General Manager - Product Lead, IoT Application and Platform

GM-Product Lead-Application & Platform

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

 

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. At VIL, we know that diversity makes us stronger. We are committed to a collaborative, inclusive environment that encourages authenticity and fosters a sense of belonging. We strive for everyone to feel valued, connected and empowered to reach their potential and contribute their best.

 

VIL's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our Values of Passion, Boldness, Trust, Speed and Digital. Consequently, our recruiting efforts are directed towards attracting and retaining best and brightest talents. Our endeavour is to be First Choice for prospective employees.

 

VIL ensures equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, colour, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

VIL is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce.

 

 

Role

Product Head – IOT & Platform

Job Level/ Designation

GM/M3

Function / Department

VIBS - IOT Business

Location

Mumbai

Job Purpose

Role purpose:

• Lead the end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) lifecycle, from initial ideation to commercial launch, for next-generation IoT platforms and solutions spanning Connected Cars, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and Industry 4.0.
• Direct a dedicated team of 4-5 product professionals to architect, build, and scale core platform capabilities across Connectivity Management Platforms (CMP), Device Management Platforms (DMS), and Application Enablement Platforms (AEP).
• Serve as the organizational Center of Excellence (CoE) for scalable IoT architectures, translating evolving enterprise needs into innovative, revenue-generating digital propositions.
• Drive cross-functional execution with Network, IT, Legal, Finance, and Vodafone Group teams to ensure swift, compliant, and time-bound product rollouts.

Key Result Areas/Accountabilities

• NPD Execution & Lifecycle Management: Formulate the long-term innovation roadmap and spearhead the complete execution of new products. Establish robust development gates for Connected Vehicles, Smart Utilities (AMI), and Remote Asset Monitoring.
• Platform & Capability Roadmap: Architect and manage cellular IoT monetization layers by leveraging advanced CMP capabilities, secure DMP frameworks, and feature-rich AEP architectures to host diverse vertical use cases.
• Revenue & Commercial Ownership: Analyze market trends and cost dynamics in India to launch high-margin propositions. Create detailed budget plans, CapEx/OpEx business cases, and retain ultimate accountability for portfolio revenue.
• Pre-Sales & Deal Conversion: Actively champion high-value sales pursuits, RFPs, and RFXs. Partner with the domain consulting and account management teams to convert strategic pipeline opportunities.
• Pilots & SLA Delivery: Design, deploy, and monitor complex customer Proof of Concepts (POCs) and pilots. Ensure all deployed solutions adhere to rigorous data security frameworks and stringent enterprise Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

Core Competencies, Knowledge, Experience

• NPD Framework Mastery: Proven expertise managing product engineering lifecycle frameworks, agile scrum development pipelines, and cross-functional technology integrations.
• Deep Platform Architecture Expertise: Thorough understanding of multi-tier IoT stacks, specifically Connectivity Management (CMP), Device Management (DMP), and Application Enablement (AEP) frameworks.
• Vertical Domain Authority: Proven exposure designing use cases in Connected Cars (telematics, infotainment, V2X), AMI (smart metering, head-end systems), and Industry 4.0 (predictive maintenance, smart manufacturing).
• Commercial Acumen: Deep understanding of the Indian IoT enterprise landscape, hardware/connectivity cost components, and cloud pricing models to build profitable architectures.
• Technical Versatility: Comprehensive understanding of IoT interdependencies across hardware modules, eSIM/cellular profiles, edge gateway logic, and cloud integrations.

Must have technical / professional qualifications

• Engineering Graduate / Post Graduate in Electronics, Electronics & Telecommunications, Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering. MBA or equivalent business degree is a strong advantage.

Years of Experience

• 10 -15 years of core industry experience with strong exposure to product development, pre-sales engineering, or solution selling within the enterprise IoT, Telecom, or Automation sectors.
• Strong track record of leading development teams or handling people management responsibilities within product development labs.
• Hands-on experience scaling solutions on industry-leading IoT platforms (e.g., PTC ThingWorx, Siemens MindSphere, AWS IoT Core, Azure IoT Central).
• Proven track record of executing structured GTM strategies and partner alliances across the utility, automotive, or heavy asset manufacturing ecosystems.

Industries to look from

Telecom & Platform Giants: Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea competitors, global telco IoT divisions.

• System Integrators (Digital Practice): TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra, HCL.

• Industrial Automation & Utility OEM Players: Siemens, Schneider Electric, GE T&D, Hitachi Energy, Honeywell, ABB, L&T.

• Connected Car / Automotive Tech Centers: Bosch, Continental, KPIT, Harman, automotive OEM digital wings.

Direct reports

2-4

 

Vodafone Idea Limited (formerly Idea Cellular Limited)
An Aditya Birla Group & Vodafone partnership

Experience Level

Senior Level