SAP S/4HANA & Intelligent Data Platform Program Manager

Job description / Role

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview of the role:

As the SAP S/4HANA & Intelligent Data Platform Program Manager reporting to the Automotive Division's CFO, you will be tasked with overseeing the strategic planning, implementation, and management of the SAP S/4HANA and Intelligent Data Platform initiatives within the division. Leveraging your extensive experience in SAP projects and data management, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive digital transformation, optimize processes, and unlock value from data-driven insights. This role requires strong leadership, project management, and technical expertise to ensure successful delivery and alignment with business objectives. Whilst being a business role, this requires a close partnership with the IT team to ensure the project priorities are aligned at all times.

What you will do:
- Strategic Planning : Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan for the implementation of SAP S/4HANA and the Intelligent Data Platform within the automotive division. Define project objectives, scope, timelines, and resource requirements in alignment with business goals.
- Project Management: Lead the end-to-end project management of SAP S/4HANA and Intelligent Data Platform initiatives, from planning and design to implementation and post-implementation support. Ensure adherence to project milestones, budgets, and quality standards. Track key project milestones and adjust project plans and/or resources for successful project delivery.
- Stakeholder Engagement : Collaborate with key stakeholders, including business leaders, IT teams, and external partners, to gather requirements, gain buy-in, and foster alignment on project objectives and priorities.
- Solution Architecture : Work closely with technical teams to design and architect SAP S/4HANA and Intelligent Data Platform solutions that meet business requirements and industry best practices. Ensure scalability, flexibility, and integration with existing systems.
- Data Governance : Establish and enforce data governance policies, standards, and processes to ensure the integrity, quality, and security of data within the SAP S/4HANA and Intelligent Data Platform environments. Define roles and responsibilities for data management and access control.
- Change Management : Develop and implement change management strategies to drive user adoption and maximize the benefits of SAP S/4HANA and the Intelligent Data Platform. Provide training, support, and communication to end-users to facilitate smooth transition and minimize resistance.
- Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks and issues that may impact the success of SAP S/4HANA and Intelligent Data Platform initiatives. Develop contingency plans and escalate critical issues to senior management as needed. Maintain risks & issues log and follow up on the closure actions.
- Performance Measurement : Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track the effectiveness and impact of SAP S/4HANA and Intelligent Data Platform initiatives. Monitor progress, analyze data, and prepare regular reports and presentations for senior leadership. Track changes to baseline and handle requests for change, secure approvals for requests for change Leadership & resource management.

Requirements

Required Skills to be successful:
- Project management experience
- SAP experience (SAP S/ 4Hana)
- Sr. Stakeholder management
- Time, cost, resource allocation management

About the Team:

You will be reporting to CFO - Automotive

What equips you for the role:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, business administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in SAP project management, with a focus on SAP S/4HANA implementations in greenfield/transformation/large brownfield projects with modules - OTC, RTR, P2P, FI, CO, VMS, VSS.
- Should have used SAP Activate methodology. Experience with SAP Rise.
- Strong understanding of SAP S/4HANA modules and functionality, particularly in the automotive industry context.
- Proven track record of successful SAP implementation, rollout, and upgrade projects of medium to high complexity while ensuring compliance with standard project management methodology, processes & tools ensuring business value delivery Tools and accelerators.
- Must have experience in using project management tools and tracking tools and should be able to create if needed.
- Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Experience managing external vendors and consultants, including contract negotiation and performance evaluation.
- Solid understanding of change management principles and methodologies, with the ability to drive organizational change and adoption.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to navigate complex technical and business challenges.
- Relevant certifications in SAP S/4HANA or project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) are highly desirable.

About Al-Futtaim Automotive
A major division of the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group of companies, Al-Futtaim Automotive is an industry leader with presence in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Our core business activities at Al-Futtaim Automotive include distribution, manufacturing, leasing and aftersales, and we are firmly established as the regional representative of some of the world's most iconic automotive brands: Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Volvo and RAM.
We are driven by a customer-centric approach, constantly pushing the boundaries on innovation, quality standards, and value-added service across our vast universe of customers - right from motoring enthusiasts to fleet operators to contractors. Our mission is to become the leader in custom-made mobility solutions by delivering nothing less than world-class omni-channel experiences.
We channel our local expertise and global trust to deliver one of the most comprehensive portfolios of mobility products and solutions, from passenger cars to SUVs, electric vehicles to high-performance motorbikes, commercial vehicles to industrial & construction equipment.
What keeps the company moving forward is a 9000-member strong team, with inspiring possibilities for growth, throughout the career path. This is Al-Futtaim Automotive and we empower talent to move forward.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.