Position Purpose:
The SAP Project Manager is a critical role responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and successful delivery of SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) projects within an organization. This role requires a deep understanding of SAP solutions, project management methodologies, and excellent leadership skills to ensure the efficient implementation of SAP systems that align with business goals and objectives.
- Solution leadership and delivery responsibility for assigned projects
- Supporting the sales teams with project delivery scope definition and estimates
- Managing service delivery and project management which maintains profitability, adheres to internal project methodologies and generates customer satisfaction and business benefits
- Day to day management of resources for assigned projects
- Delivery and/or solution responsibility for any additionally allocated projects
- Liaise with the Project Management Office (PMO) as required
Leadership
- Develop relationships and connections with target audience, stakeholders and business sponsors with the intention of future pacing our clients for follow on opportunities and a continuing programme of work
- Lead engagements and grow customer relationships and confidence via the Impact Framework, guiding customers to realise the delivered value.
- Lead the team to achieve collaborative, positive outcomes as evidenced by peer feedback and project delivery success
- Manage project team to their individual strengths and weaknesses
- Ability to think broadly when required to forecast, mitigate and solve resourcing challenges and team performance issues
- Generate intellectual capital for reuse
- Create case studies based on project reviews/project lessons learnt
Business Performance
- Accountable for day-day operations of resourcing, scheduling, prioritisation and task coordination, meeting project milestones, objectives and deliverables within agreed timeframes and budgets
- Mitigate risk of resource utilisation, forecasting and budgeting via appropriate channels and processes and escalate potential negative impacts
- Provide detailed and accurate project financial tracking and reporting on project activity streams and overall project profitability via the project tracker and status report and forecast impact accordingly
- Meet or exceed growth targets, and contribute to project gross margin targets for controlling scope change and supporting additional consulting solutions offered to customers and maximising consultant chargeable time and rates
- Adhere to business processes and project methodologies ensuring template, timesheet and billing compliance
Project Delivery
- Lead, direct and control project phases: workshops and meetings to ensure delivery of projects to scope, timeframe and budget
- Consult: to the customer directly and indirectly by providing targeted/strategic thought leadership and direction both within the project scope and more broadly
- Project Planning: Develop comprehensive project plans, outlining scope, objectives, timelines, resources, and deliverables. Collaborate with stakeholders to define project requirements and align them with business strategies.
- Resource Management: Identify and allocate necessary resources, including team members, external consultants, and budget, to ensure the project is properly staffed and funded.
- Stakeholder Communication: Establish clear communication channels with project stakeholders, including business leaders, IT teams, vendors, and end-users. Provide regular updates on project progress, milestones, and potential risks.
- Risk Management: Identify potential risks and issues that could impact project timelines or quality. Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans to ensure smooth project execution.
- Budget Oversight: Monitor project budget and expenses, ensuring adherence to allocated funds. Implement cost control measures and manage project-related procurement activities.
- Quality Assurance: Define and enforce quality standards for SAP project deliverables. Conduct regular reviews and testing to ensure solutions meet functional and technical requirements.
- Change Management: Develop and execute change management strategies to facilitate user adoption of new SAP systems. Provide training and support to end-users during the transition.
- Vendor Management: Collaborate with external vendors and consultants to ensure their deliverables align with project goals and contractual agreements.
- Project Documentation: Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including project plans, status reports, risk registers, and lessons learned. Ensure knowledge transfer to support ongoing maintenance.
- Performance Evaluation: Monitor project team performance and provide constructive feedback. Conduct performance evaluations and address any skill gaps through training or resource adjustments.
- Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts or issues within the project team or among stakeholders in a proactive and diplomatic manner to maintain a positive working environment.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance project management processes and methodologies. Implement best practices and lessons learned from previous projects to improve future project outcomes.
- Engage in the Pre-Sales: input in the pre-sales process during bids including active involvement in key customer presentations and/or management of pre-sales activities
- Project estimation and costing: accuracy, detail and completeness. Critically assess and review estimates provided by the pre-sales delivery team
Relevant Experience
- Facilitation and Advisory skills, to lead customer conversations and connect on an emotional level and unpack customers business and challenges
- Guide how the project will unfold. Collaboratively define and agree key decision points, potential roadblocks and risks, commercial contingency areas and what success looks like through Objectives and Key Results
- Significant project management experience and project leadership (indicative min 8 years)
- Demonstrated experience in leading the delivery of consulting engagements to agreed outcomes
- Proven experience in delivery utilising standard project methodologies, eg: PMI PMBOK, ASAP8, ACTIVATE, Prince2, ITIL
- Proven experience in Agile related projects and methodologies
- Project Management theory and understanding gained through training and hands on experience
- Demonstrated experience in managing high performing teams
- Demonstrated ability to deliver against multiple accountabilities
- A demonstrated commitment to fostering knowledge development and sharing
- Highly developed communication skills, both written and verbal
Core Competencies
- Highly proficient to expert technical skills in solution line of focus
- Expert in stakeholder engagement
- Expert in communicating, presenting and engaging customers, working in partnership with them to execute relevant and valuable outcomes
- Expert consulting skills to successfully deliver consulting engagements
- Expert pre-sales efforts, resource estimating and quality assurance
- Expert project management skills - contributing to the definition of tasks, timelines and accountabilities for customer engagements
- Highly proficient team leadership skills - managing people to effect successful customer engagements or business outcomes whilst achieving optimal levels of engagement and performance
- Demonstrable ongoing development and awareness of industry and business process knowledge
Professional/Tertiary Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (such as Information Technology, Business Administration, or Engineering). Master's degree is a plus.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent is highly desirable.
- Extensive experience (typically 5+ years) in project management, particularly in SAP implementations and upgrades.
- In-depth knowledge of SAP solutions, modules, and integration processes.