SAP Cutover Manager - S/4HANA

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced SAP Cutover Manager to lead the end-to-end cutover planning, coordination and execution for a large-scale SAP S/4HANA transformation programme.

The Cutover Manager will take ownership of the overall cutover strategy, detailed planning, rehearsals, go-live execution and transition into hypercare.

The role will require close coordination across business, functional, technical, infrastructure, security, testing, data migration and third-party teams to ensure a controlled transition with minimal business disruption.

Experience across SAP cloud solutions, particularly SAP Ariba and SAP SuccessFactors, would be highly advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

Cutover Planning & Governance

Cutover Execution

Data Migration & Validation

Risk & Dependency Management

Hypercare & Transition

Cutover Planning & Governance

• Develop and maintain the overall Cutover Strategy, Approach and Detailed Cutover Plan.
• Define cutover activities, milestones, dependencies, resources, owners and timelines.
• Establish clear cutover governance, reporting and escalation mechanisms.
• Coordinate cutover planning across business and technology workstreams.
• Drive go-live readiness assessments and obtain required stakeholder sign-offs.
• Maintain the integrated cutover schedule and ensure activities remain aligned with the wider programme plan.

Cutover Execution

• Lead cutover rehearsals, mock cutovers and dress rehearsals ahead of go-live.
• Coordinate business, functional, technical, infrastructure, testing, security and data migration teams throughout cutover.
• Manage and monitor cutover execution during go-live and deployment weekends.
• Track progress against the cutover runbook and ensure activities are completed within agreed timelines.
• Coordinate the resolution and escalation of risks, issues, blockers and dependencies during cutover.
• Ensure clear communication and decision-making throughout the go-live process.

Data Migration & Validation

• Work closely with data migration teams to coordinate data loads, validation and reconciliation activities.
• Ensure data migration activities are correctly sequenced within the overall cutover plan.
• Coordinate business validation and formal data sign-off.
• Ensure reconciliation activities are completed and outstanding issues are appropriately managed.

Risk & Dependency Management

• Identify, track and manage cross-functional cutover dependencies.
• Maintain cutover risks, issues and actions through to resolution.
• Develop robust contingency, rollback and recovery plans.
• Assess the impact of delays or failed activities and coordinate appropriate mitigation.
• Escalate critical risks and issues to programme leadership when required.

Hypercare & Transition

• Support the transition from go-live into Hypercare and Business-as-Usual (BAU) operations.
• Coordinate stabilisation activities across business and technology teams.
• Monitor post-go-live issues and ensure appropriate ownership and resolution.
• Support the formal closure and handover of cutover activities into BAU support.

Mandatory Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as an SAP Cutover Manager/Cutover Lead on large-scale SAP transformation programmes.
• Strong SAP S/4HANA implementation and transformation experience.
• Extensive end-to-end cutover management experience covering planning, rehearsals, execution and go-live.
• Strong understanding of SAP deployment, go-live, cutover and hypercare processes.
• Experience coordinating complex cutover activities across business and IT teams.
• Strong understanding of data migration, validation and reconciliation activities.
• Proven experience managing risks, issues, dependencies and contingency plans.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong experience working with global and multi-vendor delivery teams.
• Strong knowledge of SAP Activate methodology.

Required Experience

• 10+ years' experience working across SAP programmes.
• 5+ years' experience in SAP Cutover Management.
• At least 2 full-cycle SAP S/4HANA implementations or transformation programmes.
• Experience delivering complex enterprise-wide go-lives.
• Experience working across global, multi-workstream and multi-vendor environments.

Preferred Experience

• SAP Ariba implementation or integration experience.
• SAP SuccessFactors implementation or integration experience.
• Experience supporting ERP transformation, migration, divestiture or merger programmes.
• Experience working within complex SAP cloud and third-party application landscapes.
• PMP, PRINCE2, Agile or SAP certification would be advantageous.

Key Deliverables

• Cutover Strategy & Approach
• Detailed Cutover Plan
• Integrated Cutover Schedule
• Go-Live Readiness Assessment
• Cutover Runbook
• Cutover Risk & Issue Register
• Rollback & Contingency Plan
• Data Migration & Validation Plan
• Hypercare Transition Plan

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science or a related discipline.