What are the responsibilities and job description for the SAP COE Manager position at Naviga?
About Our Client
Our client is a growing, 100 year old employee-owned technology distributor that provides end-to-end solutions for resellers, retailers, and clients across the SMB and consumer markets. Empowered by employee co-owners, the company fosters a collaborative culture dedicated to providing the industry’s best service. They are deeply committed to community involvement and the promotion of sustainable, eco-friendly business practices.The Opportunity
This is a brand-new leadership position designed to build, mature, and lead the strategy for the Customer Center of Expertise (COE). As the SAP COE Manager, you will oversee the strategy, governance, and "run-improve" model for SAP S/4HANA under RISE, ensuring stable operations and controlled innovation across the ERP landscape. You will lead a cross-functional team of four functional consultants, serving as a critical liaison to ensure value realization and adherence to "clean core" principles.The Location
This role requires travel to Harrisburg, PA. The travel schedule is flexible, typically following a "2 weeks on, 2 weeks off" onsite model that does not necessarily have to be consistent. While the company is open to candidates interested in relocating to the Harrisburg area, please note that relocation assistance is not provided.What You Will Do
- Establish and mature the Customer COE operating model, governance, and accreditation roadmap to maximize SAP ROI.
- Define and run demand, intake, and portfolio processes balancing Run IT and Improve IT value streams.
- Clarify and manage RISE roles and responsibilities across SAP Enterprise Cloud Services, SI partners, and internal teams.
- Lead adherence to SAP Activate with fit-to-standard workshops and clean core extensibility guardrails.
- Manage SAP Cloud ALM as the system of record for requirements, testing, deployment, and operations monitoring.
- Own ITIL-aligned practices for incident, problem, and change enablement.
- Direct release and upgrade management for S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, coordinating testing and business readiness.
- Govern transport and deployment pipelines to ensure segregation of duties and audit compliance.
- Directly manage a cross-functional COE team, including functional consultants and partner resources.
Who You Are
- Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Bring 8 years of SAP delivery experience, including at least 3 years leading an SAP COE or equivalent leadership in S/4HANA programs.
- Demonstrate hands-on experience with S/4HANA under RISE and a clear understanding of customer versus SAP responsibilities.
- Expert in applying SAP Activate methodologies across Prepare, Explore, Realize, and Deploy phases.
- Proficient with SAP Cloud ALM for implementation, operations, and release orchestration.
- Strong command of ITIL incident, problem, and change enablement practices. Experienced in managing upgrade cycles specifically for S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition.
- Excellent at stakeholder management, vendor governance, and professional communication.
Why Join the Team?
As a co-owner in this employee-owned company, you will participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and a 401k plan. The comprehensive "Total Rewards" package includes medical, prescription, dental, and vision benefits, along with paid time off. Additionally, co-owners enjoy unique perks such as gym reimbursement, work-from-home reimbursement, a tuition assistance program, and an employee purchase program offering discounts on various services.________________________________________
About Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search
Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search is a leading provider of Contingent Workforce Solutions, Executive Search, Leadership and Individual Contributor hiring, empowering businesses to achieve their strategic objectives through expert talent acquisition. Our specialties include sales, marketing, finance/accounting and operations hiring. With a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of market trends, Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search helps organizations build high-performing teams and navigate complex workforce challenges. Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search specializes in U.S. Hiring for Global Businesses.