drive structured knowledge transfer, documentation, and readiness assessments to ensure sustainable ownership.
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Maintain service continuity and operational stability throughout the transition.
3. IT Operations and Service Delivery
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Oversee global IT operations, infrastructure, service management, and technical support.
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Establish service standards, performance metrics, escalation processes, and operational governance.
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Ensure system availability, business continuity, incident management, and operational resilience.
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Drive service quality, efficiency, standardisation, and continuous improvement.
4. Enterprise Architecture and Technology Management
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Develop a scalable enterprise IT architecture aligned with business and technology priorities.
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Oversee cloud and hybrid infrastructure, enterprise applications, ERP platforms, data systems, and integration capabilities.
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Establish technology standards, architecture governance, and systems interoperability.
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Evaluate opportunities involving AI, automation, and modern technology platforms to improve efficiency and business outcomes.
5. Cybersecurity, Risk and Compliance
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Establish global IT security policies, governance frameworks, and risk-management practices.
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Ensure appropriate protection of enterprise systems, infrastructure, and business data.
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Manage security, regulatory, compliance, and data-residency requirements across geographies.
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Ensure that transferred capabilities meet the required security and operational-readiness standards.
6. Team Building and Organisational Development
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Build and lead a multidisciplinary IT organisation in India across infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, data, and service delivery.
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Define roles, accountability, performance expectations, and technical ownership.
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Attract and develop experienced technology professionals and future IT leaders.
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Establish succession plans, reduce dependency on individual resources, and build a sustainable organisation capable of independently managing global responsibilities.
7. Global Stakeholder Management
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Collaborate with international headquarters, GCC leadership, global IT teams, and business stakeholders.
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Build effective cross-border working relationships and facilitate knowledge transfer across geographies.
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Manage stakeholder expectations while balancing immediate operational needs with long-term technology priorities.
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Communicate progress, risks, dependencies, resource requirements, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
8. Programme Governance and Continuous Improvement
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Establish governance frameworks to track transition progress, readiness, operational performance, and capability maturity.
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Define measurable outcomes for service quality, cost efficiency, risk management, and technology delivery.
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Identify opportunities to optimise the global IT cost base and improve operating effectiveness.
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Progressively transition the organisation from capability-transfer execution to complete global IT ownership from India.
Required Qualifications and Experience
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Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
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Typically 10–15+ years of experience in enterprise IT, technology leadership, IT operations, or global IT management.
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Demonstrated experience in establishing, building, or scaling a GCC or shared-services organisation in India for a multinational business.
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Experience in global IT transitions, capability transfers, operating-model transformation, or structured knowledge-transfer programmes.
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Broad expertise across enterprise architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, data platforms, and IT service delivery.
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Experience in IT strategy, governance, vendor management, technology investments, and operational performance.
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Proven ability to build multidisciplinary teams, develop leaders, and establish sustainable operating capabilities.
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Experience working with international headquarters and geographically distributed technology teams; exposure to European stakeholders would be advantageous.
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Understanding of cloud and hybrid infrastructure, enterprise platforms, AI, automation, and modern technology delivery models.
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Demonstrated ability to operate at a strategic leadership level while remaining hands-on during critical transition and transformation phases.
Key Technical Competencies
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Global IT strategy and operating-model design
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GCC establishment, scaling, and capability transfers
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Enterprise architecture and technology governance
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IT infrastructure, cloud, and hybrid environments
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Cybersecurity, information security, and IT risk
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Enterprise applications and ERP platforms
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Data platforms, integration, and interoperability
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AI, automation, and modern software delivery
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IT service management and business continuity
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Vendor management and IT cost optimisation
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Regulatory compliance and multi-region IT governance
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Programme management, transition planning, and performance measurement
Leadership Competencies
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Strategic thinking: Ability to connect technology decisions with broader business priorities.
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Transformation leadership: Ability to lead complex, phased transitions while maintaining business continuity.
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Enterprise IT expertise: Strong understanding of interconnected technology functions and their dependencies.
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Stakeholder management: Ability to influence senior stakeholders and balance competing priorities.
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Cross-cultural collaboration: Ability to build trust and drive outcomes across international teams.
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People leadership: Ability to develop talent, establish accountability, and build a strong leadership pipeline.
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Decision-making: Ability to make evidence-based decisions, manage ambiguity, and exercise sound professional judgement.
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Change management: Ability to manage resistance, drive adoption, and embed sustainable ways of working.
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Operational excellence: Focus on service reliability, governance, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
The Opportunity
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Lead a strategically important global IT transformation from India.
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Build and shape the IT organisation, operating model, and technology capabilities of a growing GCC.
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Work closely with international leadership and influence enterprise-wide technology decisions.
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Take ownership of a broad global IT landscape with significant scope for professional growth.
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Pursue a potential long-term career path toward Global CIO-level responsibilities.
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Work in a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, continuous learning, accountability, and business impact.