Cloud Data Operations Lead

WPP is a creative transformation company that utilizes the power of creativity to create better futures for its people, planet, clients, and communities. Joining WPP means becoming part of a global network of over 100,000 talented individuals dedicated to delivering exceptional work for clients worldwide. With operations in more than 100 countries and headquarters in New York, London, and Singapore, WPP is a prominent player in marketing services, boasting deep AI, data, and technology capabilities, as well as unparalleled creative talent. A significant portion of the Fortune Global 500 companies are among our clients. Our people are fundamental to our success. We are committed to cultivating a culture of creativity, inclusivity, and continuous learning, attracting and nurturing the brightest talents, and offering exciting career prospects that facilitate personal growth. At WPP, technology is central to our operations, and WPP IT is on a mission to empower everyone to collaborate, create, and thrive. The IT division of WPP is currently undergoing a substantial transformation to modernize work processes, transition to cloud and micro-service-based architectures, promote automation, digitalize colleague and client experiences, and extract insights from WPP's extensive data resources. WPP Media, a leading media investment company globally, is responsible for managing over $63 billion in annual media investments through agencies such as Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence, m/SIX, Xaxis, and Choreograph. The WPP Media IT team within WPP IT serves as the technology solutions partner for the agencies under WPP Media, overseeing end-to-end change delivery, managing the technology life cycle, and driving innovation. We are currently seeking a proficient Data Operations Lead to lead our newly established Data Integration & Operations team in Chennai. In this role, you will be responsible for defining operational strategies and overseeing day-to-day delivery. The team, part of the global Data & Measure function, focuses on ensuring the efficient, reliable, and consistent operation of our data products across various platforms and markets. Your responsibilities will include: - Taking technical ownership and leading a team responsible for data integration, ingestion, orchestration, and platform operations. - Establishing and managing automated data pipelines using tools such as Azure Data Factory, GCP Dataflow/Composer, or equivalent. - Implementing platform-wide monitoring, logging, and alerting mechanisms. - Managing cloud environments, including security, access control, and deployment automation. - Developing standard operating procedures, runbooks, onboarding guides, and automation patterns. - Ensuring scalable and repeatable practices across all supported data products. - Defining deployment frameworks and templates for integration. - Setting up SLAs, incident workflows, and escalation models. - Proactively identifying and addressing operational risks in cloud-based data platforms. - Collaborating with development and product teams to facilitate the smooth transition from development to operations. - Mentoring and leading a growing team in Chennai, shaping the team's operating model, priorities, and capabilities, and serving as a subject matter expert and escalation point for technical operations. Required Skills: - 7+ years of experience in data operations, platform engineering, or data engineering. - Proficiency in Azure and/or GCP environments. - Strong understanding of cloud-native data pipelines, architecture, and security. - Skills in orchestration (e.g., ADF, Dataflow, Airflow), scripting (Python, Bash), and SQL. - Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD, and infrastructure-as-code. - Demonstrated experience in managing production data platforms and support. - Ability to design operational frameworks from scratch. - Experience in leading technical teams, including task prioritization, mentoring, and delivery oversight. Preferred Skills: - Experience with tools like dbt, Azure Synapse, BigQuery, Databricks, etc. - Exposure to BI environments (e.g., Power BI, Looker). - Familiarity with global support models and tiered ticket handling. - Experience in documentation, enablement, and internal tooling. If you embody openness, optimism, and a drive for excellence, WPP offers: - A culture that promotes inclusivity, collaboration, and the exchange of diverse ideas. - Opportunities to utilize creativity, technology, and talent to create brighter futures for people, clients, and communities. - Challenging and stimulating work that encourages creative problem-solving. - A hybrid work model that fosters creativity, collaboration, and connection, with teams in the office around four days a week. Accommodations and flexibility can be discussed with the hiring team during the interview process. WPP is committed to being an equal opportunity employer, considering all applicants without discrimination. We strive to create a culture of respect, inclusivity, and equal opportunities for career advancement for all individuals. For more information on how we process your information, please refer to our Privacy Notice.,