At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the ERP platform strategy and oversee SAP systems for a global beauty company.
- Company: Join Wella Company, a leader in the beauty industry with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, remote work options, and generous employee discounts.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic role that shapes the future of ERP technology.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in SAP leadership and strong vendor management skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career growth and diverse workplace culture.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 Β£ per year.
Location: Remote/Hybrid
Reports to: Senior Director, Technology Business Partnering for Finance, Corporate Services & ERP
Direct Reports: 3
About The Wella Company
Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves. Wella Company is one of the worldβs leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves.
The Role
The Associate Director - ERP Platform Lead is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for the end-to-end ERP application platform β spanning SAP ECC, S/4HANA, and satellite systems. This role owns the ERP (SAP) platform roadmap, oversees outsourced delivery partners, and ensures architectural alignment with Wella's enterprise standards. Sitting within the Foundational Platform ERP team, the ERP Platform Lead partners closely with Business Process Owners, Solution Architects, and Service Delivery to ensure the stability, scalability, and modernization of SAP systems. In addition, the role contributes to SAP innovation, vendor roadmap alignment, budget and licensing optimization, and works closely with infrastructure teams on cloud capacity and performance management β ensuring the SAP platform supports current needs and is fit for future transformation. The ERP Platform Lead influences technical policy, monitors emerging technologies, and maintains readiness of both production and non-production environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Platform Strategy & Roadmap: Define and evolve the ERP (SAP) application platform roadmap aligned with enterprise strategy. Own lifecycle plans including upgrades, migrations, patching, and modernization. Coordinate across application teams and enterprise architects to align SAP with platform standards. Drive SAP-related innovation and align with vendor product roadmaps.
- Technical Governance & Operations: Ensure architectural consistency across SAP instances, interfaces, and satellite systems. Manage change control, transport strategy, and performance tuning across SAP environments. Track technical debt, assess risks, and plan remediation for inclusion in platform roadmap. Ensure non-production SAP environments are fit for purpose.
- Vendor & Budget Oversight: Manage AMS/vendor delivery, ensuring SLA adherence and service quality. Contribute to licensing model optimization and contract negotiations. Define SAP-related costing inputs and support budget management. Collaborate with infrastructure teams to ensure SAP environments run effectively on underlying computers, storage, and cloud platforms.
- Security, Audit & Compliance: Enforce platform standards for security, reliability, and compliance. Define access policies in collaboration with InfoSec. Ensure compliance with IT general controls, SoD, and audit requirements.
- Leadership & Collaboration: Simplify complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders. Guide decision-making, balancing trade-offs in cost, scalability, and performance. Build strong collaboration across IT, business leadership, and global teams.
Essential Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- Deep understanding of SAP technical architecture, Basis, and landscape management.
- Experience with hybrid SAP environments (on-prem, cloud, managed hosting).
- Ability to partner effectively with infrastructure teams, with awareness of cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, containers, serverless).
- Strong vendor management, negotiation, and contract oversight skills.
- Familiarity with SAP licensing models and cost optimization.
- Ability to model alternative architectures and assess emerging technologies.
- Skilled communicator, able to engage both technical and business stakeholders.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, or related discipline.
- SAP technical certifications (Basis, HANA, or related) preferred.
- 10+ years in SAP platform leadership, architecture, or enterprise application roles.
- Proven track record in large ERP environments (SAP essential; other ERP experience desirable).
- Experience managing AMS/vendor delivery models in regulated/global organizations.
- Hands-on experience with modern cloud platforms, containers, and automation.
- Knowledge of testing methodologies and tools.
- Prior collaboration with Corporate Functions (Finance, Supply Chain, HR, R&D).
- Strong problem-solving, results orientation, and ability to work independently or in a team.
What We Offer
- 25 days holiday + additional day off for your birthday (not including bank holidays).
- 3 days' personal leave for your own significant life events.
- 2 paid days off for volunteering/charity work.
- Optional Wella Pension Scheme (8% employer contribution, 3% employee contribution).
- Optional Family Private Medical Insurance Cover.
- Income Protection Life Insurance (8x base salary up to 2 million payable in the event of your death in service of Wella).
- Staff Discount (80% of all hair products, 40% OPI, 1 x 50% ghd).
- EAP (Employee Assistance Program).
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
- Gym Benefits.
- Eye Tests.
- WOW Program (Bonus following exit from KKR, eligible after successful probation. For permanent employees only).
- Workplace/Nursery Benefits.
- 4 weeks working remotely abroad.
- Early Friday Finish during Summer.
EEO Opportunities
The Wella Company wants to meet the aims and commitments set out in its equality policy. This includes not discriminating under the Equality Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce in encouraging equality and diversity. We offer equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to race, religion or belief, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Wella Company complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at https://www.wellacompany.com/consumer-affairs.
We strongly believe that cultivating a diverse workplace gives a company strength. The combination of unique skills, abilities, experiences and backgrounds creates an environment that produces extraordinary results.
EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled.
Erp Platform Lead employer: Wella Company
Contact Detail:
Wella Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Erp Platform Lead
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at Wella or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
β¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Wella's values and recent projects. Show us how your experience aligns with their mission to empower individuals and innovate in the beauty industry. Tailor your answers to reflect their goals!
β¨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online platforms. Focus on articulating your technical skills and leadership experience clearly, so we can see how you'd fit into the ERP Platform Lead role.
β¨Tip Number 4
Donβt forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email expressing your enthusiasm for the role can leave a lasting impression. It shows us you're genuinely interested in joining the Wella team.
We think you need these skills to ace Erp Platform Lead
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the ERP Platform Lead role. Highlight your experience with SAP systems and any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
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 a perfect fit. Donβt forget to mention your understanding of SAP architecture and vendor management.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements rather than just duties. Quantify your successes where possible, like improvements in system performance or cost savings. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining the Wella family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wella Company
β¨Know Your SAP Inside Out
Make sure you have a deep understanding of SAP technical architecture and landscape management. Brush up on your knowledge of hybrid environments, as well as the latest innovations in SAP. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to lead the ERP platform.
β¨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've simplified complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders in the past. Highlight your ability to guide decision-making and build strong collaborations across teams. This is crucial for the role, so be ready to discuss your leadership style and experiences.
β¨Be Ready to Discuss Vendor Management
Familiarise yourself with vendor management and contract negotiation strategies. Be prepared to talk about your experience managing AMS/vendor delivery models and how you've ensured service quality in previous roles. This will show that you can handle the budget oversight responsibilities effectively.
β¨Understand Compliance and Security Standards
Brush up on IT general controls, security policies, and compliance requirements relevant to SAP platforms. Be ready to discuss how you've enforced these standards in your previous roles, as this is a key responsibility for the position. Showing your awareness of these aspects will set you apart from other candidates.