Project description
Our Client is undertaking the most significant digital transformation, where a cornerstone is the delivery of consistent, accurate, and trusted data into the future SAP S/4 HANA-based ecosystem and associated technology stack.
The Transition & Cutover Lead is responsible for ensuring that the transition to new systems, technologies, and processes is smooth, well-coordinated, and minimally disruptive, while ensuring ongoing support for users and alignment with the broader goals of the digital transformation program. The size of the project team is above 200 people.
Responsibilities
- Define and secure cross-functional leadership alignment on a Transition and cutover strategy for the program. Develop and execute a detailed transition plan (incl. business and tech milestones, timelines, and deliverables) to guide the organization through the shift to new systems, processes, and technologies. Articulate what day 1 looks like.
- Lead a highly technical, analytical, and cross-functional cutover workstream that integrates governance, multi-cycle testing readiness (SIT/UAT/Rehearsals), data and environment readiness, business dependencies, and financial and inventory compliance to ensure a fully controlled and risk-mitigated transition. Ensure support mechanisms are in place to assist users during the transition phase (incl. hypercare, FAQs, and user guides).
- Ensure the transition plan is executed within timelines and with minimal disruption to operations. Coordinate the execution of transition tasks, including data migration, system cutovers, and the introduction of new tools or processes.
- Identify potential risks and challenges associated with the transition. Create a robust mitigation plan to de-risk and ensure business continuity.
- Maintain all stakeholders informed of progress, issues, and key updates related to the transition. Report on transition status and recommend any required adjustments.
- Ensure new systems/processes are fully adopted, and legacy systems/processes are deprecated.
- Gather feedback from stakeholders and end-users, evaluate the effectiveness of the transition, and recommend improvements as necessary. Document the impact of the transition on business operations, teams. Gather lessons learned throughout the transition process and present to key stakeholders.
Skills
Must have
- 10+ years in transition and cutover for large-scale transformation/ ERP programs with complex dependencies and external partners.
- Experience with SAP S/4HANA
- Strong understanding of SIT, UAT and Cutover Rehearsal cycles, including environment readiness and multicycle planning
- Strong understanding of core master and transactional data domains (Article Master, Vendors, POs, Inventory, Pricing, financial objects).
- Deep experience working across complex multisystem landscapes, including legacy systems, mapping layers, and SAP.
- Experience in retail/fashion and multi-country operations
- Knowledge of data readiness (catalogue creation, ETL timing, reconciliation rules, data quality risks).
- Experience working with data migration/data readiness cycles (ETL, reconciliation, catalogue creation) within large transformations.
- Cross-functional leadership: Leads and aligns diverse business, tech, finance, logistics, training, and SI teams around an integrated transition and cutover plan.
- Clear communication: Communicates complex information clearly, both verbally and in writing, ensuring all stakeholders stay informed and aligned.
- Stakeholder management: Builds strong relationships, manages expectations, and navigates senior stakeholders with confidence and trust.
- Influence & relationship building: Confidently influences decisions, builds credibility quickly, and maintains trust at all levels of the organization.
- Resilience & conflict resolution: Stays calm under pressure, demonstrates high resilience, and effectively navigate and resolves conflicts.
- Adaptability & pace: Operates effectively in fast paced, dynamic, and high ambiguity environments where plans evolve rapidly.
- Scenario & contingency planning: Anticipates risks and designs structured Plan A/B/C scenarios, fallbacks, and contingency models.
- Synthesis of complexity: Translates multidomain inputs into simple, actionable insights and clear decisions.
- Attention to detail: Maintains high accuracy and rigor across detailed cutover tasks, dependencies, and readiness checkpoints.
- Problem solving & risk management: Identifies issues early, solves problems quickly, and drives mitigation to protect business continuity.
- User-centric mindset: Supports end users with empathy through hyper care, training, and clear readiness guidance.
- English C1
Nice to have
- German
- Commercial Planning Solution
- Transport Management System
