Job description

Cognizant is looking for an experienced Cloud & Infrastructure Program Director to lead a large‑scale Application and Infrastructure Managed Services program for a strategic enterprise client. This role is accountable for end‑to‑end service delivery, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction across a complex, multi‑tower environment. The Program Manager will be stationed onsite and act as the single point of ownership for governance, delivery performance, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring consistent outcomes and long‑term value realisation. Responsibilities • Provide end‑to‑end leadership for a large Application and Infrastructure Managed Services engagement covering application support, infrastructure operations, platform services, and 24×7 operations • Establish and operate a robust governance model including weekly, monthly, and quarterly service reviews with senior customer stakeholders • Ensure SLAs and OLAs are consistently met, drive operational KPIs, and lead continuous service improvement initiatives • Coordinate seamlessly across multi‑tower teams including Applications, Infrastructure, Cloud, Network, Security, and Service Desk • Act as the primary onsite point of contact for customer leadership, managing communications, expectations, and escalations • Translate customer business priorities into actionable delivery plans and execution roadmaps • Oversee incident, problem, and change management processes to ensure service stability and risk mitigation • Drive root cause analysis, preventive actions, and operational risk management initiatives • Ensure compliance with customer processes, security standards, contractual obligations, and audit requirements • Lead and mentor a large cross‑functional delivery organisation, driving accountability and high performance • Support workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, and overall team capability development • Own program financials including P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimisation • Ensure contract compliance, SOW governance, and effective change order management • Identify opportunities for growth, transformation, automation, and long‑term value creation • Partner with customer teams to define and execute a multi‑year transformation and modernisation roadmap Required Skills/Qualifications • 16–20+ years of overall IT experience with a minimum of 5+ years managing large‑scale managed services programs • Strong expertise in Application Support, Infrastructure Operations, Cloud services, and ITIL‑based service management • Proven experience leading large, global 24×7 delivery teams across multiple service towers • Demonstrated ability in delivery governance, service operations, and performance management • Excellent executive communication, stakeholder management, and customer‑facing leadership skills • Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities • Experience working onsite with enterprise customers • Proven experience managing program financials, contracts, and service delivery engagements Preferred Qualifications/Skills • Experience working in the technology or telecommunications domain • Professional certifications such as PMP, ITIL, Scrum Master, or relevant Cloud certifications Salary and Other Compensation: The annual salary for this position is between $180,000 to $195,000+ depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans. Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: • Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance • Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off • 401(k) plan and contributions • Long‑term/Short‑term Disability • Paid Parental Leave • Employee Stock Purchase Plan Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law. #LI-FA1 About Cognizant: Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap 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, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant. Additional employment information Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law. Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview. Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email CareersNA2@cognizant.com for roles based in the Americas or CareersIndia2@cognizant.com for roles based in India.

Requirements

Must-haves

Provide end‑to‑end leadership for a large Application and Infrastructure Managed Services engagement covering application support, infrastructure operations, platform services, and 24×7 operations
Establish and operate a robust governance model including weekly, monthly, and quarterly service reviews with senior customer stakeholders
Ensure SLAs and OLAs are consistently met, drive operational KPIs, and lead continuous service improvement initiatives
Coordinate seamlessly across multi‑tower teams including Applications, Infrastructure, Cloud, Network, Security, and Service Desk
Act as the primary onsite point of contact for customer leadership, managing communications, expectations, and escalations
Translate customer business priorities into actionable delivery plans and execution roadmaps
Oversee incident, problem, and change management processes to ensure service stability and risk mitigation
Drive root cause analysis, preventive actions, and operational risk management initiatives
Ensure compliance with customer processes, security standards, contractual obligations, and audit requirements
Lead and mentor a large cross‑functional delivery organisation, driving accountability and high performance
Support workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, and overall team capability development
Own program financials including P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimisation
Ensure contract compliance, SOW governance, and effective change order management
Identify opportunities for growth, transformation, automation, and long‑term value creation
Partner with customer teams to define and execute a multi‑year transformation and modernisation roadmap
Required Skills/Qualifications
16–20+ years of overall IT experience with a minimum of 5+ years managing large‑scale managed services programs
Strong expertise in Application Support, Infrastructure Operations, Cloud services, and ITIL‑based service management
Proven experience leading large, global 24×7 delivery teams across multiple service towers
Demonstrated ability in delivery governance, service operations, and performance management
Excellent executive communication, stakeholder management, and customer‑facing leadership skills
Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities
Experience working onsite with enterprise customers

Nice-to-haves

Preferred Qualifications/Skills

Application prep

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Keywords to mirror

scrumai

Platform: cognizant
Effort: medium

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

401(K)

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave