Head of Global Workplace Services – India & APAC

Cognizant

20 - 25 years

Chennai

Posted: 3/30/2025

Job Description

Grade: Associate Vice President

Location: Chennai / Hyderabad/Bangalore

This pivotal role requires a candidate with a proven track record in managing complex facilities, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and fostering an environment conducive to IT & ITES service organization. This role encompasses responsibilities related to facility management operations, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). The role is responsible for providing strategic guidance, approvals, and oversight for various projects and initiatives within the workplace services department with Corp Real Estate Function of organization. The role will work closely with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners to ensure the successful execution of business strategies and operational plans.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Guidance:

· Provide strategic direction and guidance for key projects and initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives of workplace services.

· Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement business strategies that drive associate experience and operational excellence in Facility Management Operations.

· Review and approve strategic proposals, business cases, and project plans to ensure feasibility and alignment with Real Estate function priorities.

Governance and Approvals:

· Oversee the governance of contracts, agreements, and proposals, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and standards.

· Provide approvals for business cases, contracts, and other critical documents, ensuring accuracy and completeness.

· Establish and maintain effective communication cadence with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate decision-making and issue resolution.

Facility Management Operations:

· Lead and oversee facility management operations, ensuring efficient and effective management of soft services, associate transport and cafeteria operations.

· Collaborate with service providers to standardize delivery of various facility-related services.

· Ensure compliance with safety regulations and standards in all facility management activities.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS):

· Monitor and evaluate EHS performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.

· Ensure compliance with local and international EHS regulations and standards.

· Ensure building compliance and licenses are maintained as per statutory requirements.

Global ISO System Certifications:

· Ensure compliance with ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems.

· Ensure compliance with ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

· Ensure compliance with ISO 27001 – Information Technology Management System related to facility operations.

Performance Management:

· Monitor and evaluate the performance of key service providers of facility / transport / F&B services, providing feedback and guidance to ensure successful outcomes.

· Develop and maintain performance metrics and dashboards to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement:

· Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, cross-functional teams & external partners.

· Facilitate regular meetings and communication with stakeholders to ensure alignment and address any issues or concerns.

Multi-Location Oversight:

· Take charge of facilities management across multiple locations, ensuring consistency in standards and operational excellence.

· Work closely with teams and site managers to address location-specific needs, challenges, and opportunities.

Educational Qualification and Professional Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field. Master's degree is highly desirable.

· Proven track record with over 20-25 years of progressive experience in facilities management, preferably in multi-location and IT & ITES Services organization.

· Exceptional leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across departments.

· Deep knowledge of health and safety regulations, environmental sustainability practices, and emergency response protocols.

· Strong financial acumen, negotiation skills, and budget management experience.

· Innovative problem-solving ability and meticulous attention to detail.

· Familiarity with cutting-edge technologies and trends in facilities.

· Seasoned people manager who can inspire the team and build a culture of high performance.

· Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills

· Ability to manage ambiguity, and a preparedness to take on what is necessary to get things done.

· Pioneer in Digital transformation of facilities

· Familiarity with legal requirements and compliance in facilities management and building permits.

· Eye for detail, timeliness, and discipline in managing day to operations and future projects.

Job summary

The role will be responsible for delivering all the 3 lines of business across India & APAC region Incumbent will be accountable for stake holder management both internally within CREWS and externally with Business. Highly strategic role with majority of the time spent in functional enhancement thoughts & outputs

Responsibilities

Implementing and overseeing standardized processes tools and methodologies for CREWS function to ensure standardization and quality across regions.

Plan & execute the service management framework

Plan & execute the digitization initiatives & simplify experiences

Implement & follow the performance matrix with key SLA & KPI for CREWS strategic deliverables

Leading initiatives to introduce new technologies sustainable practices and innovative solutions across various functional vertices

Knowledge Sharing Training and Reporting.

Act as central knowledge hub for the region providing training and development resources and facilitating cross functional collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Prepare and communicate performance and progress in standardized model.

Engaging with key stakeholders including executives and regional leaders to align strategies with broader business goals and maintain clear communication on project progress and outcomes.

Act of SPOC and escalation of appointed partners in the region for projects and strategic initiatives.

Applying deep financial expertise. This includes budgeting cost forecasting and financial analysis to maintain ROI.

Leverage insights into market trends cost drivers and economic factors making informed decisions to balance quality and cost efficiency while contributing to Cognizant financial health.

About Company

Cognizant is a global leader in technology and consulting services, helping businesses transform their operations through digital solutions. Specializing in IT services, including software development, business process outsourcing, and consulting, Cognizant supports clients across industries such as healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and retail. With a focus on innovation, Cognizant assists organizations in modernizing their technology, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing customer experiences. Headquartered in the U.S., it is consistently ranked among the most admired companies in the world and is a member of the NASDAQ-100.

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