At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead SAP Basis and Security teams, ensuring a stable and secure SAP environment.
- Company: Join Penguin, a creative powerhouse with a collaborative tech team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous bonus, hybrid working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working culture with opportunities for growth and creativity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while leading innovative SAP projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in SAP Basis support, team leadership, and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced SAP Basis Lead to join our Technology team here at Penguin. This role is offered on a permanent basis from our office in Embassy Gardens, London. This role will take responsibility for the oversight of our SAP technical and security environment, helping us to ensure the platform remains stable, secure and well supported across the wider SAP landscape.
You’ll lead the team responsible for configuring, monitoring, tuning and troubleshooting the SAP technical environment, whilst also overseeing the delivery of SAP Security support and services. A key part of the role will be ensuring effective role administration and Segregation of Duties adherence, providing strong technical leadership and helping us to maintain a secure, resilient and well-governed SAP environment.
About the team
The Technology team provides expertise and effective solutions to Penguin Random House. We integrate flexibility and agility which supports our consistent way of working. We set ourselves up for success by holding ourselves accountable and welcoming change. Each member of the Technology team brings skill and initiative to their role; we take personal ownership within a one team culture, working collaboratively to meet expectations from our stakeholders who trust us to deliver.
The role
Key responsibilities:
- Lead and support the SAP Basis and Security workstreams, including oversight of the offshore team, ensuring activity is aligned with our Technology Strategy, agreed standards and best practice.
- Maintain and optimise the SAP environment across ECC, BTP and Solution Manager, ensuring strong system performance, availability and stability.
- Manage SAP transports, client administration and technical changes in line with PRH change-management processes and controls.
- Monitor the health of SAP systems, proactively identifying and resolving issues across areas including work processes, logs, dumps, locks, traces, interfaces and capacity.
- Work closely with database and infrastructure teams on upgrades, maintenance, performance, storage, backup and recovery.
- Plan and support SAP upgrades, kernel updates and other maintenance activity, including out-of-hours go-live or upgrade support where required.
- Maintain accurate technical documentation across SAP systems and interfaces, whilst ensuring appropriate evidence is available for audit and compliance purposes.
- Lead the resolution of complex technical issues, providing clear options and recommendations where appropriate.
- Mentor and guide the Basis and Security team, whilst providing clear status updates to management and supporting effective service management practices.
What you’ll bring
Essential criteria:
- Significant experience of SAP Basis support and project delivery, including installations, upgrades and migrations.
- People management experience, with the ability to lead, support and develop a technical team.
- Strong SAP Security and Authorisations experience.
- Relevant experience of SAP BTP and GRC.
- Experience working with Windows Server environments, including Microsoft Clustering.
- Experience of SQL Server-based systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues.
- Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Desirable criteria:
- Experience of SAP Signavio.
- Experience working with Okta in an SAP environment.
- Experience of Automic.
- Professional SAP Basis certification.
Application instructions
Please apply with your CV by 23:59 on Thursday 1st October 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the advert may close at any time. We would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Disability Confident
As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview. We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing.
Salary
The salary for this opportunity is c.70,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus a generous bonus scheme and benefits.
Hybrid working
While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will work from our head office in Embassy Gardens, London a minimum of 2 days per week (Tuesday & Thursday) with additional days for team meetings, townhalls etc as required. There may also be occasional travel to our warehouse site in Frating, Colchester.
SAP Basis Lead in London employer: Bertelsmann
At DK, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development within the finance sector. Join us in the UK, where you will be part of a supportive team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the publishing industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SAP Basis Lead in London
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Bertelsmann values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Bertelsmann might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Bertelsmann!
✨Direct Apply to Bertelsmann
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Bertelsmann website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace SAP Basis Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Bertelsmann.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Bertelsmann. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bertelsmann
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
