SAP ALM & Lifecycle Strategy Advisor (S/4HANA, Federal Sector)

Overview

Hybrid
Depends on Experience
Contract - W2
Contract - Independent
Contract - 6 Month(s)
No Travel Required
Unable to Provide Sponsorship

Skills

TMS
CTS+

Job Details

Role Overview

The SAP ALM & Lifecycle Strategy Advisor serves as a trusted strategic advisor to a federal agency that has recently completed, or is nearing completion of, an SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA transformation. The advisor is responsible for assessing, rationalizing, and guiding the future-state Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) strategy, with specific focus on SAP Solution Manager (SolMan), SAP Cloud ALM, and complementary tools required to support mission-critical SAP operations in a regulated federal environment.

This role bridges technical ALM capabilities, enterprise architecture, governance, compliance, and federal IT operating models, ensuring continuity of legacy functions (e.g., ChaRM, Test Management, Monitoring) while aligning with SAP’s long-term roadmap and federal modernization mandates.

Key Objectives

  • Define a future-state ALM operating model aligned with SAP S/4HANA, federal compliance requirements, and agency mission needs.

  • Evaluate SAP Solution Manager 7.2, SAP Cloud ALM, and third-party ALM/ITSM tools for functional coverage, lifecycle support, and long-term viability.

  • Provide executive-level guidance on timing, risk, and sequencing for ALM transition decisions through 2030 and beyond.

  • Ensure auditability, change governance, and operational continuity during and after ALM transitions.

Core Responsibilities

1. ALM Landscape Assessment

  • Assess the agency’s current use of SAP Solution Manager capabilities, including:

    • Change Request Management (ChaRM)

    • Test Suite and regression testing

    • Technical and business process monitoring

    • Custom code management and documentation

  • Identify mission-critical dependencies between SolMan, S/4HANA, transports, interfaces, and downstream systems.

2. Strategic Options Analysis

  • Lead a structured evaluation of:

    • Continuing Solution Manager 7.2 through end of support

    • Hybrid operation of Solution Manager and SAP Cloud ALM

    • Migration to SAP Cloud ALM with supplemental tooling

  • Analyze tradeoffs across security, compliance, cost, capability maturity, and operational risk.

3. Federal Compliance & Governance Alignment

  • Ensure ALM strategy aligns with:

    • Federal IT governance models (e.g., ITIL, COBIT)

    • Audit and compliance expectations (e.g., change traceability, segregation of duties)

    • Security and authorization requirements (e.g., FedRAMP considerations for Cloud ALM)

  • Advise on documentation and evidence strategies for inspectors general, auditors, and oversight bodies.

4. Roadmap & Transition Planning

  • Develop a phased ALM roadmap that:

    • Preserves critical legacy SolMan functions during transition

    • Introduces Cloud ALM capabilities incrementally where appropriate

    • Minimizes disruption to ongoing operations and enhancements

  • Define decision gates and criteria for decommissioning or retaining SolMan components.

5. Executive & Stakeholder Advisory

  • Serve as a neutral, vendor-aware advisor to executive leadership, enterprise architects, SAP CoE leadership, and program management offices (PMOs).

  • Translate complex SAP ALM implications into clear, actionable guidance for non-technical stakeholders.

  • Support acquisition strategy discussions and input to RFPs or task orders related to ALM tooling and services.

Required Qualifications

Experience

  • 12+ years of SAP experience, including large-scale ECC and S/4HANA landscapes

  • Demonstrated leadership in SAP Solution Manager (7.1 / 7.2) architecture and governance

  • Direct experience advising or delivering SAP programs in U.S. federal or highly regulated environments

Technical & Functional Expertise

  • Deep understanding of:

    • SAP ChaRM and transport governance

    • SAP ALM lifecycle processes (build, test, deploy, operate)

    • SAP Cloud ALM capabilities and limitations

  • Strong familiarity with hybrid SAP landscapes (on-premise + cloud extensions).

Advisory & Strategic Skills

  • Proven ability to operate at executive advisory level, not just implementation delivery

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills suitable for agency leadership briefings

  • Ability to balance SAP roadmap realities with federal operational constraints

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prior experience supporting federal SAP Centers of Excellence (CoE)

  • Familiarity with FedRAMP, SSP documentation, or federal cloud authorization processes

  • Experience advising on ALM transitions involving third-party ITSM or testing tools

  • Background in enterprise architecture or IT governance advisory roles

Engagement Characteristics

  • Strategic advisory role (not staff augmentation)

  • Emphasis on independent assessment, roadmap definition, and executive guidance

  • Close collaboration with agency leadership, system integrators, and SAP representatives

  • Deliverables typically include:

    • ALM capability assessments

    • Options analysis and decision frameworks

    • Phased transition roadmaps

    • Executive briefings and governance artifacts

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