SuccessFactors Functional Specialist (Employee Central) in Milton Keynes

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part‑time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

About the Role

People Services is committed to providing The Open University with high-quality people and data solutions and is valued for its efficiency, expertise, partnering capability and service. We are embarking on a critical project for the organisation implementing Establishment Control and optimising the associated processes within our HR system – SAP SuccessFactors. We are seeking a SuccessFactors Functional Specialist (Employee Central) to support the translation of requirements for systems change, review operational ways of working, design business process changes, assist with systems testing and update relevant documentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the detailed definitions of system requirements and provide support through the project.
• Provide data analysis of records held between HR and Finance Systems to identify anomalies for correction.
• Analyse and document SAP-related requirements and business processes detailing impacts and effectiveness aligned to the project deliverables.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, project team, solution architect and developers to ensure changes being implemented will meet the specified requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement by reviewing and optimizing existing systems and business processes.
• Provide reports, both oral and written on the above activities and work progress.
• Facilitate workshops and stakeholder sessions, effectively engaging and communicating with all stakeholders.
• Ensure that all work follows appropriate standards and conforms to agreed quality plans, and identify improvements to standards and processes.

About You

Essential:

• Hands‑on operational experience and knowledge of SuccessFactors Employee Central with an understanding of HR foundation objects and processes to support project deliverables.
• Proven experience in Systems Business Analysis, with a strong background in gathering, analysing and documenting business and functional requirements within SAP SuccessFactors environments.
• Experience supporting IT change projects, including release management within a structured change control framework.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across multi-disciplinary stakeholder groups, to deliver system or process improvements.
• In‑depth understanding of requirements management and business process analysis techniques, including process mapping, gap analysis and impact assessment.
• Broad knowledge of key IT capabilities and developments, and how they can be deployed for business advantage.
• Sound knowledge of quality assurance and testing methodologies through the SAP development lifecycle, including data validation and user acceptance testing.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal (to discuss and explain analysis, requirements and solutions).

Desirable:

• Comprehensive understanding of SAP Employee Central and downstream SAP modules, with experience with system enhancements.
• Experience of requirements analysis to meet complex business needs and working experience in a senior analyst role on large scale SAP projects.
• Experience of working in an agile development environment.
• Experience in logical data modelling.
• Experience of supporting operational applications.
• Recent practical experience of working with business users on business change projects in a medium/large organisation.
• Some experience of system testing.

Skills, capabilities and qualities:

• Positive and proactive in adding value in all areas of work.
• Able to quickly understand business issues and problems and take a logical problem‑solving approach to their resolution.
• Passionate about success.
• Influencing and negotiation skills to resolve conflicts between stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Effective verbal and written communication.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What’s in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance.

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you. It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be on average 2 times per month.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

We anticipate that interviews for this role will be taking place online via Microsoft Teams during early December.

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following documents: CV and a personal statement of up to 1000 words. You should set out in your statement why you are interested in the role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the essential skills & experience requirements for this role as detailed in the job description.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.