Description

About Cognizant

Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization's unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world.

See how at [www.cognizant.com]( http://www.cognizant.com ) or @cognizant.

Role Overview

The Strategy Lead - APJ is a high-impact, senior individual contributor role responsible for shaping, governing and enabling the execution of the APJ regional strategy, with a strong emphasis on business and operating model transformation. The incumbent will work directly with and in service of the President - APJ, providing both analytical rigor and strategic thought partnership to advance priorities across markets, service lines and functions.

Role Context & Strategic Significance

This role sits at the intersection of strategy, governance and execution - a critical enabler of the APJ leadership agenda. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to the President - APJ, helping to connect regional ambitions with global priorities, align cross-functional stakeholders, and ensure that strategic commitments are tracked and delivered with discipline.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy Development & Direction

• Lead the design and articulation of the APJ strategic agenda, ensuring coherent alignment to Cognizant's global priorities and competitive positioning.

• Synthesise market intelligence, competitive landscape analysis and internal performance data to inform strategic choices and investment decisions.

• Develop high-quality, executive-ready strategic documents, presentations and business cases for the President - APJ and leadership team.

Execution Governance & Programme Management

• Anchor end-to-end governance for APJ strategic initiatives, establishing clear ownership structures, milestone frameworks and accountability mechanisms.

• Design and maintain structured dashboards and reporting cadences to track progress against strategic priorities, surfacing risks and enabling timely decision-making.

• Facilitate cross-functional alignment to ensure strategic programmes are executed with pace and rigour.

Senior Stakeholder Partnership

• Act as a trusted thought partner to the President - APJ and the APJ leadership team on matters of strategic and operational significance.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with market leaders, service line heads and functional leads across the region.

• Represent strategic initiatives in senior forums, enabling effective decision-making and executive alignment.

Transformation Enablement

• Drive business and operating model transformation initiatives across the region, translating strategic vision into actionable programmes.

• Identify structural opportunities to improve regional effectiveness, agility and competitive differentiation.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Management (MBA or equivalent)

Professional Experience

• A minimum of 10 - 12 years of substantive experience in strategy, business transformation, management consulting or corporate planning.

• Prior exposure to the technology or technology services sector is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience working with or in proximity to senior executive leadership is an advantage.

Core Competencies & Attributes

• Strategic acuity: Ability to think across time horizons, connect macro trends to business implications and develop differentiated points of view.

• Analytical rigour: Strong quantitative and qualitative problem-solving capability; comfort with ambiguity and complex, multi-variable challenges.

• Executive communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complexity into clear, compelling narratives for senior audiences.

• Stakeholder influence: Demonstrated ability to build trust and drive alignment across senior, diverse stakeholder groups without direct authority.

• Execution mindset: A bias for action and outcomes; ability to manage multiple priorities with pace and precision.

• Leadership presence: High levels of professional maturity, intellectual curiosity and personal ambition, with the drive to make a meaningful impact.