SAP Cutover Lead

We are looking for a Cutover Lead to join our deployment/cutover team, which is a crucial part of the Finance Transformation programme TranS/4m to Release 3 (R3) for Our client in Poland and Germany. The team is responsible for the Business Cutover & Continuity Plans and works closely with the programme team, local leaders, key business and IT personnel, and external service providers for the SAP S/4 HANA implementation and 3rd Party System Owners.

Job Purpose:

The primary purpose of this role is to lead the country release and deployment teams in planning and delivering necessary business activities, cutovers, and managing associated risks. The Cutover Lead will collaborate with the another S/4 Cutover Lead to coordinate and oversee the cutover process, ensuring seamless integration with all non-S4 / TranS/4m systems, such as MDG, Concur, SuccessFactors, P01, P02, P20, CITAX, TIPCO (Nomentia), and regression testing for all previous releases.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead the country release & deployment teams to plan and deliver business activities, cutovers, and manage associated risks.
• Engage business and stakeholders to negotiate and agree on key deployment approach decisions.
• Identify and manage key business risks throughout the cutover.
• Define the business cutover approach and secure sign-off with all stakeholders.
• Define and own the Business Cutover & Continuity Plan.
• Ensure thorough testing and validation processes before, during, and after the cutover.
• Manage the go-live rehearsals and the final cutover into post go-live support.
• Report local country and group status, identify and resolve issues and risks.
• Manage local country Business Experts & Local IT Experts in all phases of the cutover.
• Ensure local IT infrastructure requirements are in place (e.g., PCs, network connectivity, etc.).

Job Requirements:

Personal Skills:

• Keen attention to detail for meticulous planning and execution of tasks.
• Ability to analyze complex problems and devise efficient solutions.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements and timelines.
• Resilience during high-stakes cutover activities and while juggling multiple activities in a complex environment.

Social Skills:

• Excellent communication skills to convey complex information clearly and effectively to various stakeholders.
• Strong ability to work efficiently within a team and coordinate with different stakeholders.
• Skilled in negotiating timelines, resources, and resolving conflicts.
• Understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of end-users and other stakeholders.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with team members, stakeholders, and clients.

Leadership Skills:

• Strong project management skills to lead and oversee the cutover process.
• Making informed decisions swiftly and effectively.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team through complex and critical cutover activities.
• Skilled in managing and resolving crises during cutover periods.
• Setting a clear vision for the project and inspiring the team to achieve it.
• Taking ownership and responsibility for the success of deployment & cutover.

Work Experience:

• Experience in system implementations, SAP ERP, S/4 HANA, or other Finance systems is beneficial.
• Proven track record of leading successful cutover activities in previous projects.
• Familiarity with the media industry is beneficial.
• Experience with the entire project lifecycle, from planning to post-go-live support.
• Understanding of technical aspects such as data migration and system integration.

Methodical Competences (incl. IT/Language Skills):

• German: fluent written and spoken.
• English: fluent written and spoken.
• Expertise in creating detailed cutover plans including timelines, dependencies, and resource allocation.
• Project management skills.
• Knowledge of project management and SAP-specific tools (e.g., SAP Solution Manager, MS Project).

Our offer:

• B2B via Experis
• Sport Card
• Life insurance
• Private Health insurance
• Mostly remotely, but there may be trips to Hamburg