Yallo Retail - Cutover Manager (10-15 yrs)

About the job :

Role : SAP Cutover Manager

Type : Contract

Location : Remote (US Shift)

1 Year (rolling)

Cutover Strategy Development :

- Develop and define the cutover strategy, ensuring it aligns with project objectives, timelines, and business needs.

- Work with key stakeholders to establish a comprehensive cutover plan, including key milestones, dependencies, and deliverables.

- Ensure that the cutover strategy is communicated clearly to all relevant teams and is integrated into the overall project plan.

Cutover Planning and Coordination :

- Lead the detailed planning of cutover activities, including system migrations, data transfers, and process changes.

- Coordinate across multiple teams, including IT, business units, and external vendors, to ensure all aspects of the cutover are covered.

- Schedule and manage cutover rehearsals (mock cutovers) to validate the plan and identify potential issues before the actual cutover.

Execution Oversight :

- Oversee the execution of the cutover plan, ensuring that all tasks are carried out as scheduled and according to plan.

- Monitor real-time progress during the cutover, addressing any issues or deviations immediately.

- Ensure that all necessary approvals and checkpoints are met before proceeding to subsequent phases of the cutover.

Risk and Issue Management :

- Identify and assess potential risks to the cutover process, developing and implementing mitigation strategies.

- Manage any issues that arise during the cutover, coordinating with relevant teams to resolve them quickly.

- Escalate critical risks or issues to senior management, providing recommendations for resolution and contingency plans.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication :

- Act as the primary point of contact for all cutover-related activities, ensuring clear and consistent communication with all stakeholders.

- Keep stakeholders informed of progress, risks, and issues throughout the cutover process.

- Facilitate regular meetings and briefings to ensure that everyone is aligned and aware of their roles during the cutover.

Quality Assurance and Compliance :

- Ensure that all cutover activities adhere to established quality standards, governance frameworks, and compliance requirements.

- Conduct thorough testing and validation of systems and processes before and after cutover to ensure everything is functioning as expected.

- Document and track any defects or issues that arise, ensuring they are addressed promptly.

Resource Management :

- Assess and allocate the necessary resources for the cutover, including personnel, tools, and budget.

- Coordinate with HR, project management, and other departments to ensure that all required resources are available and properly allocated.

- Monitor resource utilisation throughout the cutover process, making adjustments as necessary to avoid bottlenecks.

Post-Cutover Support and Stabilisation :

- Provide immediate support following the cutover to address any issues that may arise and ensure a smooth transition.

- Monitor system performance and user feedback during the stabilization period, implementing fixes or adjustments as needed.

- Conduct a post-cutover review to assess the success of the cutover and capture lessons learned for future projects.

Documentation and Reporting :

- Maintain comprehensive documentation of all cutover activities, decisions, and outcomes.

- Prepare regular status reports for senior management and stakeholders, summarizing progress, risks, and issues.

- Ensure that all documentation is properly stored and accessible for future reference and audits.

Required Skills :

- The ideal candidate will have 10+ Years of experience in SAP systems with at least 2-3 Projects (in ERP upgrades, EHP upgrades) as a Cutover manager.

- Knowledge about the different phases of a cutover in terms of a brownfield conversion.

- Meticulous planning skills, and excellent communication abilities to coordinate across multiple teams and stakeholders.

- By fulfilling this role and responsibilities, the SAP Cutover Manager ensures a smooth, efficient, and successful transition during system implementations, upgrades, or migrations, minimizing disruption and maximizing project success.