Head of Global GenAI Lab

The HEINEKEN Company; Singapore; On-site; SGD 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

The HEINEKEN Company is seeking a strategic leader to head the GenAI Lab, shaping its vision and roadmap in line with our digital transformation agenda. You will manage operations, budgets, and resources while partnering with global teams to deploy GenAI across sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, and HR, driving measurable business impact and innovation.

You will collaborate with Microsoft, SAP, Databricks and other partners, aligning tech with business priorities and ensuring responsible

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in CS/DS/AI.
• Over 10 years in tech/AI with 5+ years leading AI labs.
• Proven GenAI deployment at scale from ideation to production.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive the GenAI Lab vision and roadmap aligned with digital goals.
• Oversee operations, budgets, staffing and milestone delivery.
• Lead development, deployment and scaling of GenAI solutions across business areas.
• Partner with global teams to integrate GenAI with data and infrastructure.
• Engage senior stakeholders to report progress and impact.
• Build and mentor a high-performing GenAI team.
• Advance partnerships with technology providers and academia.
• Collaborate with Global Cognitive Services and Hyperautomation teams.

Skills

Visionary leadership

Project management

Partnership management

Communication and influence

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science / Data Science / AI

Tools

OpenAI

Microsoft Azure AI

MLOps

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

• Lab Leadership & Strategy
  • Shape and drive the vision and roadmap for the GenAI Lab, ensuring alignment with Heineken's strategic digital transformation goals.
  • Manage the lab’s operations, balancing immediate project deliverables with long-term strategic initiatives.
  • Oversee budget, staffing, and resources, ensuring the team meets project milestones and delivers value to business stakeholders.
• GenAI Project Management
  • Lead the development, deployment, and scaling of GenAI solutions across key business areas such as sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, legal, HR, and within the Digital & Technology function.
  • Collaborate with global and regional teams, integrating GenAI solutions with existing data and digital infrastructure for seamless business impact.
  • Monitor and communicate project progress, challenges, and results to senior stakeholders, offering insights on scalability and areas for optimization.
• Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement
  • Cultivate partnerships with key technology providers (e.g., Microsoft, SAP, Databricks, AI Singapore, Accenture) to advance the lab's initiatives and leverage best-in-class expertise.
  • Foster a collaborative innovation ecosystem, connecting internal stakeholders, external partners, and academia to drive knowledge-sharing and GenAI advancements.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with Heineken’s Global Cognitive Services Team, Global Hyperautomation Team, and Tiger Tribe to ensure alignment on GenAI priorities and implementations.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Build and mentor a high-performing team of GenAI specialists, fostering a culture of agility, creativity, and continuous improvement.
  • Promote professional growth and a learning-oriented environment to ensure the team remains at the forefront of AI and industry developments.
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing within the lab and with broader Heineken teams to maximize the impact of GenAI solutions.
• Stakeholder & Change Management
  • Engage senior leadership with updates on GenAI initiatives, showcasing successful use cases and their impact on business value.
  • Advocate for GenAI adoption within Heineken, driving awareness and alignment with the lab’s mission to enhance efficiency, innovation, and growth.

Key Requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Data Science, or AI.
• Experience:
  • Over 10 years in technology and AI/ML, with at least 5 years leading high-impact AI or innovation labs, preferably with a focus on GenAI.
  • Proven track record of deploying GenAI solutions at scale, from ideation through to production, ensuring reliability, scalability, and security.
  • Demonstrated experience collaborating with C-suite and senior stakeholders, with strong skills in aligning technical solutions to business outcomes.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Strong understanding of GenAI frameworks, models, and ecosystems, including hands-on familiarity with tools like OpenAI, Microsoft Azure AI, or similar platforms.
  • Experience in designing and optimizing machine learning pipelines, model lifecycle management, and MLOps practices for efficient and scalable AI deployment.
  • Knowledge of data management best practices, data privacy, and ethical considerations in AI, with a focus on responsible AI principles.
  • Competence in areas such as NLP, computer vision, and large language models (LLMs) to inform decision-making on GenAI applications and architecture.
• Skills:
  • Visionary leadership with the ability to set and communicate a clear strategic direction for the lab.
  • Exceptional project management, organizational, and people leadership skills, with a focus on developing and motivating high-performance teams.
  • Strong partnership management skills to effectively collaborate with external providers and maximize the value of strategic alliances.
  • Excellent communication and influence skills, adept at translating complex technical concepts into actionable business insights for stakeholders at all levels.