Head of Data Architecture, Asia Data Office

We are seeking a Head of Data Architecture (Director Level) to serve as the regional authority for enterprise data and AI architecture in Asia. This role will define, govern, and drive the end-to-end data and AI architecture strategy, while also owning solution architecture for critical initiatives.

Position Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Architecture Leadership
• Define and lead the Asia enterprise data & AI architecture vision, strategy, and roadmap
• Establish target state architecture for data, analytics, and AI platforms
• Drive architectural alignment with global standards, regulatory requirements, and business strategy
• Lead architecture decision-making, including trade-offs, investments, and technology choices

• End-to-End Solution Ownership
• Own end-to-end solution architecture for key data, analytics, and AI initiatives
• Ensure solutions are scalable, modular, secure, and production-ready
• Guide delivery teams across markets to ensure design integrity and consistency
• Act as the final design authority for high-impact programs

• Platform & Technology Architecture
• Design and govern cloud-native data and AI platforms across Azure and Alicloud
• Drive adoption of modern data architectures (Data Fabric, Lakehouse, Data Mesh where applicable)
• Establish reusable architecture blueprints, patterns, and accelerators
• Including GenAI, RAG, feature stores, and MLOps patterns
• Ensure integration with enterprise platforms (PAS, CRM, Claims, Digital)

• Data Governance & Standards
• Standardize data models, pipelines, and lifecycle management practices
• Enforce enterprise standards for:
• Data quality, lineage, metadata, cataloguing
• Master/reference data management
• Data interoperability across markets
• Define and embed data governance-by-design principles

• Security, Privacy & Responsible AI
• Establish and enforce data security, privacy, and compliance controls
• Alignment with regional regulations (e.g., India DPDP, China CSL/PIPL, etc.)
• Define and operationalize Responsible AI frameworks
• Ensure architecture supports auditability, transparency, and risk controls

• Governance & Operating Model
• Lead architecture governance forums and design authorities
• Drive cross-market alignment and reuse of capabilities
• Institutionalize architecture guardrails, fitness functions, and automated compliance checks
• Support vendor and platform selection through architecture oversight and evaluation frameworks

• Stakeholder & Leadership Engagement
• Partner with IT, Data, AI, Security, and Business leaders from across Global, Regional and Local level
• Act as a trusted advisor to CIO, CDO, and senior stakeholders
• Influence program direction and ensure technology investments align with long-term architecture vision
• Collaborate with global architecture teams for standardization and reuse

• Team & Capability Development
• Lead and mentor a regional team of data solution architects
• Build capability maturity across markets
• Drive adoption of modern engineering and architecture practices

Required Qualifications:

• 20+ years of experience in data, analytics, and enterprise architecture
• 3–5 years in a leadership role (Head, Lead Architect, or equivalent)
• Proven experience in defining and delivering enterprise-scale data and AI platforms
• Strong experience with:
• Cloud platforms (Azure required, Alicloud preferred)
• Data architecture paradigms (Lakehouse, Data Fabric, Data Mesh)
• AI/ML and GenAI architectures (including RAG, MLOps)
• Experience in financial services / insurance domain
• Exposure to Asia markets and regulatory environments
• Experience in greenfield transformation or large-scale platform modernization
• Familiarity with enterprise integration patterns and distributed architectures
• Strategic thinking with execution focus
• Strong architecture governance and decision-making ability
• Deep technical expertise in modern data & AI ecosystems
• Stakeholder influence and executive communication
• Ability to operate in a federated, multi-market environment