Senior SAP Cutover Manager

Description:

Position: Senior SAP Cutover Manager (Transition Leadership)

Experience: Minimum 10+ Years

Location: PAN INDIA (Hybrid Mode)

Notice Period: Immediate to 15 days

Contract: Longterm Contract

Job Summary:

We are looking for a highly seasoned Senior SAP Cutover Manager to lead the critical transition of our large-scale SAP S/4HANA implementation.

This is a vital leadership role responsible for ensuring a seamless, low-disruption switch from our legacy systems to the new environment.

You will be the single point of control for the entire go-live sequence, coordinating across all business and technical teams.

This role requires exceptional project leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to manage high-stakes operations under pressure.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Transition Planning:

- Develop the master cutover strategy and the detailed, minute-by-minute execution plan (runbook) that guides the entire go-live process.

- Lead preparatory exercises, including multiple mock cutovers and full-scale go-live rehearsals (dry runs), to validate all steps and minimize unexpected issues.

- Collaborate with senior business and functional leaders to identify every task and dependency, ensuring all teams are fully aligned on timing and scope.

Go-Live Leadership and Control:

- Establish and manage the Cutover Command Center (War Room) during the actual go-live, acting as the primary decision-maker and central communications hub.

- Serve as the final authority on cutover readiness, providing clear status updates, escalating critical risks quickly, and driving mitigation plans to closure.

- Ensure all critical work streamsincluding final data migration, new system validation, and the implementation of business continuity plansare perfectly synchronized for the go-live moment.

Stakeholder Management and Support:

- Collaborate closely with project managers, workstream leads, and executive stakeholders to maintain complete alignment and transparency throughout the entire transition period.

- Provide essential post-cutover support and stabilization planning, managing the initial hypercare phase and ensuring a smooth handover to the standard operations team.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Experience & Methodology:

- Experience: 10+ years managing large-scale IT projects, with a minimum of 2+ full-cycle SAP S/4HANA implementation cutovers.

- Methodology: Deep, practical understanding of large-scale Greenfield deployment strategies and the associated migration complexities.

Leadership & Communication:

- Leadership: Proven ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams (technical, functional, business) under intense time pressure and high stakes.

- Communication: Excellent stakeholder management and reporting skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex status and risks to executive audiences.

Technical & Tools:

- Technical Knowledge (Non-Coding): Strong conceptual grasp of major SAP modules (especially Finance), data migration processes, and how systems integrate across the enterprise.

- Tools: Familiarity with professional project management tools like MS Project, Jira, or SAP Solution Manager.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have):

- Experience leading transitions in a RISE with SAP cloud environment.

- Prior experience in public sector or highly regulated industries.

- Familiarity with Agile or hybrid project methodologies in a large program context