SAP Technical Program Manager
Foster City, CA
Contract Role
Client: ZOOX
Job Summary
My client is seeking a seasoned SAP Technical Program Manager to lead and coordinate complex SAP program delivery across multiple workstreams. This role sits at the intersection of technical understanding and program leadership - driving cross-functional SAP initiatives (implementations, upgrades, integrations) while managing scope, timeline, risk, and stakeholder alignment. The role also carries PMO responsibilities, including governance standards, portfolio reporting, and financial oversight across the program. The ideal candidate has deep familiarity with SAP landscapes (S/4HANA, BTP, integration, or similar) but focuses primarily on program governance, planning, and execution rather than hands-on configuration/development.
Key Responsibilities
Program Delivery
Own end-to-end program planning and delivery for SAP initiatives (implementations, upgrades, integrations, or transformation programs)
Coordinate across functional and technical workstreams (SD, MM, FI/CO, BTP, integration, Basis, etc.) to ensure aligned delivery
Manage program-level scope, schedule, budget, risks, and dependencies; escalate and resolve blockers proactively
Facilitate cutover planning, go-live readiness, and hypercare transition
Partner with SAP architects, functional leads, and business stakeholders to translate business goals into a coherent delivery roadmap
Manage vendor/SI relationships and contractor teams where applicable
PMO & Governance
Establish and maintain PMO standards, methodology, and templates (charters, status reports, RAID logs, change requests)
Own the formal change control process, including chairing/facilitating the Change Control Board (CCB) and tracking approved changes
Drive governance cadences: steering committee updates, status reporting, milestone tracking
Roll up program-level status into portfolio-level dashboards and reporting for leadership visibility across multiple concurrent initiatives
Track cross-program and cross-project dependencies beyond individual workstreams
Administer and own PPM/tracking tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, SAP Cloud ALM, Clarity) to ensure consistent tracking across teams
Maintain centralized documentation repository (SharePoint/Confluence) with version control and access governance
Financial & Compliance
Own financial governance for the program: budget forecasting vs. actuals, contractor PO/invoice tracking, and variance reporting
Support compliance and audit requirements (e.g., SOX controls) where applicable to the program
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
Define and track program health KPIs (schedule variance, budget variance, milestone completion rate, resource utilization)
Communicate program health, risks, and decisions clearly to executive stakeholders
Facilitate lessons-learned sessions and retrospectives; drive continuous process improvement recommendations
Support resource planning and capacity management across parallel workstreams
Required Skills & Experience
10+ years of experience in IT program/project management, with significant time managing SAP-related programs
Proven track record leading large, multi-workstream SAP programs (implementations, upgrades, S/4HANA migrations, or integration initiatives)
Demonstrated PMO experience: governance standards, portfolio reporting, and financial tracking across programs
Strong working knowledge of SAP landscapes and terminology (S/4HANA, BTP, integration suite, Fiori, etc.) - enough to engage credibly with technical teams, though hands-on configuration is not required
Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills
Strong experience with program governance tools and methodologies (RAID logs, RACI, steering committee reporting, change control)
Hands-on experience with PPM/tracking tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, SAP Cloud ALM, or similar)
Experience managing cross-functional teams including SAP functional consultants, technical architects, and Basis/infrastructure teams
Familiarity with Agile and/or Waterfall delivery methodologies
Experience managing vendor/SI relationships and contractor resources
Strong risk management, budget tracking, and timeline management skills
Experience defining and reporting on program/portfolio KPIs
Preferred Qualifications
PMP, PgMP, or SAFe Agile certification
Experience with SAP RISE/S4HANA transformation programs
Experience in a regulated or complex enterprise environment (manufacturing, retail, automotive, etc.)
Familiarity with SAP Cloud ALM or similar program tracking tools
Prior experience as a functional/technical SAP consultant before moving into program management (helps build credibility with technical teams)
Experience supporting SOX or internal audit processes
Education
Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
MBA preferred