Global Service Management Lead (Associate Director)

Grant Thornton•New York, NY

5d•$152,000 - $230,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Grant Thornton is seeking a Global Service Management Lead (Associate Director) to join the team. The Global Service Management Lead (Associate Director) is accountable for defining and executing a unified, enterprise-wide IT Service Management (ITSM) strategy that enables consistent, scalable, and high-quality service delivery across a rapidly expanding global organization. This role serves as the central authority for ITSM governance, driving standardization, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across all regions. As the organization scales internationally, this position is critical to aligning global service delivery with business priorities while maintaining a seamless and customer-centric support experience. The Global Service Management Lead will oversee the strategy, launch, and ongoing optimization of a follow-the-sun Global Service Desk model spanning India, Poland, and Latin America, ensuring consistency in processes, performance, and outcomes. This leader will also own the strategic evolution of ServiceNow, with a strong emphasis on Incident and Request Management transformation, automation, and data-driven insights, to improve efficiency, transparency, and user experience.

Requirements

10+ years of ITSM / IT Operations experience, including 5+ years in global leadership roles.
Proven experience leading enterprise ITSM transformations, particularly within ServiceNow ecosystems.
Deep expertise in Incident and Request Management optimization, including automation and reporting.
Strong understanding of ITIL (v3/v4) and applying it pragmatically in fast-scaling environments.
Experience leading or governing multi-region / global service desk operations.
Demonstrated success in driving large-scale process and operational improvements.
Strong executive communication skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field (or equivalent experience).
ITIL certification required; advanced certification preferred.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to AI-driven service operations and automation is a plus.

Responsibilities

Define and govern a global ITSM framework spanning Incident, Request, Problem, and Knowledge Management aligned to ITIL best practices.
Establish enterprise-wide standards, controls, and policies to ensure consistency and scalability across regions.
Own ITSM maturity roadmap, driving standardization, adoption, and measurable improvement.
Implement and enforce SLAs, OLAs, and KPIs to ensure accountability and service quality.
Lead the strategic evolution of ServiceNow as the system of record for global IT service management.
Drive transformation of Incident and Request Management through workflow optimization, automation, and AI-driven capabilities.
Partner with engineering and platform teams to design, test, and scale solutions that improve operational efficiency.
Enhance reporting, analytics, and dashboards to provide real-time visibility into service performance and trends.
Provide governance and oversight for a multi-region Global Service Desk operating across India, Poland, and LATAM.
Define and operationalize a follow-the-sun delivery model, ensuring 24/7 seamless support coverage.
Establish a standardized operating model for regional delivery pods aligned to global ITSM frameworks.
Drive improvements in first contact resolution, response times, and customer satisfaction (CSAT).
Foster strong alignment and collaboration across regional leadership teams.
Champion automation-first and shift-left strategies to reduce volume and improve service efficiency.
Leverage data and analytics to identify trends, eliminate recurring issues, and drive proactive problem management.
Deliver executive-level reporting and insights on service performance, risks, and improvement initiatives.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance global service consistency and operational efficiency.
Act as the global voice of the customer, ensuring IT services evolve with business needs.
Partner with business and IT leaders to align service delivery with organizational priorities.
Provide strategic recommendations on ITSM processes, tooling, and support models.
Ensure seamless cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, InfoSec, HR, and Facilities for end-to-end service delivery.
Lead and develop globally distributed ITSM and Service Desk teams, fostering a culture of accountability and service excellence.
Provide clear governance, coaching, and performance management aligned to global standards.
Balance centralized process ownership with regional execution excellence.
Collaborate with senior IT leadership to ensure cohesive global operations strategy.