SAP Program Manager

Job Title: SAP S/4HANA Conversion Cutover Program Manager

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Role Overview

The SAP S/4HANA Conversion Cutover Program Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all cutover activities required for a successful SAP ECC to S/4HANA migration. This role owns the end-to-end cutover lifecycle, ensuring seamless system transition, minimized downtime, and risk-free go-live execution.

The Program Manager collaborates closely with BASIS, functional, integration, data migration, infrastructure, and business teams, along with third-party vendors, to ensure a controlled and successful transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and manage the overall cutover strategy, plan, and execution timeline for SAP S/4HANA conversion.
• Coordinate with BASIS, functional, data migration, integration, infrastructure, and business teams to ensure end-to-end readiness.
• Validate pre-conversion activities including system readiness, data preparation, and functional prerequisites.
• Plan and execute mock cutovers; track outcomes and optimize downtime and performance.
• Govern cutover activities through regular stakeholder meetings, dependency tracking, and status reporting.
• Ensure business readiness including communication, downtime planning, and hypercare support.
• Oversee data migration validation and integration alignment during cutover phases.
• Lead go-live execution, manage war room activities, and ensure successful transition to operations.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 10–18 years of SAP experience with at least one end-to-end S/4HANA conversion cutover.
• Proven experience managing large-scale, global cutovers.
• Strong knowledge of SAP BASIS, DMO, HANA migration, transports, and system architecture.
• Solid understanding of SAP functional areas including Finance, Logistics, Retail, and Supply Chain.
• Expertise in downtime optimization, runbook development, and mock run execution.
• Deep understanding of cross-functional and cross-system dependencies.
• Strong stakeholder management across multi-vendor and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in high-pressure go-live environments.
• Experience with MS Project, JIRA, Azure DevOps, SAP Solution Manager / ALM.
• Familiarity with SAP Activate and Agile/Hybrid delivery methodologies.