SAP ERP Release Management Lead - Full-time / Part-time

Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things. 

Serving customers in over 100 countries, our research scientists and engineers continue to invent and accelerate new technologies that will increasingly transform the way people and things communicate and connect.

Nokia is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion.

At Nokia, employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Nokia IT is building a modern, product-oriented technology organization that executes with urgency, precision, and with an extreme focus on customer service. As part of this journey, Nokia is undergoing a large-scale, global SAP S/4HANA implementation across all business and functional groups. The goal of this implementation is to migrate to a standard SAP S/4HANA ecosystem that is agile, scalable and able to meet Nokia’s current and future needs. In addition, Nokia IT is also improving its internal capabilities to support a Next Generation set of tools and processes.

The Next Generation ERP (NG ERP) program will deliver a harmonized ERP solution for the Nokia business based on an SAP S/4HANA platform. The NG ERP Program Lead will be accountable for managing the overall program including managing budgets, resources, planning and delivering all elements of the NG ERP development and delivery lifecycle.

The chosen candidate will be expected to build a high-performing team that will reduce reliance on external system integrators and perform a rollout in record time while minimizing costs. The applicant must have the right to work in the US without Nokia needing to sponsor.

Join a dynamic, diverse and talented team that is on a mission to modernize the IT organization and digitize Nokia’s operations.

SAP ERP Release Management Lead

Role:

The SAP ERP Release Management Lead will plan out the deployment releases of the multi-year global deployment programme for S/4HANA solution. This shall include working with Business teams, Deployment Leads, Project Managers to ensure everything is aligned and supports the overall ERP Roadmap. In essence this person shall translate the high-level roadmap into executable releases.

Main Responsibilities:

• Work with programme leads, business leads and solution architects for detailed release planning
• Maintain Release Plans in accordance with programme requirements and manage dependencies with local sites
• Partnering with the Deployment Leads, understand and ensure local deployment activities are planned, coordinated and executed according to schedule
• Drive alignment between IT PM’s to ensure dependencies are managed closely
• Gets buy in from senior stakeholders on the overall plan
• Develop release quality (go/no-go) criteria and checkpoints
• Reports status on release preparedness and release execution to IT Leadership and the Business
• Manage and resolve issues
• Identify, manage and mitigate risks
• Ensures overall roadmap is planned and baked into delivery plans allowing the deployment of S/4HANA into up to 120 countries

Minimum Qualifications:

• 15 years of delivery experience of SAP related projects
• Bachelors’ degree from an accredited college/university;
• Suitable Project Management qualification
• Ability to travel at short notice
• Ability to develop sustainable relationships with key senior business stakeholders
• Ability to network within the IT and business environment
• International team Management - Able to assimilate and respectfully coordinate various cultural gaps
• Building effective teams and holding them accountable for results
• Integrity and Trust, Customer Focus, Problem Solving, Drive for Results
• Interpersonal communication and collaboration skills
• Highly motivated individual, and a team player who adapts to a dynamic work environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or MIS from an accredited college/university is preferred
• SAP Certification (Functional and/or technical) – SAP certification preferred
• SAP S/4HANA experience

Nokia is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. At Nokia, employment decisions are made regardless of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information or ancestry, protected Veteran or military status, or other characteristics protected by law.