SAP Functional Manager - JO4571-31490-BSI

Our client an old line Chicago Based manufacturing firm seeks a Functional SAP manager. This position reports to the SAP Director, you will be responsible for providing leadership and expertise in the configuration and implementation of SAP including; ECC 6.0 (FI, COPA, SD, MM, PP, QM, IM and PM), CRM and new dimension products (APO and CRM).

This opportunity will oversee all SAP analysts to identify business process improvement through technology. Successful candidate will lead efforts to streamline and harmonize current processes, extend functionality through implementation of new functionality and continually review emerging SAP solution offerings to assess potential benefits to client.

Duties:
Define and refine application strategy with leadership team and business unit stakeholders.
Propose innovative solutions and/or enhancements to existing business processes that include SAP functionality.
Lead and coordinate development of new SAP functionality with an emphasis on utilizing standard SAP functionality and a focus on business process improvement.
Leverage client s program and project management processes and tools.
Report the progress of the Team to the Director on a weekly basis.
Work with SAP Development Manager to coordinate cross-team resource allocation in support projects, change orders and maintenance activities.
As appropriate serve a project manager or provide oversight of internal project managers.
Provide leadership, design and oversight for the SAP environment.
As appropriate, coordinate activities between SAP analysts and programmers.
Create Project Charter, budgets and resource plans to accomplish information technology program objectives.
Review evolving SAP technologies and new technologies, assess potential business impact and recommend adoption of valuable tools.
Develop procedures to monitor and report on SAP team s work.
Implement effective use of specifications as part of the SDLC and monitor quality of specifications produced by SAP analysts.
Measure SAP team performance in terms of customer satisfaction during software development cycle and upon completion, and before passing specifications for changes to SAP developers.
Maintain and perform weekly status meeting and progress report.
Complete regular service desk ticket analysis and allocate work to SAP analysts as it arises.
Introduce Best Practice and process improvement ideas wherever appropriate.
Assist in candidate screening and interviews when new resources are being recruited.
Actively participate as a member of the team in activities that include communications, status meetings and internal initiatives.
Participate in relevant user community meetings to ensure alignment between processes & technology and identify potential areas of opportunity.
Adhere and contribute to processes, procedures and policies, as well as expanding internal knowledge on the processes and functionality used by the company.
5 years SAP management experience (ECC 6.0 experience desired) and support of a live SAP environment
Experience managing APO and CRM desired
7-10 years experience in enterprise systems implementation
Ability to lead process decomposition, root cause analysis, gap analysis and blueprint definition
Ability to work well with others
Willingness to travel to remote facilities
Overtime if projects dictate
Bachelor degree or MBA

Additional Skills and Knowledge:
Experience with rolling out SAP globally based on a corporate template
Understanding of SAP technical development environments and tools
Exposure to different types of project implementation methods (eg waterfall, agile, etc)
Ability to introduce new tools that enable process improvement