Head of Business Platforms (Enterprise Applications & AI)
About The Position
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a senior technology leader to own the strategy, architecture, and evolution of enterprise business platforms across People, Finance, Procurement, and Legal. The role will serve as a trusted strategic partner to executive leadership, translating business priorities into scalable technology solutions and leading the transition toward integrated, AI-enabled business operations. The position is accountable for the long-term vision and successful execution of the Business Platforms strategy. It oversees the architecture, implementation, operations, and continuous improvement of core enterprise applications, and leads a small, globally distributed team. The role emphasizes standardization, simplicity, automation, and use of native platform capabilities to reduce customization and technical debt while improving employee experience and business outcomes. The role reports to the Head of Enterprise IT and is based in the Palo Alto, California office, with three days per week onsite.
Requirements
- 10 or more years of experience in technology, including significant experience building or running business platforms with small teams, not only in large organizations.
- Experience building or significantly transforming a business technology function, including establishing capabilities, operating models, architecture, and teams in a rapidly evolving or resource-constrained environment.
- Ability to independently develop a technology vision and translate it into actionable roadmaps, architectural decisions, and successfully delivered solutions.
- Deep technical and architectural understanding of enterprise platforms, including ERP, HRIS, APIs, integrations, data architecture, and modern application ecosystems.
- Hands-on experience with complex enterprise technology implementations and ability to critically challenge solution designs, vendor recommendations, and business requirements.
- Track record of delivering meaningful technology outcomes with lean teams, balancing direct execution, automation, and external partnerships.
- Experience applying AI, automation, and modern technology approaches to improve business processes, productivity, and employee experiences.
- Strong strategic thinking, technical curiosity, and executive communication skills, with a pragmatic, hands-on approach to problem-solving.
- Experience navigating complex technology transformations, making difficult trade-offs, overcoming setbacks, and taking ownership of outcomes.
Nice To Haves
- Experience building or scaling business technology capabilities in startups, high-growth companies, or entrepreneurial environments.
- Hands-on experience with enterprise platforms such as SAP S/4HANA, Workday, SAP Concur, ZIP, or comparable technologies.
- Experience designing AI-enabled enterprise architectures, agent-based workflows, or unified employee experiences across multiple systems of record.
- Experience in automotive, manufacturing, or complex global organizations.
- Background in corporate carve-outs, technology separations, or establishing independent enterprise technology capabilities.
- A first-principles approach to technology prioritizing simplicity, standardization, automation, and long-term scalability over unnecessary customization.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a multi-year technology strategy connecting enterprise applications, data, automation, and AI.
- Lead architecture, implementation, operations, and continuous improvement of applications across Finance, People, Legal, and Procurement, including ERP, HRIS, expense management, and related platforms.
- Make architecture and technology decisions, challenging vendors, partners, and business requirements to ensure scalable, sustainable solutions aligned with long-term strategy.
- Promote an out-of-the-box-first approach that maximizes native platform capabilities, minimizes unnecessary customization, and reduces technical debt and complexity.
- Create connected and intuitive employee experiences that simplify interaction with enterprise technology and enable collaboration between people and AI.
- Use platform AI capabilities, intelligent workflows, and cross-platform automation to reduce repetitive work and administrative overhead and improve business operations.
- Establish the capabilities, processes, and operating model to deliver at scale; lead and develop a small global team using automation and strategic partners.
- Partner with Finance, People, Legal, and Procurement leaders to understand needs, challenge established processes, and develop practical technology solutions.
- Own platform reliability, security, compliance, vendor relationships, and technology investments, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, employee experience, and business outcomes.
Benefits
- Competitive base salary.
- Eligibility for an annual company performance bonus program for full-time positions; payments are discretionary and not guaranteed.
- Eligibility for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval, plan terms, and vesting requirements.
- Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs; offerings vary by country.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
