Director, Data Engineering

The Director (M4) provides strategic leadership across multiple teams or disciplines within a business unit, integrating operations, shaping long‑range plans, and ensuring execution against organizational goals. This role develops and implements functional or geographic strategies, directs cross‑functional teams, and deploys resources to meet evolving business needs. It oversees major initiatives, operational plans, and budgets, ensuring alignment with enterprise strategy, regulatory expectations, and performance objectives. The Director manages complex conflicts, leads succession planning, and develops high‑potential leaders through targeted coaching and mentorship. 

Serving as a senior advisor, the Director influences decision‑making across the enterprise and partners with Sr. Directors, VPs, and business leaders to drive integrated strategic outcomes. The role strengthens governance, enhances workflows, and champions continuous improvement across operations. It manages external vendors and partners, oversees performance appraisals and compensation decisions, and ensures teams are structured, resourced, and aligned to deliver high‑quality, scalable results that advance McKesson’s long‑term objectives. 

 Key Responsibilities:  

• Direct development and execution of functional strategies, aligning departmental priorities with enterprise business goals. 

• Lead cross‑functional planning and implementation of programs, tools, and technologies that enhance operational effectiveness. 

• Oversee integrated project portfolios, collaborating with Sr. Managers and Directors to ensure consistent delivery and risk mitigation. 

• Provide leadership for governance activities, shaping standards, performance measures, and compliance expectations across the function. 

• Optimize processes, operations, and service performance through continuous improvement, analytics, and data‑driven decision‑making. 

• Manage budgets, forecasts, and investment priorities; drive year‑over‑year cost improvements and financial stewardship. 

• Oversee vendor strategy, contract alignment, and service‑level performance, serving as relationship owner when required. 

• Lead organizational planning, workforce design, talent development, and succession planning across multiple teams. 

• Provide change‑leadership guidance, ensuring communication, resource readiness, and adoption of transformation initiatives. 

• Serve as a thought leader by analyzing trends, developing strategic recommendations, and advising senior leadership on emerging opportunities. 

Minimum Job Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities):  

• Advanced knowledge of functional operations, program management, governance, and strategic planning for large‑scale enterprise environments. 

• Strong understanding of financial management, operational controls, and performance measurement frameworks. 

• Ability to lead multi‑team delivery portfolios and consult as a senior adviser to executives, peer Directors, and cross‑functional leaders. 

• Expertise in change leadership, organizational design, and workforce strategy. 

• Advanced communication and executive‑level storytelling skills for presenting insights, recommendations, and strategic direction. 

• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority, build partnerships, and align diverse stakeholders toward shared goals. 

• Strategic and analytical thinking skills to evaluate complex business challenges and guide long‑term planning. 

• Experience managing vendor ecosystems, contract negotiations, and service‑level performance. 

• Behavioral proficiency at Director level: Change Advocate (Advanced), Customer & Business Driven (Role Model), Collaboration & Partnership (Role Model), Decision Making (Advanced), Influencing Others (Advanced), Innovative Thinking (Advanced), Oral & Written Communication (Role Model), Servant Leadership (Advanced). 

• Ability to drive innovation, enterprise‑wide process improvements, and organizational transformation initiatives. 

Critical Experience (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities):

• Azure Data Platform Mastery - Deep expertise across Azure services (Data Factory, Synapse, ADLS, Event Hubs, Cosmos DB, etc.)

• Databricks & Lakehouse Engineering - proficiency in Databricks (Delta Lake, MLflow, streaming/batch unification)

• Modern Data Architecture (Structured + Unstructured)

• Distributed Data Processing & Engineering Languages - Hands-on expertise in Python, Scala, SQL, and Spark-based processing, combined with infrastructure-as-code practices to drive scalable, automated pipelines.

• Enterprise Data Product & Semantic Layer Engineering

 Business Experience:  

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; typically 12+ years of professional experience with 4+ years of management responsibility. 

• Experience directing operations across multiple teams or disciplines and delivering complex, cross‑functional initiatives. 

• Deep exposure to strategic planning, governance structures, financial oversight, and enterprise program execution. 

• Proven ability to manage senior‑level stakeholders, guide organizational change, and develop leadership talent pipelines at scale.