At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major SAP transformation, enhancing engineering and manufacturing processes.
- Company: Join Leonardo UK, a leading defence organisation with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including mental health support and flexible working options.
- Other info: Access to 4,000+ online courses for continuous learning and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in reshaping digital systems in a mission-critical environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in SAP upgrades and exceptional stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 66150 - 80850 £ per year.
Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.
Your Impact: Join Leonardo UK as an SAP Transformation Lead and play a pivotal role in reshaping the digital backbone of a leading defence organisation. This is a rare opportunity to lead a complex, enterprise-wide SAP transformation—driving innovation across engineering, manufacturing, and operations while ensuring the highest standards of security, performance, and compliance in a mission-critical environment.
You will take ownership of a major SAP upgrade programme, guiding the organisation from a legacy landscape to a future-ready platform aligned with long-term strategic goals. Working at the intersection of technology and business, you will define the transformation roadmap, lead solution design and integration across SAP, PLM, and MES systems, and enable a seamless digital thread that enhances visibility, efficiency, and decision-making across the enterprise.
- Own and drive the end-to-end upgrade of the legacy SAP system (including all functions).
- Ownership of end-to-end business processes which impact on SAP (BD – Planning - Engineering - Manufacturing – Customer Support – Finance).
- Define and manage the upgrade strategy, including scope, deployment approach, risk mitigation, and resource planning.
- Lead technical assessment, solution design, data migration strategy, and cutover planning.
- Ensure all processes, custom code, and integrations are mapped, rationalised, or redesigned to meet future business needs.
- Develop and maintain a multi-year SAP technology roadmap aligned with business objectives and defence-industry compliance requirements.
- Identify opportunities for standardisation, process harmonisation, automation, and adoption of new SAP capabilities.
- Serve as the primary SAP interface with PLM and MES programme teams.
- Design and own the integration strategy between SAP, PLM, and MES to ensure seamless engineering, manufacturing, and supply-chain workflows.
- Ensure data alignment, Bill of Materials (BOM) synchronisation, configuration management, and traceability across systems.
- Champion end-to-end digital thread capability.
- Collaborate with Future Factory, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, IT Security, and Programme Leadership to define requirements and ensure solution alignment.
- Manage external partners and system integrators, ensuring delivery quality and adherence to standards.
- Communicate progress, relevant KPIs, risks, and decisions to senior leaders.
- Ensure all SAP solutions comply with defence-sector regulations, cybersecurity standards, export controls, and audit requirements.
- Establish high-quality documentation, system standards, and configuration controls.
What you'll bring:
- Proven experience leading major SAP upgrade or S/4HANA transformation programmes.
- Expert knowledge of core SAP modules.
- Strong background in SAP integration with PLM and MES environments.
- Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity, configuration control, and compliance frameworks.
- Experience with SAP EWM, IBP, or SAP Cloud products.
- Knowledge of digital thread, model-based engineering, and Industry 4.0 principles.
- Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile).
We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we're here to help you thrive.
- Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity.
- Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
- Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
- Spend up to 500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
- Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options.
For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace.
Locations
SAP Change Lead in Basildon, Essex employer: Leonardo DRS
Leonardo DRS is an excellent employer for students seeking practical experience in a supportive and dynamic environment. Located in Bedford, the company fosters a collaborative work culture that encourages personal growth and skill development, making it an ideal place for young individuals to kickstart their careers in inventory management and logistics. With hands-on training and mentorship opportunities, students can gain valuable insights while contributing to meaningful projects over their temporary tenure.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SAP Change Lead in Basildon, Essex
✨Tap into SAP Communities
Join online forums and communities dedicated to SAP ERP systems, like ASUG or SAP Community. Getting involved can help us understand current trends, gain insights, and even make valuable connections that might lead us to our next big opportunity!
✨Focus on Industry-Specific Networking
Attend industry-specific meetups, conferences, or webinars focused on SAP and ERP systems. Meeting professionals in person or virtually can set us apart and give us a chance to showcase our passion for this sector!
✨Polish Your SAP Skills
If you haven't already, consider getting certified in SAP modules relevant to your desired role. Not only does this boost our credibility, but it also opens doors to networking opportunities with fellow SAP professionals who might know about full-time openings at Leonardo DRS.
✨Check Out Leonardo DRS Directly
Keep an eye on Leonardo DRS’s career page for openings, especially for roles that match our skill set. Applying through their website can sometimes give us a better shot at getting noticed than going through job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace SAP Change Lead in Basildon, Essex
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your SAP Experience:When applying for the SAP Change Lead role at Leonardo DRS, make sure your CV shines with any direct experience you have using SAP ERP systems. If you've completed any relevant projects, list them out and emphasise the outcomes you achieved – this will show us that you can hit the ground running!
Showcase Relevant Certifications:Certifications are a big deal in the SAP world. If you've earned any SAP-related qualifications, like SAP Certified Application Associate, don’t be shy about listing them prominently. They can really set you apart and prove your commitment to mastering the tools we use at Leonardo DRS.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Us:In your cover letter, take the time to explain why you're specifically drawn to this role at Leonardo DRS. We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in our mission and how you can contribute to our team with your skills in SAP ERP. Make it personal – it helps us get to know you better!
Be Clear About Your Availability:Since this is a full-time position, clearly state your availability in your application. If you have any specific start dates in mind or you're flexible, let us know! It helps us get a better picture of how soon you could join our team at Leonardo DRS.
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo DRS
✨Brush Up on SAP Modules
Make sure you're well-versed in the specific SAP modules relevant to the role at Leonardo DRS. Study the functionalities and configurations of the modules they've listed in the job description, as you'll likely face technical questions about them.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Skills
Be ready to showcase your analytical skills during the interview. You might be asked to solve a scenario involving data analysis or reporting, so think about past experiences where you’ve extracted valuable insights from SAP data.
✨Know Your Integration Points
Since SAP ERP often interacts with various other systems, brush up on how these integrations work. Be prepared to discuss your experience with middleware tools or connecting different modules—this knowledge can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Show Enthusiasm for Continuous Learning
In a full-time role, you'll be expected to keep your skills sharp as SAP continually evolves. Express your eagerness for ongoing training and projects where you've taken the initiative to further your understanding of new SAP technologies.
