Senior SAP S/4HANA Transformation Lead

Location: Krefeld office (commutable from Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Essen)
Compensation: Up to €130,000 base

Company & Context

Our client is a leading retail organisation (~20,000 employees) undergoing a major SAP S/4HANA transformation programme.

The SAP function is in a high-growth build phase, led by Frank, with one core team member already in place and a further four hires planned immediately. This creates a rare opportunity to join at a formative stage and significantly influence both architecture direction and programme delivery approach.

This is a greenfield transformation environment, not a BAU or support function, with high visibility across business and IT leadership.

Role Overview

We are looking for a highly experienced SAP S/4HANA Transformation Lead / Senior SAP Programme Architect with strong capability across end-to-end SAP landscape design and multi-stakeholder transformation delivery.

This role sits at the intersection of architecture, programme execution, and business transformation, requiring someone who can translate complex business requirements into scalable SAP solutions while actively managing alignment across multiple senior stakeholders.

You will operate as a key architectural authority within the programme, working closely with business owners, functional leads, and technical teams to ensure cohesive design decisions across the full SAP landscape.

This is not a narrow solution design or governance role – it requires someone comfortable driving decisions across multiple workstreams, modules, and business functions.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience in SAP S/4HANA transformation programmes in large enterprise environments
• Strong background in end-to-end SAP architecture across integrated landscapes
• Demonstrable experience working across multiple SAP modules and business functions (e.g. Finance, Supply Chain, Retail, etc.)
• Strong capability in stakeholder alignment across business and IT leadership teams
• Experience operating in environments where you are required to balance architecture decisions with business priorities and programme constraints
• Ability to act as a bridge between business stakeholders, programme leadership, and technical teams
• Strong understanding of SAP ecosystem integration and enterprise architecture principles
• Retail experience is advantageous but not essential
• Fluent English required; German beneficial

Important Distinction (What We Are NOT Looking For)

We are not seeking purely technical SAP specialists or isolated functional architects.

Candidates whose experience is primarily:

• SAP run/support or BAU operations
• Narrow technical enablement (e.g. BTP-only, security-only roles)
• Module-level configuration without cross-functional ownership
• Pure governance or documentation roles without delivery accountability

…will not be suitable.

We are specifically targeting individuals who have operated at programme-level architecture and cross-functional transformation level, with real ownership of end-to-end design decisions across SAP landscapes.

Personal Attributes

• Strong communicator with senior stakeholder management capability
• Comfortable operating in fast-moving transformation programmes with ambiguity
• Able to take ownership and drive alignment across competing priorities
• High autonomy and proactive decision-making style
• Collaborative but confident in architectural direction-setting
• Resilient in complex, high-pressure transformation environments

Responsibilities

• Own and drive end-to-end SAP S/4HANA architecture across the transformation programme
• Ensure alignment across multiple SAP modules and business domains
• Act as a key interface between business stakeholders, programme leadership, and technical teams
• Contribute to and influence major architectural and design decisions at programme level
• Support shaping of a future SAP Centre of Excellence (CoE)
• Ensure architectural coherence across a rapidly scaling SAP environment

Development & Progression

This role offers clear progression into senior transformation leadership positions such as:

• Head of SAP Transformation
• SAP Competence Centre Lead
• ERP / Digital Transformation Lead
• Senior Architecture Leadership roles within the organisation

Working Model

• 3 days onsite (Krefeld region)
• 2 days remote
• Flexible remote working in blocks where required
• Onsite presence required during critical phases (e.g. cutover, data migration)

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Luchian Van Der Merwe