Location: Atlanta, USA
Reports to: Senior Director Global SAP Programs
Business Unit: IT Solutions – SAP
Role Type: Permanent | Hybrid
Overview
The Director NA SAP Program is responsible for leading and overseeing the deployment of Smurfit WestRock’s global SAP solutions across North America. This role plays a critical leadership function within the Global SAP Centre of Excellence (CoE), ensuring the successful delivery of large-scale SAP transformation initiatives across the region.
The position manages a complex portfolio of SAP programs and projects and ensures alignment with global SAP strategy, architecture standards, and regional business priorities. The Director works closely with business stakeholders, system integrators, and global SAP leadership to ensure that solutions are delivered according to agreed timelines, budget, quality standards, and functional requirements.
This role also provides leadership to a team of regional project managers and is responsible for coordinating cross-functional resources across business and IT teams involved in SAP deployments.
Key Responsibilities
Program Alignment & Coordination
Lead the execution of the SAP program roadmap for North America, ensuring alignment with global SAP standards, architecture, and transformation strategy.
Act as the primary interface between the Global SAP CoE and regional stakeholders to coordinate implementation plans and program priorities.
Establish and manage program governance structures, including steering committees and coordination with system integrators and project managers.
Ensure integration and alignment across multiple SAP workstreams and functional areas.
Maintain strong engagement with business stakeholders to ensure SAP initiatives remain aligned with evolving business needs and strategic objectives.
Monitor the performance and delivery commitments of external system integrators and vendors.
Program Delivery & Quality Assurance
Ensure consistent execution of program methodologies, tools, and governance in accordance with Smurfit WestRock’s ways of working and SDLC standards.
Act as a decision authority regarding integration with other programs and projects that may impact SAP deployments.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives and promote best practices in SAP program delivery across the region.
Oversee coordination between related initiatives to ensure program stability and consistency in implementation.
Monitoring, Risk Management & Reporting
Monitor program progress, identifying and mitigating risks, issues, and dependencies that could impact delivery.
Facilitate escalation and decision-making processes when required.
Provide regular reporting and updates on program performance, milestones, risks, and resource utilization to CoE leadership and key stakeholders.
Maintain clear documentation of program decisions, timelines, and milestones to ensure transparency and audit readiness.
Support program reviews and assessments, identifying opportunities for improvement in collaboration with the PMO.
Team Leadership
Lead, mentor, and support a team of regional project managers responsible for delivering SAP initiatives across North America.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across business and IT teams.
Support the professional development of project managers, strengthening their leadership and delivery capabilities.
Budget & Resource Management
Lead program and project estimations together with project managers and relevant stakeholders.
Manage the overall SAP program budget for North America, including resource allocation and financial tracking.
Monitor financial performance of the program against approved plans and targets.
Role Scope
This role is part of the SAP Programs organization within the Global SAP Centre of Excellence. The SAP Programs team leads the delivery of major SAP transformation initiatives, implementations, and strategic business-driven projects across the enterprise. The organization ensures successful execution of programs from planning through deployment and hypercare while coordinating cross-functional teams, managing risks, and maintaining alignment between technology and business priorities.
Qualifications & Experience
10+ years of experience in SAP program or project management within complex enterprise environments.
Minimum 5 years of experience in strategic leadership roles managing large transformation programs.
Proven experience leading large-scale SAP transformation or implementation programs end-to-end.
Strong expertise in program governance, project methodologies, budgeting, forecasting, and resource management.
Experience managing cross-functional teams, global stakeholders, and third-party system integrators.
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leadership and bridge business and technical priorities.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
Fluent English required (written and verbal).
Additional languages such as Spanish or French are considered an asset.
Additional Information
The role oversees a team of approximately six regional project managers and requires occasional travel (typically one to two trips per month depending on program needs).
Atlanta
0000