Engagement Manager (AI Projects)

Role Purpose:

The Engagement Manager supports the Head of Business Partnering, DataLab in managing end-to-end strategic initiatives across AS Watson, spanning data, BI, analytics, Generative AI, and Agentic AI.
The role acts as a central integrator across Business Units, Product Ownership, BI, Data, Analytics, AI, and Technology teams, ensuring initiatives are structured into clear workstreams, well-scoped, value-driven, and executed with strong stakeholder alignment.
The Engagement Manager is accountable for translating business ambition into executable programmes, arbitrating scope, sequencing, and trade-offs, and ensuring initiatives move from design → delivery → adoption → sustainable run-mode. This is a high-exposure Manager role requiring strong judgment, influence without authority, and the ability to operate confidently at the intersection of business strategy and advanced analytics / AI.

A typical day in this Role:

• Lead end‑to‑end delivery of high‑impact AI and analytics initiatives, from problem framing through adoption and sustainable handover across AS Watson’s global business.
• Shape complex programmes into clear workstreams with defined ownership, success metrics, dependencies, and governance structures that ensure momentum and alignment.
• Partner closely with senior leaders and cross‑functional teams, acting as a trusted advisor who drives clarity, influence, and decision‑making without direct authority.
• Steer strategic trade‑offs and prioritisation, balancing business ambition with technical feasibility to ensure successful delivery of data‑ and AI‑intensive initiatives.
• Craft compelling communication and executive storytelling, including high‑stakes facilitation, decision papers, and updates for senior stakeholders across regions.
• Champion enterprise value realisation, ensuring AI and GenAI solutions are adopted, embedded into operations, and deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Bridge business and technical teams with strong AI literacy, breaking down complex GenAI and Agentic AI concepts into actionable components and promoting responsible AI use.
• Develop people and delivery capability, coaching team members, fostering a strong team culture, and contributing to building a scalable engagement model within DataLab.

This job is a good fit for You if:

• You are a COMMANDER.  You take the initiative and tend to start discussions and move groups into new areas of exploration, towards the goal.
• You are a PROBLEM SOLVER.  You make decisions based on evidence-based opinions.
• You are a CHANGE CHAMPION.  You love imagining what could be and don’t hesitate to challenge the status quo. You are good at producing original ideas and are very comfortable with ambiguity.
• You are a CONNECTOR. You forge deep relationships beyond networking or teamwork. You will find ways to avoid confrontation by employing skillful collaboration.

Success will depend on:

• Solid experience in managing complex, cross-functional programmes (e.g. data, BI, analytics or AI initiatives).
• Proven exposure to the full program lifecycle, from design and scoping to delivery and value realisation.
• Familiarity with retail business is strongly preferred (e.g. category management, trading).
• Strong global stakeholder management and facilitation skills; Able to operate effectively without direct authority, influencing across functions and regions.
• Structured problem-solving and clear communication.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-evolving environments.
• Fluent in English ; Mandarin proficiency strongly preferred (spoken and written)

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. The information provided will be treated in strict confidence and be used only for consideration of your application for relevant/ similar posts within the AS Watson Group.