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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major SAP transformation, driving innovation in a defence organisation.
- Company: Join Leonardo UK, a leader in defence technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension scheme, mental health support, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Enjoy continuous learning opportunities and tailored perks for your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on digital transformation in a mission-critical environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in SAP upgrades and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 ÂŁ per year.
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.
In this role you will:
- 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.
- Define governance frameworks for enhancement requests, prioritisation and change control.
- 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 KPI’s, risks, and decisions to senior leader.
- 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 (e.g., PP, MM, QM, SD, FI/CO) and integration technologies (BAPIs, IDocs, APIs).
- Strong background in SAP integration with PLM and MES environments.
- Experience working in highly regulated or defence/aerospace industries.
- 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).
- Experience with classified system environments.
Security Clearance
This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).
Why join us:
- Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
- Secure your Future: Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Your Wellbeing Matters: 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 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
- Tailored Perks: Spend up to ÂŁ500 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.
Primary Location: GB - Edinburgh
Additional Locations: GB - Basildon, GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300, GB - Southampton
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Hybrid
SAP Transformation Lead employer: Leonardo UK Ltd
Contact Detail:
Leonardo UK Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land SAP Transformation Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at Leonardo or similar companies. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their SAP transformation goals and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your past experiences and how they relate to the SAP upgrade programme. Use specific examples to showcase your skills in leading transformations and managing stakeholders effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Leonardo.
We think you need these skills to ace SAP Transformation Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the SAP Transformation Lead role. Highlight your experience with SAP upgrades and any relevant projects you've led. We want to see how your skills align with the job description!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your understanding of the defence sector and compliance requirements.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a lead, we need to see your leadership chops! Include examples of how you've managed teams or projects in the past, especially in complex environments. This will help us understand your approach to stakeholder management and communication.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo UK Ltd
✨Know Your SAP Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of core SAP modules like PP, MM, and FI/CO. Be ready to discuss how you've led major SAP upgrade programmes in the past, especially any experience with S/4HANA transformations. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the technology but can also lead complex projects.
✨Understand the Defence Sector
Since this role is within a highly regulated environment, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of compliance frameworks and cybersecurity standards. Familiarise yourself with the specific regulations that apply to the defence industry, as this will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your exceptional stakeholder management and leadership abilities. Think about times when you’ve successfully communicated progress or managed external partners. This will help illustrate your capability to lead cross-functional teams effectively.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to SAP integration with PLM and MES environments. Brush up on integration technologies like BAPIs and APIs, and be prepared to discuss your approach to data migration strategies and cutover planning. This will demonstrate your technical expertise and readiness for the role.