Data & AI - Manager

• 5+ years of experience in data engineering, data science, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence / machine learning, business intelligence, data transformation, analytics consulting, technology consulting, and/or a closely related Data & AI discipline, including meaningful client-facing or executive-stakeholder delivery experience.
• Experience leading Data & AI, analytics, automation, data engineering, or technology workstreams and delivering business solutions from requirements and solution design through implementation and client adoption.
• Demonstrated professional experience working with clients, businesses, or stakeholders in either Japan or India, including an understanding of the relevant business environment, stakeholder expectations, relationship-building practices, and local market context.

What sets you apart:

• Strong current hands-on expertise in at least one core discipline — artificial intelligence engineering, data-platform engineering, or advanced analytics and modeling — combined with enough breadth to lead specialists and make sound architectural, delivery, and commercial decisions across adjacent disciplines.
• Experience designing and delivering production generative-AI or agentic-AI solutions, including agentic workflows, multi-agent systems, tool use, function calling, enterprise-system integration, retrieval-augmented generation, embedding and vector-search approaches, prompt management, and production security considerations.
• Experience evaluating and selecting large language models or other foundation models for production use based on capability, quality, cost, latency, throughput, context requirements, security, and data-residency constraints.
• Experience with leading commercial and open-weight model ecosystems, such as OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Meta Llama, Mistral, DeepSeek, Qwen, or comparable current technologies.
• Experience with AI orchestration and application frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, LlamaIndex, CrewAI, AutoGen / Microsoft Agent Framework, Semantic Kernel, or comparable technologies.
• Experience implementing retrieval-augmented generation solutions using embedding models, vector databases or search services, hybrid search, relational vector extensions, and effective chunking and retrieval strategies.
• Experience with AI governance, evaluation, and observability, including model evaluation, output monitoring, explainability, fairness, model-risk assessment, data lineage, model registries, or data contracts.
• Experience with AI evaluation and observability technologies such as MLflow, RAGAS, DeepEval, LangSmith, Arize Phoenix, Evidently AI, SHAP, LIME, or comparable approaches and platforms.
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform — Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform — and associated AI, machine learning, data, or analytics capabilities.
• Experience with managed AI platforms such as Azure OpenAI Service, Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, or comparable enterprise AI services.
• Understanding of self-hosted or private-model inference approaches relevant to regulated or data-residency-sensitive environments, including technologies such as vLLM, Ollama, SGLang, or similar deployment frameworks.
• Experience designing, building, or leading data pipelines, data integration, transformation, data modeling, warehousing, or modern data-platform initiatives.
• Experience with cloud data and analytics platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, or comparable technologies.
• Experience programming with Python, SQL, R, or another language commonly used for data engineering, analytics, machine learning, or AI solution development.
• Experience leading business intelligence, reporting, workflow automation, ETL, or intelligent process automation initiatives using technologies such as Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, UiPath, Microsoft Power Platform, or comparable platforms.
• Experience translating complex technical solutions into clear business cases, recommendations, and executive-level communications.
• A demonstrated track record of originating or co-originating client opportunities, including generating leads, identifying client needs, shaping the business case and scope, contributing to proposals and executive presentations, and helping convert opportunities into engagements.
• Experience expanding existing client relationships beyond an initial engagement through strong delivery, trusted-advisor relationships, cross-selling, or identification of additional client needs.
• Experience building and maintaining senior client relationships in Japan and/or India, including relationships with senior finance, technology, data, operations, or business leaders. CFO, CTO, CIO, CDO, or comparable executive exposure is particularly valuable.
• An existing alliance, technology-partner, or professional network within Japan, India, or the broader APAC market.
• Experience leading project teams, mentoring junior professionals, reviewing technical work, and serving as a primary point of contact for senior client stakeholders.
• Practical knowledge of responsible AI, data privacy, model risk, governance, security, explainability, and auditability within a regulated or enterprise environment.
• For candidates with Japan experience, familiarity with Japanese business practices and stakeholder-management approaches, including consensus-building and approval processes, as well as relevant data-privacy and AI-governance considerations such as APPI, PPC guidance, and Japan’s evolving AI-governance framework.
• For candidates with India experience, familiarity with Indian business practices and stakeholder-management approaches, as well as relevant data-protection and AI-governance considerations such as the Digital Personal Data Protection framework and applicable RBI, SEBI, or other regulatory requirements when serving regulated clients.
• Business-level Japanese language proficiency for professionals focused on Japanese-language client accounts. Professional working English is expected for internal and regional communication.
• Hindi or another relevant Indian regional language, such as Kannada, Marathi, or Tamil, where it supports targeted client relationships in India.
• Experience supporting the Office of the CFO, including finance, financial close and reporting, controllership, FP&A, controls, risk, tax, or other finance-transformation workflows.
• Experience delivering AI, analytics, automation, or data solutions into highly governed environments such as financial reporting, controls, risk management, regulated financial services, or other audit-sensitive business processes.
• Healthcare and life sciences experience. The practice serves clients across sectors, including financial services, healthcare and life sciences, technology, manufacturing, energy, and consumer markets, so industry specialization is not required.
• Experience managing enterprise reporting environments, large-scale data-modernization programs, digital-transformation initiatives, or AI-enabled managed services.
• Experience working across multiple APAC markets or supporting cross-border clients and regional headquarters.
• A Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, Information Systems, Finance, Accounting, or another related quantitative or business discipline.
• Relevant cloud, data, analytics, AI, project-management, or professional certifications.

Who thrives here:

• A hands-on practitioner who remains technically current while being comfortable leading client teams and specialists.
• A strong communicator who can move easily between engineers, data professionals, finance leaders, operational stakeholders, and executive buyers.
• Commercially minded and comfortable identifying opportunities, building relationships, and helping grow accounts rather than waiting for engagements to be assigned.
• Able to translate complex technical topics into practical business outcomes and measurable client value.
• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated, adaptable, ethical, and dependable.
• Comfortable operating in an evolving, fast-growth environment where the Data & AI practice is continuing to build its capabilities, client base, and regional presence.
• Effective at leading teams, developing junior professionals, and creating a collaborative environment across countries and disciplines.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, client demands, and workstreams while maintaining a high standard of delivery.
• High energy with a commitment to exceptional client service.

Why CFGI:

This role offers a rare combination of hands-on delivery leadership and a genuine commercial mandate within a fast-growing Data & AI practice, backed by a global firm with an established Data & Analytics capability and AI-enabled managed-services platform.

You will have exposure to the full commercial and delivery lifecycle — from the first executive conversation, through opportunity qualification and solution design, to signed engagement, governed implementation, and long-term client expansion.

The work spans sectors and the full Data & AI lifecycle, from strategy and readiness through architecture, governed build, automation, analytics, artificial intelligence, and managed operation.

CFGI’s entrepreneurial model gives Managers meaningful client ownership, visibility with senior leadership, and the opportunity to help shape the growth of the Data & AI practice across APAC. As the practice scales, professionals who combine strong delivery, technical credibility, client relationships, and business-development success will be well positioned for continued progression within the firm.