Sr. Director, Solutioning Architect - GSA, Americas

SENIOR DIRECTOR, SOLUTIONING ARCHITECT, GSA AMERICAS

COGNIZANT OVERVIEW

Cognizant Technology Solutions (NASDAQ: CTSH) is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming customers' business, operating, and technology models for the digital economy. With annual revenues of $18 billion and a market value of $41 billion, we help global corporations adapt to market disruptions and build stronger, more agile, and innovative businesses.

At Cognizant, we give organizations the insights to anticipate what customers want and act instantly to deliver on those demands so our clients can achieve the goal of every modern business: staying one step ahead of a fast-changing world. In addition to honors such as being listed #185 on the 2021 Fortune 500, Cognizant was again named on Fortune's List of the Global Most Admired Companies for 2022.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

Americas GSA Solution Excellence Lead is the Solution excellence champion for the entire GSA Americas team. He/she is the SPOC for GSA BU Leads for US and India ESAs/ SAs for solution auditing, benchmarking and standardization across all BUs He/she is primary interface for the solution in a deal pursuit; responsible for the overall solution planning, thought leadership and internal and external solution roadmaps, solution development and evangelization, lead complex and multi-service line solution design, owns overall solution for a deal, differentiation, and solution management. Works closely with SL architects to develop overall storyline, and to meet required targets

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop Solution Strategy:

* Define the Solution area and the outcomes the team aims to achieve for customers

* Develop Overall Solution and differentiation against competitor trends with focus on tech evolution / new threats

* Develop a vision & comprehensive strategy for the Solution as well as execution roadmap

Manage Solution area quality:

* Ensure Solution area quality is in line or above GSA standard

* Support pursuit teams and troubleshoot solution challenges as needed

Own Solution management:

* Identify solution gaps, opportunity for new solution development

* Develop solution strategy and roadmap aligned with the most attractive win themes and selection criteria

* Design and develop a suite of repeatable and scalable solutions that address critical client business outcomes

* Manage solution lifecycle (ideation to execution) & identify enhancement areas in new offerings, competitiveness as needed

* Oversee GSA industrialization internally (SLS, Client partners) and externally (client's stakeholders, etc.)

Manage Solution trends:

* Manage translation of business problems into IT solutions & work with sales leads; assist sales team qualifying prospects

* Participate with sales and account teams in shaping solution for select Elite account penetration / expansion strategies

Credentialize solutions:

* Be accountable for directing the deal solution process end to end across set of opportunities

* Ensure Solution, Pursuit, and Delivery teams are engaging clients in region to explore opportunities and better define desired business outcomes, through workshops/digital dialogues/demos/PoCs

* Provide input for Pursuit & Delivery teams to support priority customers in imagining how solutions can improve their business

* Ensure team is equipped and trained to credentialize solution with customers though deep subject matter expertise & experience in the specific markets (industry/geo) / practice area

* Engage priority clients directly to credentialize solutions

Thought leadership:

* Engage with external partners to position the Solution areas and business / technical expertise

* Define thought leadership & solution strategy, publish, educate the solution and drive differentiation conversations

* Owns Solution relationships:

* Own solution relations and collaborations across Service Lines

* Establish and enhance collaboration with internal and external partners to enhance business outcomes

MANDATORY CAPABILITIES:

O Functional/Practice knowledge: Understanding of Solution management methodology, strong capabilities to lead large multi-service ITO deal solutioning process, user centric design, and ability to generate, oversee actionable and impactful roadmap that effectively engages the organization to achieve strategic milestones

O Technical prowess: Deep technical expertise in Solution/Delivery area to bring together practice offerings to address customer needs, and to create proof of concepts if needed, as well as credentialize solutions

O Industry knowledge: Deep knowledge of IT services/IT outsourcing globally; ability to communicate across stakeholders

O Commercial knowledge: Ability to analyze requirements, qualify deals and opportunities

O Executive Presence: Effective executive communication skills to clearly articulate vision and lead effective teams across the enterprise; productively challenge counterparts, bringing valuable insights

O Relationship management: Outstanding interpersonal abilities; skilled in managing solutions with executive leadership and business units, effectively aligning stakeholders to strategic plans and mitigating solution gaps

O Leadership experience: Excellent organizational and leadership skills to build strong Solution function and lead by example; strong solution management, planning, conflict management, and operations skills

O Minimum 10+ years in senior solution leadership role

O Minimum 15+ years of complex solutioning experience, with broad technical experience

O Minimum 20+ years in in experience in assigned functional/technology area, with applicable market standard certifications

O Preferred background: Senior leadership role in project & product management, experienced in managing large global teams. Domain expertise across verticals. Track record of wining solutions and large deals, as well as leveraging organizational capabilities to support solutions/delivery