Strategic Program Manager Middle and Eastern Europe (m/f/d)

SAP

1mo ago

Job
Full-time
Expert Level
Consulting
Business, Operations & Strategy
Walldorf

AI generated summary

You need a Master's degree, 12+ years in project management (SAP), fluency in German and English, strong interpersonal skills, and experience in large-scale implementations.
You will manage strategic customer engagements, lead project lifecycles, ensure customer satisfaction, oversee governance, and drive cloud transformation, while coordinating with stakeholders.

Requirements

Master's degree, preferably in finance, commerce, engineering, information technologies, computer science, MBA or equivalent
Excellent knowledge of project management methodologies. SAP methodologies (including SAP Activate and SAP Solution Manager)
Proactive attitude in managing stakeholder satisfaction to position and secure customer success
Demonstrated ability to command the attention and respect of senior level leaders and confidently make presentations to large and executive audiences
The candidate must possess experience managing a number of internal and external stakeholders, so interpersonal skills and abilities will be vital to succeed in this role
Team oriented: ability to build strong relationships at every level of the organization. Being a strong motivator who knows how to influence others to deliver consistently their best work
Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills – fluent in English, another language, is beneficial
PMP certification or other project management certifications are desirable
Results-driven / Self-organized / Decision making
Knowledge of one or more functional business processes (Logistic, Finance, etc.)
Experience in Client-facing/Service roles
Exceptional written and verbal Communication skills with fluent German and English
Proven Presentation skills
Team Player
Strong technical aptitude and ability to understand technical concepts quickly
Ability to prioritize and manage workload to meet deadlines and budget
Virtual global team management
Proven project management experience at a consulting / system integration company
Ideally 12+ years project management experience (SAP software) with numerous large scale implementations (> 5 Mio. $)
Demonstrated ability to scope, structure and manage medium- to large scale, medium to high complex projects with modern delivery mixes on time, on budget and within quality criteria that maximized business benefits for customers
Demonstrated experience in managing, aligning and working with various levels within a customer organization (project, business, executive) as well as different parts of large global organizations
Excellent customer focus / Networking / Relationship Building
Results-driven / Self-organized / Decision making
Knowledge of one or more functional business processes (Logistic, Finance, etc.)
Fluent German and English

Responsibilities

Manage Strategic Customer Engagements directly
Sponsor of Strategic Customer Strategy
Defining a Framework on best practices and the CSS Cloud Transformation which supports the Region to deliver customer outcome and to satisfy the important customers
Liaise and coordinate with regional/global Customer Success/Customer Success Stakeholders
Pro-active, problem solving, "can-do" attitude and “customer first” mindset
Ability to de-escalate customers by ordering, structuring, and bringing in the management's attention to a major incident or a problem
Set-up and lead all phases of the project lifecycle, including planning, design, development, testing, implementation, documentation, training, and closure
Work with Customer Stakeholders, Partners and SAP Management to effectively manage and lead projects to ensure successful completion and significant impact on customer business KPI
During implementations, manage overall services relationship, steering committee and project office, between customer, partner and SAP to ensure that projects are delivered on-time, within budget and with the highest levels of customer satisfaction through billable consulting
Manage expectations on the development of solid project plans, with milestones and clear deliverable (in IT and business terms), handling risks, issues and objections
Select, direct and develop your team members in accordance with the project goals
Willingness to travel also internationally
Oversees the customer engagement journey and ensures effective governance and alignment across multiple internal and external stakeholders such as SAP Services, SAP Product support, Partners and customer’s System Integrators or other Hosting Partners
Actively oversees and drives cloud transformation agenda with key client stakeholders
Maximize the customer success by helping to manage complexity, ensure stable operations, mitigate risk and lowering total cost of operation, support customers on their journey to the intelligent enterprise
Continually tries new and better ways to do things and actively brings a broader lens of customer and risk management into their decision making
Perform administrative tasks required to manage the engagement (staffing, reporting & controlling)
Actively participate in the governance meetings with customers and other SAP stakeholders (extended account team) and provides direction to the teams on delivery
Ensures effective end-to-end customer engagement and governance is applied across including commercial arrangements (costs and profitability), customer expectations, delivery team success, customer reporting
Enable delivery teams to Deliver best through proactive mindset and de-escalate critical customer situations
Enable regular customer satisfaction feedback
Enable SAP delivery teams to protect and grow engagement scope, leverage and cross-sell opportunities and manage commercial change requests
Participate in team-internal knowledge sharing and coach other team members
Effectively communicate complex ideas and persuade clients to adopt the recommended solution
Provide consultative expertise to the client, including guiding clients through key decisions and tradeoffs to maintain project scope and timeline
Provide updates on client statuses and escalate issues while maintaining control of the project
Stay organized and deliver on commitments, including updating any project tracking systems, maintain data hygiene and fulfilling administrative responsibilities
Create long term value roadmaps and plans with customer to achieve customer business objectives
Analyze and execute on strategic projects, build consensus among project stakeholders, ensure alignment of project tactics with corporate strategy and communicate project goals at a strategic level as well as actively identifying and developing more business opportunities
Oversees the customer engagement journey and ensures effective governance and alignment across multiple internal and external stakeholders such as SAP Services, SAP Product support, Partners and customer’s System Integrators or other Hosting Partners
Maximize the customer success by helping to manage complexity, ensure stable operations, mitigate risk and lowering total cost of operation, support customers on their journey to the intelligent enterprise

FAQs

What is the job title for this position?

The job title is Strategic Program Manager Middle and Eastern Europe (m/f/d).

What organization within SAP is this role part of?

This role is part of the SAP CS&D organization.

What are the key responsibilities of the Strategic Program Manager?

The key responsibilities include managing strategic customer engagements, sponsoring strategic customer strategy, defining a framework on best practices, and overseeing customer transformation strategies across various implementations.

What methodologies will most projects utilize?

Most projects will utilize agile/activate methodologies.

What qualifications are required for this position?

A Master's degree in finance, commerce, engineering, information technologies, computer science, MBA, or equivalent is required, along with excellent knowledge of project management methodologies and a proactive attitude.

Is travel required for this position?

Yes, a willingness to travel internationally is required.

What languages are necessary for this role?

Fluency in English is essential, and proficiency in German is highly desirable.

What kind of experience is preferred for applicants?

Applicants should have 12+ years of project management experience, preferably in a consulting/system integration company, with numerous large-scale implementations over $5 million.

What skills are important for this role?

Important skills include project management, team leadership, stakeholder management, excellent communication and presentation skills, and the ability to prioritize and manage workload effectively.

Is there any specific project management certification desirable for this role?

Yes, a PMP certification or other project management certifications are desirable.

How does SAP value inclusion in the workplace?

SAP is committed to a culture of inclusion, focusing on health and well-being, and flexible working models to ensure everyone feels included and can perform at their best.

How can applicants request accommodations during the application process?

Applicants in need of accommodations or special assistance can send an email with their request to the Recruiting Operations Team at Careers@sap.com.

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