Tech-Innovation Manager

Job Description:

The Tech Innovation Manager is the technical and architectural leader responsible for identifying, shaping, and delivering the next generation of BI and AI capabilities for Global Business Intelligence. This role sits at the intersection of data architecture, machine learning engineering, and platform strategy. It combines deep technical expertise with innovation leadership to advance how Ecolab delivers insights to its internal stakeholders.

This person provides architectural direction, accelerates adoption of new technologies, leads teams that are building conversational agents and BI-integrated applications. The tech innovation manager is the leader of an enabling team.

This person defines patterns, elevates technical talent, and ensures BI’s technical tooling evolves in alignment with enterprise data and technology strategies.

This is a technical leadership role that guides BI Architects, ML Engineers, and Developers while collaborating heavily with Data Strategy and Engineering, Enterprise Technology, and Global Business Intelligence to bring new capabilities to life.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Enablement and Architecture Leadership

• Define patterns for ML operationalization, semantic layer strategy, conversational AI integration, monitoring frameworks, and CI/CD modernization.
• Create reusable accelerators, templates, and frameworks to speed development across Global BI.
• Ensure solutions meet enterprise expectations for reliability, observability, and lifecycle management.

Platform And BI Integration

• Oversee engineering work that embeds BI assets directly into CRM systems or line-of-business tools.
• Guide cross-functional teams through architectural design, data integration patterns, and API/automation opportunities.
• Serve as technical liaison between BI developers and platform teams (DIAS, cloud engineering, security).

Oversight of Technical Innovation Pipeline

• Lead teams building conversational AI agents, advanced BI–CRM integrations, and new user experiences for consuming insights.
• Develop MVPs and reference architectures that accelerate adoption of emerging tools and methods.
• Evaluate new technologies for suitability, scalability, security, and alignment with business value.

Team Leadership & People Development

• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of principal insights engineers (BI Architects or ML Engineers) with direct reporting lines.
• Provide dotted-line guidance to BI Developers, Data Scientists, or Data Engineers who are committed to working with our teams.
• Build a team that prioritizes curiosity, business understanding, and accountability.
• Coach BI Developers towards best practices through direct enabling work.
• Mentor and uplift technical practitioners across Global BI, providing guidance on modern methods in ML engineering, architecture, and advanced BI patterns.
• Encourage a culture of experimentation, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
• Promote adoption of governance, security, and development standards through practical enablement, not just documentation.

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in Data or BI architecture, ML engineering, Data Engineering, or adjacent technical fields. Including 5+ years leading technical teams or architect communities.
• Demonstrated experience designing and leading delivery of advanced BI, ML, or data platform capabilities.
• Strong hands-on technical expertise in:
• ML/AI operationalization or conversational agent development
• Semantic layer design and complex data modeling
• Cloud-based analytics platforms
• Proven ability to set architectural direction and influence stakeholders across multiple technical teams.
• Strong communication skills; able to translate complex concepts into actionable guidance for technical and business audiences.
• Experience with governance, security, and lifecycle management of data/analytics systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with enterprise systems such as SAP, CRM, Dynamics (CRM)
• Data Visualization Experience (PowerBI)
• Experience with Snowflake, Snowpark/Cortex, or Databricks.
• Prior leadership experience in a global or matrixed environment