NOVIPRO is supporting an important client in its search for a seasoned project manager to oversee a major SAP S/4HANA upgrade initiative. The selected candidate will be responsible for steering the entire upgrade program—from early planning activities to final production deployment—ensuring alignment with corporate governance, industry standards, and regulatory obligations commonly found in a highly controlled sector.
Title: SAP S/4HANA Upgrade Project Manager
Location: Hybrid – presence required about 50% of the time in one of the offices (Montreal, Brossard, Valcourt, Sherbrooke)
Contract Duration: Until January 31, 2027
Language: English or bilingual
Main Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Structure
Build and maintain a detailed roadmap that covers project phases, timelines, resources, and alignment with the broader transformation program.
Maintain risk and dependency tracking to ensure proactive decision-making.
Guarantee adherence to recognized delivery frameworks, particularly SAP Activate.
Upgrade Delivery Leadership
Orchestrate all stages of the upgrade: initial preparation, sandbox cycles, development iterations, validation and quality assurance, and final production transition.
Manage end-to-end testing cycles, including integrated, performance, and regression tests.
Oversee change management processes and secure operational continuity during technical transitions.
Stakeholder Collaboration & Reporting
Act as the key point of coordination between business teams, IT leadership, functional experts, BASIS groups, and external partners.
Produce clear updates and structured reporting for executives and program governance committees.
Navigate complex vendor landscapes and multi-party delivery environments.
Compliance & Risk Oversight
Identify, evaluate, and mitigate project risks.
Ensure the upgrade meets compliance expectations, particularly those relevant to regulated industries (pharma, biotech, life sciences).
Organizational Readiness
Lead documentation, training, and change management activities to support user readiness.
Facilitate transition-to-operations and support early stabilization.
Required Background
Professional Experience
Over 10 years of experience managing SAP initiatives.
Hands-on experience leading S/4HANA upgrade programs (e.g., upgrading versions from early releases to more recent ones such as 2023+).
Work history within environments governed by strict regulatory frameworks (pharma or life sciences is a strong asset).
Technical & Functional Skills
In-depth understanding of SAP Activate.
Knowledge of supply chain and manufacturing processes within S/4HANA.
Comfortable working with BASIS teams and navigating technical architecture topics.
Experience managing testing cycles in complex system landscapes.
Interpersonal Skills
Proven ability to manage senior stakeholders and communicate effectively across technical and business communities.
Skilled in multi-vendor coordination and global program structures.
Certifications
PMP, PRINCE2, or an equivalent project management certification.
SAP certifications are an advantage.
Preferred Profile
Exposure to complex integration scenarios and remediation of custom developments.
Familiarity with SAP infrastructure components and system landscapes.
Experience driving major cutovers and coordinating large-scale testing activities.
