Leading at Cognizant

This is a Leadership role at Cognizant. We believe how you lead is as important as what you deliver. Cognizant leaders at every level: Drive our business strategy and inspire teams around our future. Live the leadership behaviors, leading themselves, others and the business. Uphold our Values, role modeling them in every action and decision. Nurture our people and culture, creating a workplace where all can thrive.

At Cognizant, leadership transcends titles and is embodied in actions and behaviors. We empower our leaders at every level to drive business strategy, inspire teams, uphold our values, and foster an inclusive culture.

About the role

As a Director - Marketing & Communications, you will make an impact by shaping and amplifying the market narrative for Cognizant’s Intuitive Operations and Automation (IOA) practice across marketing, executive communications, and people communications. You will be a valued member of the IOA team and work collaboratively with IOA business leaders, global corporate marketing and communications teams, sales, solutioning, delivery, client-facing teams, analysts, agencies, and regional stakeholders.

In this role, you will:

• Define and own the end-to-end IOA messaging and positioning strategy, including differentiated AI, automation, and agentic AI narratives for clients, analysts, employees, and internal stakeholders.

• Drive an always-on, multi-channel marketing presence across the IOA website, social media, practice decks, campaigns, events, digital platforms, and sales enablement assets.

• Build a robust case study and proof-point library by partnering with delivery teams, client partners, and service line specialists to translate client impact into compelling market-facing stories.

• Partner with sales and solutioning teams on strategic pursuits by developing bespoke narratives, tailored presentations, credentials decks, competitive battlecards, capability briefs, and RFP content.

• Lead IOA’s annual marketing strategy, roadmap, performance rhythm, analyst recognition communications, regional marketing support, executive communications, and people communications.

• Consistently demonstrate the Cognizant Way to Lead, which means operating with Personal Leadership (building trust, collaboration, and inclusion), Organizational Leadership (driving vision and purpose, demonstrating a strategic and enterprise mindset, and creating and communicating a bold direction that inspires purpose), and Business Leadership (exemplifying client focus, managing ambiguity with accountability and results, and operating with financial acumen).

What you need to have to be considered

• 15+ years of progressive experience in marketing and/or communications, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.

• Deep understanding of technology, particularly AI, automation, and digital transformation in the BPS, IT services, or professional services industry.

• Proven track record of building and leading integrated marketing and communications functions within a global services or technology organization.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with strong storytelling capability for C-suite audiences, employees, clients, analysts, and internal stakeholders.

• Strong executive presence and stakeholder influence, with the ability to counsel senior leaders and operate effectively in a complex, matrixed global environment.

• Experience leading and developing high-performing, cross-functional teams while managing multiple priorities with strong project management discipline.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field; an MBA or equivalent advanced degree is strongly preferred.

• Embodiment of the Cognizant Way to Lead: Leading Self, Leading Others, & Leading the Business.

• The embodiment of Cognizant’s Values of: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do The Right Thing, & Own It.

These will help you succeed

• Experience in the BPS industry, especially within AI-powered operations, business process automation, or digital transformation services.

• Experience working with analyst firms such as Everest, HFS, Gartner, or IDC to support market visibility and recognition initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to build scalable editorial workflows, case study engines, reusable sales enablement assets, and thought leadership programs.

• Experience adapting global marketing strategies for regional markets while maintaining brand consistency and local relevance.

• Ability to work with creative, digital, design, and agency partners to produce high-quality visuals, multimedia, video, interactive content, and digital experiences.

Work model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3-4 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in India. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.