Job Description
The Regional SAP S4 Project Systems Specialist Lead will identify and define a regional strategy that innovates, simplifies, delivers, and supports client's ERP ecosystem. The Lead will serve as an expert resource to Lead the regional client ERP Program for Project Systems. This includes co-creating & rolling out the Global Template Definition, Build, Localization, and Deployment across the Globe. This role also requires the role to harmonize the Project Systems solutions with other enterprise technologies, including but not limited to data management, business intelligence, sales and operations, manufacturing, and engineering solution sets throughout their respective lifecycles.
The role will interact with all levels within the company, including technical and business leads across various functional organizations who will help define the strategic approach within a complex and diverse ERP landscape. They will oversee Project Systems projects to execute the roadmap most efficiently and effectively, including implementation, configuration, development, and operational support of all ERP systems. The Lead will provide technical and people leadership and bring deep hands-on ERP experience.
Essential Duties/Principal Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning:
Collaborate with IT leadership, business leadership, and internal and external subject matter experts to define and align the ERP strategy with client's and IT’s overarching strategies. Continuously seek to improve the ERP Project Systems ecosystem and streamline operations to improve performance, reduce costs, and increase agility to respond to changing business needs.
Follow established development methodologies and best practice enterprise architecture standards to harmonize the ERP plan and make a strategy with the overarching client information systems architecture, standards, and methods. Participate as a critical contributor to the ever-evolving client enterprise architecture and information framework, working collaboratively across the various IT service delivery teams.
Development and Operations:
Oversee the ERP regional Project Systems, which is a team that provides regional development, configuration, and operational support. Collaborate with Enterprise Applications Peer process leaders to manage demand, set priorities, and estimate and deliver projects within scope, schedule, budget, and quality metrics. Ensure the ERP Project Systems landscape's security, availability, and performance.
Build innovative solutions to reduce complexity and simplify the application landscape—source internal and external technical resources. Balance business needs with practical and agile software development practices. Establish standards and tools across the Project Systems team based on industry best practices, leveraging agile, iterative, and waterfall development methodologies and DevOps processes as appropriate.
Partner with enterprise applications process leads, integration, master data management, database administration, infrastructure and security teams, business subject matter experts, and external vendors to provide end-to-end support of Regional ERP applications and supporting systems and services. Help establish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and ensure they are met or exceeded. Monitor and report on SLA performance. Ensure response to escalated source-to-pay issues/incidents.
Oversee project management activities for ERP Project Systems projects where needed. Collaborate to standardize critical processes and systems. Ensure adherence to all defined policies, procedures, and standards. Collaborate with the Training and Communications team to provide a Project Systems eLearning to end users.
Stay current on new technologies impacting the ERP ecosystem. Research and continuously improve ERP functionality, availability, and performance. Participate in architecture committees. Ensure maximum, measured efficiency and effectiveness of ERP systems.
Governance:
Contribute as a member of the Enterprise Back Office Solutions team. Represent the Project Systems team in governance bodies, including architecture, change and demand management committees, and strategy discussions. Ensure compliance with all statutory and legal requirements in countries where ERP systems are used and support Corporate Audit’s efforts in conducting and continuously improving the risk management activities across ERP systems. Help establish and participate in ERP System User Groups.
Ensure adherence to client's Smart Steps project management methodology, support business case development, and approve relevant project documentation.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES:
1.Comply with all regulatory, Legal, and Human Resources mandates. Assure staff adheres to all established mandates.
2.Lead the client Regional ERP Project Systems Team, providing development, configuration, and operations services.
3. Comply with all regulatory, Legal, and Human Resources mandates. Assure staff adheres to all established mandates.
4. Provide vision, leadership, and management for developing, implementing, and servicing Project Systems.
5. Establish and foster solid relationships with service and software vendor partners.
6. Ensure the success of all Project Systems projects through direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of projects, ensuring consistency with company strategy, commitments and goals.
7. Contribute to project estimates, assign resources, conduct feasibility studies, and participate in technical solution evaluations.
8. Be accountable for Project Systems system design, development and configuration, unit and system testing and deployment, ensuring quality products and services. Ensure the safe deployment of all application changes, releases, and upgrades in the ERP system landscape.
9. Ensure successful Level 2 and Level 3 application support activities. Establish and ensure that SLAs are met or exceeded in the Project Systems. Proactively monitor and report on SLA performance.
10. Collaborate with the Training and Communications team to develop effective e-learning training materials and delivery methods.
11. Lead monitoring activities for all Project Systems processes to ensure conformance to local statutory requirements and corporate policies and standards. Stay abreast of current rules to ensure compliance.
12. Keep current with new technologies and trends. Review and evaluate the capabilities of existing systems and recommend solutions for replacing or improving ineffective systems or processes. Identify and implement best practices.
13. Manage direct reports and the virtual Project Systems team to deliver solutions to meet business needs. Provide training, coaching, mentoring, supervising, and staff evaluation.
14. Provide appropriate information for input to the department budget process. Manage within budget or obtain business partner and IT upper management support for out-of-budget expenditures. Keep spending aligned with corporate policies. Collaborate with the PFA assigned to IT, who facilitates the financial aspects associated with IT’s operations.
15. Contribute to the definition of IT standard processes and procedures. Assure staff adheres to all established IT standards, processes, procedures, and guidelines.
16. Perform related duties and fulfill responsibilities as required.
Key Competencies:
• Analytical decision making
• Leading people & teams
• Insightful judgement
• Matrix team management
• Business-focused delivery
• Managing change
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Planning & prioritizing work
• Design Excellence
• Cross-boundary collaboration
• Agile development methodologies
• Written and Oral communication/presentations
Key Relationships:
• External: Service Delivery providers, ERP vendors
• Internal: IT leadership and other IT groups, business partner leadership, and functional subject matter experts
Qualifications: Education, Experience, Skills, Abilities, License/Certification:
Required Qualifications:
Minimal education & experience, essential skills & abilities, and required license/certification to perform this job.
• Bachelor's Degree in MIS or CS preferred, or relevant concentration, with 12+ years of experience; or a Graduate Degree (Master) in MIS or CS preferred, or relevant concentration, with 10+ years of experience; or relevant and equivalent business or IT experience of minimum of 14-18 years
• 10+ years of solid experience in various aspects of large-scale ERP application platforms, operations, and support in international business environments, with at least five years experience in a manufacturing environment (Project Systems processes / sub-processes). Hands-on experience deploying and supporting SAP S/4
• Experienced in offshoring and outsourcing of support and operations activities.
• Excellent people manager and leader of leaders, able to inspire and communicate effectively with a remote (onshore/offshore) multicultural team
• A track record of building, maintaining, and managing strong relationships with Regional business leaders across many different stakeholder groups
• Excellent customer service ethic
• Knowledge and understanding of operations processes, Project Systems management, finance and accounting processes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and collaborative skills, and the ability to communicate technology concepts to technical and non-technical audiences
• Proven track record and experience developing solutions and successfully executing programs that meet objectives of excellence in a dynamic environment
• Poise and ability to act calmly and competently in high-pressure, high-stress situations
• Must be a critical thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent analytical skills, able to manage multiple projects under strict timelines, work well in a demanding dynamic environment, and meet overall objectives
• Project management skills: financial/budget management, scheduling, and resource management.
• Ability to lead and motivate cross-functional, interdisciplinary, and virtual teams across diverse time zones to achieve tactical and strategic goals
• Experience with contract and vendor negotiations
• High level of personal integrity and the ability to professionally handle confidential matters and show an appropriate level of judgment and maturity
• High degree of initiative, dependability, and ability to work with little supervision
• English language fluency
Additional Information:
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Work is generally conducted in an office environment.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to communicate orally.
• Ability to use hands and fingers dexterously to operate office equipment.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• Will require travel to project sites.
• Work may require lifting less than 35 lbs.
• Employee use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required in certain situations.
• Employee must comply with all local regulations, published Company work rules, and written instructions.
Standard weekly job hours: 40
Travel requirement: Ability to travel up to 50%
