SAP Center of Excellence Manager

About Us:

Founded in 1966, Niterra North America, Inc. (formerly NGK Spark Plugs) is a global leader in spark plug and oxygen sensor design, driven by technology, innovation, and world-class quality. Today, that tradition continues as we transform our organization’s portfolio, expand our core ceramic technologies, explore capabilities beyond traditional areas, and challenge ourselves to develop solutions and services that leverage technology to address social issues while contributing to a sustainable society.

Summary:

The SAP Center of Excellence Manager supervises and leads teams supporting various business units in their utilization of the SAP system, leads projects related to the SAP applications, and operates as an internal consultant and thought leader with IT professionals and business users.

Classification: Salary, Exempt

Work Address: 46929 Magellan Dr, Wixom, MI 48393

Rate of Pay: $147,077.00 per year

Responsibilities:

• Under general supervision of GM and Director, responsible for supervising and leading teams supporting various business units in their utilization of the SAP system.
• Lead projects related to the SAP applications and operate as an internal consultant and thought leader with IT professionals and business users; working with both groups to ensure project objectives are well defined, tracked and completed on schedule.
• Lead role in ensuring smooth integration and rollout of systems by coordinating closely with the affected functional areas.
• Provide and transfer functional and process knowledge by keeping current on various published materials and training outlets.
• Assist IT professionals and key business users in creating the functional requirements needed to alter SAP in line with changes in business practices.
• Responsible for translating the user’s functional specifications into a technical specification on which the new configuration will be based.
• Provide support to teams in the areas of localizing detailed designs, process documentation, data cleansing and migration, user acceptance training, end user training and “go-live” support.
• Develop and create process documentation as required.
• Review and dispatch support requests/tickets to appropriate team members.
• Analyze process change requests/new process development requests for form, fit and function within SAP systems.
• Collaborate with IT and Business Leaders to build IT Roadmap and Strategies.
• Engage with and support GHQ initiatives related to the Enterprise Applications space.
• Coordinate with peers in other RHQs on issues related to the Enterprise Applications space.
• Promote a continuous improvement philosophy in the team.
• Adhere to all company policies and procedures which include IATF, ISO, ISMS, TISAX, QMS, J-Sox and Safety related policies.
• Travel requirements: 10% of travel (domestic and international).

Qualifications:

• Minimum education and experience required: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Science, Computer Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Finance, Accounting or related field plus 5 years of experience in SAP field or related occupation.
• Ability to capture business requirements and translate into functional design specifications for SAP development.
• SME Level SAP FI and CO Module Configuration Experience.
• Firm AR/AP/GL Accounting Experience.
• SAP Credit Management Configuration Experience.
• SAP Profit Center, Cost Center Accounting Skills.
• SAP Taxation Configuration Skills for multiple currencies and countries.
• SAP Report Painter Experience.
• End to End Process Fluency across order to cash, procure to pay, record to report, plan to produce, and warehouse/logistics execution.
• Understanding of SAP technical underpinnings (transports, batch jobs, IDOCs, RFCs, user exits, BAPIs, BADIs, and enhancement framework).
• Experience translating business strategy into SAP design—focusing not just on system capabilities, but on what SAP should deliver to drive business outcomes.
• Experience in process governance including defining standards, approving design, enforcing global templates.
• Experience with data strategy creation and implementation skills related to material master, business partner/vendor/customer, source lists, Purchasing Info Records, Customer Material Info Records, Bills of Materials, Routings, valuation, pricing, inspection plans, etc.
• Experience with change control discipline, i.e. transport sequencing, regression risk assessments, and release management.
• Experience in controls and compliance standards and application of those standards, i.e. SOX, JSOX, audit readiness, segregation of duties, workflow approvals, etc.
• Experience managing multiple vendors to achieve defined project outcomes successfully.
• Experience in risk management; i.e. identifying integration, data, cutover risks early and taking proactive steps to mitigate/minimize risks.
• Cutover and deployment leadership skills such as step sequencing, mock cycles, data loads, and hyper care stabilization.
• Experienced in the use of business cases, payback modeling, cost to serve improvements, etc.
• Experience establishing engineering standards for solution design, technical documentation, and rigorous system testing disciplines.
• Experience applying quantitative capacity planning models and resource-allocation to optimize workforce deployment.
• Experience architecting incident escalation protocols and risk matrices for early-stage anomaly identification.
• Experience setting expectations with stakeholders across all skill levels.
• Experience enforcing compliance with standards by applying influence strategies in non-authority contexts, including managing stakeholder pressure for non-compliant quick fixes.
• Experience managing incident lifecycles utilizing statistical root cause analysis (RCA) and trend metrics.
• Proficiency in driving digital transformation through the assessment, selection, and implementation of advanced automation, AI/ML frameworks, forecasting tools, and RPA solutions.
• Experience utilizing structured Change Management methodologies to execute complex technology migrations and system adoptions.
• Experience defining, tracking, and delivering project Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Return on Investment (ROI) metrics aligned with strategic business outcomes and packaging for executive level presentation.
• Employer will accept any amount of experience with the required skills.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Financial Security: Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a generous company match of up to 6%.
• Time Off: Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid maternity and paternity leave.
• And much more!

How to Apply:

To apply, click “Apply” to submit your resume.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Niterra is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Niterra North America Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Notice to Staffing Firms:

Niterra does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or CVs from recruitment agencies. We are not responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions, or other payments related to unsolicited resumes or CVs, except as required by a written contract between Niterra and the recruitment agency or party requesting payment of a fee.

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