Global SAP ERP Lead

We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to fill the role of Interim Manager for SAP in the chemical industry.

In this critical position, you will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, implementation and delivery of services, and ongoing management of SAP S4 systems and solutions across our global organization. You need to have proven experience in managing our outsourcing partner providing SAP S4 application management services and SAP S4 Basis support. Your leadership will be instrumental in managing a team of internal and external business analysts optimizing SAP S4 technologies to drive business growth and expansions, enhance operational efficiency with the outsourcing partner, and ensure seamless integration with our existing SAP S4 IT infrastructure.

Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Planning:

Develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy and architecture target picture for our SAP S4 landscape that aligns with the organization's overall business objectives and growth and expansion initiatives. This includes defining short-term and long-term goals, identifying key performance indicators, and monitoring progress towards achieving strategic milestones.

2. Consolidation, upgrade and projects

Lead the consolidation and upgrade of our 3 SAP S4 instances. Lead the implementation customization, and integration of SAP solutions across all business units and geographical locations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful deployment of new SAP functions, upgrades, and enhancements while minimizing disruption to business operations.

3. Systems Integration and application consolidation

Drive the integration of SAP S4 systems with other enterprise applications, such as CRM and our SAP Datasphere BI platform, to streamline business processes, improve data visibility, and facilitate real-time decision-making. Drive the consolidation of applications integrating with SAP. Leverage your technical expertise to architect scalable and interoperable IT solutions that support the organization's evolving needs.

4. Governance and Compliance

Establish and enforce IT governance policies, standards, and best practices together with our Outsourcing partner to ensure the security, integrity, and regulatory compliance of SAP systems and data. Implement robust controls and protocols to improve access management and controls for management of data privacy, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning of the outsourcing partner.

5. Performance Optimization

Continuously assess the performance and efficiency of SAP processes together with your team and the business. Identify areas for optimization and improvement. Proactively address performance bottlenecks, system errors, and scalability challenges to maintain optimal uptime and user satisfaction with the service provider.

6. Vendor Management

Cultivate strong relationships with SAP, our outsourcing service provider and other SaaS service providers to stay ahead of emerging technologies, product roadmaps, and industry trends. Negotiate favorable contracts, SLAs, and pricing agreements to maximize the value of investments in SAP software and our SAP service provider. Review performance and SLAs of our SAP outsourcing service provider.

7. Team Leadership

Build and mentor a high-performing team of internal and external IT professionals with expertise in SAP architecture, development, administration, and support. Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities to empower team members and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of proven experience in IT leadership roles, with a focus on SAP implementation, management, and optimization in an fully outsourced environment.
• In-depth knowledge of SAP S4 products, modules, and solutions, including , SAP Data Sphere SuccessFactors, GTS, EHS.
• Proven track record of successfully leading large-scale SAP projects from conception to completion, delivering measurable business value and ROI.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse teams towards common goals.
• Relevant certifications in SAP technologies (e.g., SAP Certified Application Associate, SAP Certified Technology Associate) are highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of IT governance frameworks, such as ITIL, COBIT, and ISO 27001, as well as chemical regulations and compliance standards.

Benefits

The total reward