Sap Technical Lead – Operations & Critical Programs

**SAP Technical Lead – Operations & Critical Programs** **Location** Dublin, Ireland **Role Summary** The SAP Technical Lead is responsible for **end-to-end SAP technical operations**, stability, and execution of **critical transformation and remediation programs**. This role owns SAP **production reliability**, leads **incident and outage management**, drives **RISE with SAP operational governance**, and ensures **high-quality service delivery from System Integrators (SIs)** and SAP internal teams. The role requires strong technical depth, decisive leadership during crises, and the ability to operate seamlessly across business, SAP, hyperscalers, and SI partners. **Key Responsibilities** **SAP Operations & Production Stability** * Own **SAP technical operations** across ECC and S/4HANA landscapes, including ABAP, Basis, integrations, and related middleware. * Ensure **24x7 production stability**, performance, availability, and compliance with defined SLAs and OLAs. * Lead **proactive monitoring, problem management, and root cause analysis** to prevent recurring incidents. * Drive operational excellence across transports, upgrades, patching, performance tuning, and system housekeeping. **RISE with SAP Operations & Governance** * Act as the **technical owner for RISE with SAP environments**, including Private Cloud / hyperscaler-hosted landscapes. * Manage **SAP RISE governance** covering: * SAP Cloud ALM / Solution Manager processes * Incident, change, release, and escalation management * Contractual SLAs and service credits * Coordinate with **SAP RISE operations teams** during incidents, capacity events, upgrades, and planned maintenance. * Ensure clear ownership boundaries between **SAP, hyperscaler, SI, and internal teams**. **Critical Incident & Outage Management** * Serve as the **command center lead** during **Priority-1 / critical outages** impacting business operations. * Directly engage with: * SAP Product Support and RISE Mission Control * Hyperscaler teams (AWS/Azure/GCP where applicable) * System Integrators and internal technical teams * Lead **war rooms**, ensure rapid containment, drive restoration, and communicate status to senior leadership. * Own **post-incident reviews**, root cause documentation, and corrective/preventive action plans. **System Integrator (SI) Service Delivery Management** * Provide **technical oversight and governance** of System Integrators responsible for SAP build and run services. * Ensure SI adherence to: * Architecture standards * Security and compliance requirements * Delivery quality, timelines, and cost controls * Challenge SI recommendations constructively and ensure decisions align with enterprise strategy. * Review SI deliverables including designs, transports, testing outcomes, cutover plans, and hypercare support. **Critical Programs & Transformations** * Lead or support **high-impact SAP technical programs** such as: * S/4HANA transformations * Landscape separations (carve-outs / spin-offs) * System consolidations and decommissioning * RISE transitions and optimization initiatives * Ensure technical readiness for **cutovers, go-lives, and Day 2 operations**. * Partner with business and functional leads to reduce risk and ensure operational continuity. **Stakeholder & Leadership Engagement** * Act as a trusted technical advisor to **IT leadership and business stakeholders**. * Translate complex technical issues into **clear business impact and risk statements**. * Mentor and guide SAP technical teams, fostering operational ownership and engineering discipline. **Required Skills & Experience** **Mandatory** * 12+ years of **SAP technical experience** across Basis, ABAP, integrations, and SAP operations. * Proven leadership in **production operations and critical outage management**. * Hands-on experience with **RISE with SAP** (Private Cloud preferred). * Strong experience working with **System Integrators** in both build and run models. * Deep understanding of **SAP incident, problem, change, and release management** processes. **Preferred** * Experience with **S/4HANA transformation or selective carve-out programs**. * Exposure to **Hyperscaler platforms** (Azure, AWS, or GCP). * Familiarity with **SAP Cloud ALM, Solution Manager, and SAP support escalation models**. * Experience operating in **global, multi-time-zone environments**. **Leadership & Behavioral Competencies** * Calm, decisive leadership under pressure * Strong ownership mindset and accountability * Excellent communication with senior stakeholders * Ability to challenge vendors constructively * Outcome-driven and highly structured in execution #LI-PT2 Privacy Notice - Active Candidates: [https://www.aptiv.com/privacy-notice-active-candidates](https://www.aptiv.com/privacy-notice-active-candidates) Aptiv is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.