Director - Real Estate Contracts Governance & Project Contracting (GWS)

Director – Real Estate Contracts Governance & Project Contracting (GWS)

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 - Contracts Governance & Project Contracting (GWS), you will make an impact by providing end-to-end leadership for contract management, commercial governance and program contracting across the Global Workplace Services portfolio in India and APAC. You will be a valued member of the Global Workplace Services team and work collaboratively with Legal, Finance, Procurement and cross-functional workplace services stakeholders to strengthen governance, compliance, cost efficiency and service excellence across integrated workplace services.

In This Role, You Will

• Own and govern the full contract lifecycle for Corporate Real Estate and Global Workplace Services across India and APAC, including renewals, amendments, CCRs, commercial negotiations and risk mitigation activities.
• Establish and enforce governance, compliance and audit frameworks aligned with internal policies, statutory requirements and contract integrity standards.
• Lead Workplace Experience solutions across India and APAC by defining service standards, experience frameworks and continuous improvement initiatives that support culture, productivity, wellbeing and employee engagement objectives.
• Govern large-scale GWS programs, transformation initiatives, cost-plus/evolving commercial contract models, workforce and operational realignment, vendor KPI frameworks and emerging programs with clear scope and executive visibility.
• Provide governance oversight across Facilities Management, Transport, Food & Beverage, EHS and Sustainability services while driving cross-region, cross-vendor alignment, cost optimization, vendor scorecards and performance improvement plans.
• 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

• Bachelor’s degree in business management or a related field.
• 20+ years of experience in Corporate Real Estate, Workplace Services or Facilities Leadership.
• Strong experience in contract lifecycle governance, commercial governance, program contracting, renewals, amendments, commercial negotiations and risk mitigation.
• Demonstrated ability to establish governance, compliance and audit frameworks aligned with internal policies, statutory requirements and regulatory expectations.
• Proven ability to partner effectively with Legal, Finance and Procurement to ensure contract integrity, financial controls and regulatory compliance.
• Experience governing budgets, KPIs, contracts, vendor performance, multi-site operations and multi-country workplace services portfolios across India and APAC.
• Embodiment of the Cognizant Way to Lead: Leading Self, Leading Others and Leading the Business.
• Embodiment of Cognizant’s Values: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do the Right Thing and Own It.
  
  

These will help you succeed

• Advanced degree in business management or a related field.
• Experience governing digital workplace and IWMS-enabled transformation programs.
• Experience leading change management related to outsourcing, vendor transitions and operating model changes.
• Exposure to Workplace Experience solutions and integrated services across Facilities Management, Transport, Food & Beverage, EHS and Sustainability.
• Experience driving cost optimization while maintaining service quality, business continuity and compliance.
  
  

Work model

At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible, and we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs. Based on this role’s business requirements, this role is based in Chennai, India, supporting the Global Workplace Services portfolio across India and APAC.

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.