Job Description: Senior Director – Data & Cloud Transformation (Pre-Sales)

Role Overview

We are seeking a senior data and cloud transformation leader with 18+ years of experience in technology consulting, pre-sales, and client-facing advisory roles. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading large-scale data transformation initiatives, cloud migrations, and enterprise modernization programs.

This role will drive strategic client engagements, shape data and cloud transformation roadmaps, lead pre-sales initiatives, and develop compelling technical and business propositions. The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise with executive communication, consulting, business development, and content development capabilities to help organizations realize measurable value from their data and cloud investments.

Required Skills and Qualifications

1. Experience

18+ years of experience in data and cloud transformation, technology consulting, pre-sales, or client-facing technology leadership.
Proven track record of leading pre-sales engagements and advising enterprise clients on data and cloud initiatives.
Experience managing large-scale data transformations, cloud migrations, modernization programs, or similar enterprise technology initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions and strategic transformation roadmaps.

2. Technical Proficiency

Strong understanding of cloud platforms, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Expertise in data engineering, data architecture, data pipelines, big data solutions, and cloud-native services.
Familiarity with modern data platforms, data lakes, cloud data warehouses, data fabrics, and machine learning concepts.
Ability to evaluate technology options and recommend solutions aligned with business objectives, scalability, security, and operational efficiency.
Awareness of emerging trends and technologies across cloud computing, data engineering, and enterprise digital transformation.

3. Communication and Leadership

Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to C-suite executives, directors, vice presidents, and other senior stakeholders.
Proven ability to influence stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
Strong executive presence and the ability to communicate a compelling strategic vision for enterprise data and cloud transformation.
Experience facilitating executive workshops, technical discussions, and strategic planning sessions.

4. Consulting and Problem-Solving

Strong consulting and analytical skills, with the ability to assess complex client requirements and recommend tailored solutions.
Ability to identify business challenges, technology gaps, and opportunities for process improvement.
Experience developing actionable recommendations that connect technology investments to measurable business outcomes.
Ability to support organizational change and business transformation through modern data and cloud technologies.

5. Pre-Sales and Business Development

Demonstrated success leading pre-sales activities, including responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), developing proposals, and delivering client presentations.
Experience supporting opportunity qualification, solution development, sales pursuits, and new business acquisition.
Ability to understand client business challenges and align them with appropriate technical solutions.
Experience collaborating with sales teams to develop value propositions, business cases, and strategic account opportunities.
Strong understanding of consultative selling and enterprise technology engagement models.

6. Project and Team Management

Experience leading and collaborating with cross-functional teams, including data architects, cloud engineers, data scientists, and delivery professionals.
Ability to coordinate multiple initiatives and stakeholders while maintaining quality and delivery timelines.
Strong organizational, planning, prioritization, and execution skills.
Experience aligning pre-sales commitments with delivery capabilities and customer expectations.

7. Content Development and Thought Leadership

Hands-on experience creating and curating content for proposals, presentations, and client-facing documents.
Excellent writing skills, with the ability to develop clear, concise, and persuasive technical and business content.
Experience creating solution briefs, whitepapers, executive presentations, pitch decks, and transformation roadmaps.
Ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling business narratives for executive audiences.
Willingness to contribute directly to content development rather than relying exclusively on supporting teams.

8. Education and Certifications

Bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.
Cloud certifications across AWS, Azure, or GCP are preferred.
Data Engineering, Data Architecture, or other relevant industry-recognized certifications are advantageous.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Vision and Client Engagement

Lead the development and execution of data and cloud transformation strategies for enterprise clients.
Articulate the business value, long-term benefits, and strategic implications of adopting modern data and cloud solutions.
Engage with senior client stakeholders, including CXOs, directors, and vice presidents, to understand business objectives, data challenges, and growth ambitions.
Define transformation journeys from initial assessment through implementation and optimization.
Develop clear roadmaps with actionable recommendations, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and expected business outcomes.
Propose innovative solutions and build compelling business cases aligned with client priorities and strategic objectives.

2. Pre-Sales Leadership

Serve as a trusted advisor to clients through technical discussions, workshops, executive briefings, and presentations.
Partner with sales teams to identify new opportunities, develop proposals, and lead RFP responses.
Collaborate with data architects, cloud engineers, data scientists, and other subject-matter experts to develop client-specific solutions.
Lead solution positioning, technical value articulation, proposal development, and presentation preparation.
Ensure proposed solutions address client requirements and align with business value, technical feasibility, and delivery capabilities.
Support sales pursuits by developing differentiated propositions and transformation strategies.

3. Technical Expertise and Thought Leadership

Provide strategic technical guidance across AWS, Azure, GCP, data engineering, data architecture, cloud-native technologies, and modernization strategies.
Maintain current knowledge of developments in data platforms, data lakes, cloud data warehouses, data engineering, and digital transformation.
Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to improve client outcomes.
Develop solution briefs, whitepapers, pitch decks, technical presentations, and other client-facing materials.
Translate complex technical architectures into clear business benefits, investment rationale, and implementation approaches.
Contribute to the development of reusable solution assets, frameworks, and transformation methodologies.

4. Internal Collaboration and Mentorship

Work closely with sales, pre-sales, architecture, engineering, and delivery teams to align proposed solutions with client expectations.
Mentor junior team members and other stakeholders, promoting knowledge-sharing and professional development.
Provide guidance on solution development, proposal quality, client engagement, and technical positioning.
Contribute to continuous improvement in pre-sales processes, tools, frameworks, and delivery approaches.
Encourage collaboration across teams to improve solution quality, consistency, and business impact.

5. Customer Relationship Management

Build and maintain strong relationships with client stakeholders, executives, and decision-makers.
Support customer satisfaction throughout the engagement lifecycle by ensuring alignment between proposed solutions and business needs.
Identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities within existing accounts by mapping evolving client requirements to relevant data and cloud solutions.
Understand customer pain points and act as a key point of contact for technical and strategic queries.
Strengthen long-term client relationships through proactive engagement, thought leadership, and measurable business value.

6. Metrics, Performance, and Reporting

Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with data and cloud transformation roadmaps.
Measure and communicate the progress and business impact of transformation initiatives.
Provide regular updates to client stakeholders and internal leadership on milestones, risks, dependencies, and outcomes.
Support the assessment of business value, solution effectiveness, and transformation progress.
Identify opportunities to improve engagement outcomes and refine strategic recommendations based on performance insights.

Key Success Factors

Ability to lead complex enterprise data and cloud transformation conversations at the executive level.
Strong combination of technical depth, consulting expertise, and commercial awareness.
Demonstrated success in pre-sales leadership, proposal development, and business opportunity support.
Excellent content creation and presentation capabilities.
Ability to align business strategy, technology architecture, and measurable transformation outcomes.
Strong leadership, collaboration, mentorship, and stakeholder management skills.

Must haves: Transformation, cloud migration, Modernization, Architecture, Solution Architecting

Data & Cloud Transformation Leader