Sap & Enterprise Applications Manager

The Role

• Managing SAP is one thing. Leading an entire enterprise applications environment, keeping critical systems running and preparing the business for its next phase of technology transformation is quite another.
• We're looking for an experienced SAP & Enterprise Applications Manager who can take ownership of a complex SAP and enterprise applications landscape, lead technical teams and ensure business-critical systems remain secure, reliable and ready for the future.
• You'll join an established business operating in a demanding, 24/7 logistics and supply chain environment, where technology has a direct impact on daily operations.
• This is a senior leadership role combining hands-on technical understanding with strategic planning, architecture oversight, vendor management and operational accountability.
• A key focus will be preparing the SAP environment for future transformation, including SAP S/4HANA readiness, clean-core adoption and application modernisation.
• Core Technologies: SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA, SAP Basis, SAP Process Orchestration (PO), SAP Data Services, SAP BTP Cloud Integration, ABAP, enterprise middleware, integration platforms, RPA and application automation.

Responsibilities

SAP & Enterprise Applications Leadership

• Lead the management, governance and continuous improvement of SAP platforms, enterprise applications, integrations and middleware.
• Develop and execute technology roadmaps covering platform upgrades, modernisation, lifecycle management and future investment.
• Ensure enterprise applications remain secure, scalable, reliable and aligned with business requirements.
• Oversee application performance, availability, technical debt and ongoing platform optimisation.
• Manage technology budgets, vendors, contracts and service delivery agreements.

SAP Transformation & Architecture

• Drive SAP technology best practices, standardisation and clean-core principles.
• Support SAP S/4HANA transformation planning, technical assessments and migration readiness.
• Oversee SAP architecture reviews, custom-code governance and ABAP development standards.
• Evaluate new technologies and make recommendations on platform improvements and investment.
• Collaborate with enterprise architecture and infrastructure teams on technology decisions.

Integration, Middleware & Automation

• Oversee enterprise integration architecture and middleware platforms, including SAP Process Orchestration and SAP Data Services.
• Support the future adoption of SAP BTP Cloud Integration.
• Ensure secure, reliable data exchange between SAP, enterprise applications and external business partners.
• Govern integration standards, data security, automation solutions and robotic process automation (RPA) providers.
• Oversee secure file transfers, data archiving and integration lifecycle management.

Operational Stability & Service Delivery

• Ensure business-critical enterprise applications support a 24/7 operational environment.
• Oversee SAP Basis services, system administration, technical support and outsourced managed services.
• Manage incident resolution, problem management, change control and release activities.
• Coordinate SAP upgrades, patching and maintenance while minimising operational disruption.
• Support disaster recovery and business continuity planning, including recovery objectives, testing and operational readiness.
• Ensure appropriate information security controls, risk management and audit compliance.

Team & Stakeholder Leadership

• Lead and develop SAP, enterprise systems, integration, development and technical support teams.
• Manage third-party technology partners and outsourced service providers against agreed service levels.
• Work closely with IT leadership, business stakeholders, application owners and infrastructure teams.
• Oversee Agile delivery practices, technical quality and release management.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching and performance management to internal teams.
• Translate complex technical challenges into clear business recommendations.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, Advanced Diploma or equivalent higher education qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field.
• Relevant SAP, ITIL, Agile, cybersecurity, cloud or project management certifications would be advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 8 - 10 years' experience managing SAP and enterprise technology environments.
• Strong technical understanding of SAP platforms, enterprise applications and their supporting technologies.
• Proven experience leading technical teams, SAP specialists, developers and external service providers.
• Experience managing enterprise integrations, middleware platforms and application support services.
• Exposure to SAP S/4HANA migration, implementation or transformation initiatives.
• Experience with SAP Basis operations, architecture governance and application lifecycle management.
• Solid understanding of SAP clean-core principles, ABAP development governance and standard SAP functionality.
• Experience in technology roadmap development, strategic planning and architecture reviews.
• Experience supporting high-availability systems, disaster recovery and business continuity.
• Working knowledge of Agile delivery, IT service management and change control processes.
• Strong experience in vendor management, budgeting, contract management and commercial negotiations.
• Experience in complex enterprise, logistics, distribution or supply chain environments would be particularly valuable.

Technical Knowledge

• SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA environments.
• SAP Basis administration and technical operations.
• SAP Process Orchestration (PO) and SAP Data Services.
• SAP BTP and cloud integration concepts.
• ABAP development governance and clean-core principles.
• Enterprise application integration and middleware architecture.
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and enterprise automation.
• IT service management, information security and risk management.
• Disaster recovery, high availability and business continuity.
• Cloud, hosting, database and infrastructure concepts.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• Confident technical leader who can guide experienced specialists and manage external technology partners.
• Able to balance long-term technology planning with day-to-day operational demands.
• Strong analytical thinking and sound technical judgement.
• Comfortable making decisions in complex, business-critical environments.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and relationship management skills.
• Commercially aware, with an understanding of technology investment and cost management.
• Able to challenge existing approaches and drive practical improvements without compromising operational stability.