Assistant Manager, Applications (SAP) at Oando

OandoRivers, Nigeria Project Management

Full Time

Oando PLC is one of Africa’s largest integrated energy solutions providers with a proud heritage. It has a primary listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. With shared values of Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Passion and Professionalism (TRIPP), the Oando Group comprises six companies who are leaders in their market.

Reports To:

Head, Information Technology

Responsible For:

SAP lifecycle management (including definition, design, development, upgrade, testing, validation, release, maintenance, and retirement of SAP modules and related databases), SAP portfolio management, IT Strategy, SLA and Vendor/Relationship Management, People Management, Continual Service Improvement, Program Management

Overall Purpose of Job:

The Assistance Manager Application (SAP) is responsible for planning and coordinating the processes required for the provision and management of SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems necessary for business operations. The role involves applying proven communication and problem-solving skills to guide and assist the user group on issues related to the design, development, and deployment of mission-critical SAP modules and systems.

Responsibilities:

Conceptualize and develop strategies for the design and implementation of SAP modules to be applied across the Oando Group and Affiliate Companies
Identify and plan for future SAP needs, partner with various service providers to obtain best practice SAP solutions that align with the company's strategic direction and service excellence culture
Maintain a leading-edge view on developments in SAP and adjacent technologies
Management of SAP Technical and Functional teams to investigate and develop new solutions to address a business opportunity, working alongside various stakeholders, from business requirements and strategy through planning and completion
Assemble and lead cross-functional technical teams to evaluate, install, configure, and deploy new SAP modules, enhancements, and/or upgrades throughout the enterprise
Ensure that SAP implementations meet business requirements and systems goals, fulfill end-user requirements, and identify and resolve systems issues
Collaborate with analysts, designers, and system owners in the testing of new SAP functionalities and applications
Manage and ensure that all SAP systems are integrated and interoperable, and that operational configuration changes and updates are supported and implemented timely, accurately, and as per specifications
Plan, design, and test Disaster Recovery Procedures for SAP systems to support business continuity and minimize risk
Provide technical and strategic advice to the Head of IT on SAP requirements in a changing business environment
Compile and maintain inventory of company SAP licenses, modules, and their corresponding contracts/agreements
Review and analyze existing SAP applications' effectiveness and efficiency, then develop strategies for improving or leveraging these systems
Research and make recommendations on SAP products and services in support of business process and development efforts
Coordinate feasibility studies for SAP modules under consideration for purchase, and give technical, business process, and commercial advice based on findings
Cultivate and disseminate knowledge of SAP best practices
Keep up to date with SAP industry developments, driving innovation and effective change
Develop and manage SAP team capabilities, ensuring a balance of in-house and third-party resources
Develop and communicate SAP training and documentation for end users, hold clinics as necessary, and manage other user-related activities
Partner with the service delivery team, business information teams, and process owners to evaluate requirements and determine the best technical approach for SAP solution delivery
Negotiate contracts with SAP service providers and affiliate companies
Provide management oversight for all outsourced SAP service providers, negotiate SLAs, define and implement service improvement plans
Build strategic partnerships with critical SAP vendors and optimize spend through benchmark with industry standards
Work with the Service delivery team to build a business-aligned maintenance plan for SAP solutions that aligns with business value and SLA requirements
Ensure SAP project deliverables comply with all business standards, policies, and processes, obtaining sign-off where applicable

Key Performance Indicators:

Clear understanding of SAP methodology and best practices
Level of compliance with SAP implementation and development methodologies
% deviation of forecasted versus actual cost of SAP services within defined tolerance limits
Effectiveness of support for SAP modules
Responsiveness to user / SAP maintenance support
Uptime of key SAP business applications
Adequacy of SAP version control procedure
% of outage due to changes (planned unavailability)
Teamwork/mentoring/innovation
% of SAP service availability per SLA negotiated
Quality of technical advice and solutions to SAP problems and issues
% reduction in SAP application failure within the financial year
Safety of information on SAP databases
Number of customer surveys conducted within the year and satisfaction level of over 70% respondents

Person Specification:

1st degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or other related area
Minimum of 10 years cognate work experience ,3 of which must have been at a senior level in a reputable organization/institution
At minimum 5 – 7 years of experience working with any of the SAP modules below: -
SAP FICO (Finance & Controlling)
SAP SD (Sales & Distribution)
SAP MM (Material Management)
SAP PM (Plant Maintenance)
SAP PS (Project System)
SAP ABAP
SAP Basis
SAP JVA
SAP certification in relevant modules (e.g., SAP S/4HANA, SAP ECC)
ITIL intermediate Certification
Project management certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2)
TOGAF Certification is a plus Broad technical and cross-domain capabilities
Business Development Proficiency
Strong Analytical and Client Relationship Management Skills
Strong finance and accounting numeracy

Required Competencies:

Understanding of Oil and Gas industry
Extensive experience with SAP core modules and applications
Technically fluent in SAP programming languages, including ABAP
Strong project management skills and substantial exposure to SAP project-based work structures
Excellent track record of translating an organization's goals and objectives into differentiating SAP deployments
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Excellent listening and interpersonal skills
Ability to communicate ideas in both technical and user-friendly language
Budgeting, Budget Control, and Budget Monitoring skills
Experience using formal change control processes and SAP version control systems
Excellent technical architecture and technical support documentation skills
Customer Focus/Service Orientation
Knowledge of IT infrastructure and Security architecture as it relates to SAP
Analytical Thinking & Conceptualization
Deep understanding of SAP integration with other enterprise systems
Experience in SAP performance tuning and optimization
Good time management and coordination Skills
Strong Analytical and Client Relationship Management Skills
Experience of working with different disciplines (Finance, Supply Chain, Human Capital Management, Business & Operations, External Vendors)