Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances, flavors, food, nutrition, and cosmetic ingredients. Its clients include manufacturers of perfumes, cosmetics, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and producers of nutritional supplements and pet food.
The digitalization of Symrise’s core operational processes has been identified as one of three drivers for our corporate strategy. Symrise Group IT acts as a primary enabler and facilitator for the company’s digital transformation.
Symrise is embarking on a multi-year strategic ERP transformation, consolidating multiple SAP ECC instances into a unified S/4HANA platform. As the SAP S/4Hana Digital Core Program Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our enterprise IT landscape. The organization is currently operating across multiple ERP systems, i.e., three regional ECC, one S/4HANA and multiple Microsoft environments.
Symrise – always inspiring more…
Your role
Reporting to the Chief Digital & Information Officer, you will drive this global high-impact initiative, ensuring alignment with business priorities, optimizing processes, and enabling a more agile, efficient, and scalable operations. As a pivotal member of Symrise Group IT, which leads Symrise’s digital transformation agenda, you will work closely with executive stakeholders, ensuring that technology enables business success.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Lead and execute the ERP transformation roadmap, overseeing the transition to S/4HANA while aligning program objectives with business strategy to ensure seamless integration with enterprise-wide systems, leveraging cloud technologies to enhance agility and efficiency
- Develop and implement a governance framework, collaborating with Global Process Owners and Process Experts to drive harmonization and operational excellence
- Manage and orchestrate a complex, multi-phase transformation program, ensuring timely and cost-effective execution while managing relationships with strategic partners and solution providers
- Drive technical and architectural decisions, leveraging deep SAP expertise to optimize system design, ensure data integrity, and maintain strong process integration across key business functions
- Lead a cross-functional team of internal experts and external consultants, applying best practices in program and change management, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing
- Ensure business adoption and organizational alignment, implementing a structured change management strategy that fosters engagement, minimizes disruption, and accelerates the benefits realization of S/4HANA
- Identify and implement continuous improvements, using S/4HANA capabilities to drive automation, efficiency, and long-term business value beyond the initial implementation
About you
- Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or other relevant discipline and/or SAP certification(s) in relevant areas of SAP and S/4HANA
- Extensive years of experience in executive consultancy, implementation advisory, or an in-house IT function with a major focus on SAP and S/4HANA
- Documented track record in leading large-scale ERP transformations, with a focus on SAP S/4HANA and cloud-based architecture
- Experience with multi-model ERP strategy, using SAP S/4HANA alongside other platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics AX (Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations) is beneficial
- Proven experience overseeing global/multi-regional rollouts and strategic transformations
- Subject matter expertise in cross-platform ERP systems and knowledge of the latest advances in AI and Databricks in SAP
- Deep knowledge of SAP modules, particularly Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, PLM, and CX, as well as experience with data migration, MDG, and system integration
- Proven success in managing complex, global SAP programs, demonstrating the ability to navigate organizational challenges and deliver measurable business outcomes, ideally in industries with complex supply chains and regulatory environment
- Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, translate technical concepts into business terms, and drive alignment across functions
- Highly strategic and results-oriented mindset, combined with hands-on problem-solving capabilities and a passion for digital transformation
- Full professional proficiency in English
Our offer
For this high-profile program leadership role, we are considering applications for a 3–5-year temporary assignment. Become part of our open and transparent culture. It will give you the opportunity to flourish and to develop inspiring experiences that contribute to the health and well-being of consumers in 160 countries around the world.
Come join us and embark on a fascinating journey with Symrise.
If you feel that you fit the above criteria, then please apply by using our online application system. Your application will be treated confidentially.
LOCATION (COUNTRY)
Barcelona, Data & AI Hub (Spain), Holzminden (Germany)
Job Reference: EA02699