SAP PP AVC Lead

Job Title: SAP PP AVC Lead (Full-Time / Permanent)

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent Location: Hybrid (e.g., 3 days onsite / 2 remote; flexible based on company policy—options in major US hubs like New York, Chicago, or Detroit)

Industry: Manufacturing (Discrete / Process / Engineer-to-Order / Make-to-Order) Reports to: SAP Manufacturing / Supply Chain Director or Head of ERP

Role Overview

We are seeking a strategic SAP PP AVC Lead to own the Production Planning (PP) function with specialized expertise in Advanced Variant Configuration (AVC) within an SAP S/4HANA environment. This permanent leadership role focuses on driving manufacturing efficiency for complex, configurable products—where customer-driven variants require precise modeling of characteristics, dependencies, super BOMs/routings, and seamless integration across planning, production execution, and costing.

As a full-time leader, you will guide the PP/AVC roadmap, mentor teams, optimize processes for scalability, support digital transformation initiatives (e.g., S/4HANA optimizations or embedded PP/DS), and deliver measurable business value in a dynamic manufacturing landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end SAP PP processes: demand management, MRP/MPS (including PP/DS if applicable), production orders, capacity planning/levelling, shop floor execution/confirmations, and product costing—with strong emphasis on variant-driven scenarios.
• Own Advanced Variant Configuration (AVC) design and governance: model complex configurable products using characteristics/classes, configuration profiles, object dependencies (preconditions, selection conditions, procedures, actions, constraints), variant tables, multi-level explosions, super BOMs/super routings, and production variants in S/4HANA.
• Ensure AVC integrates tightly with PP for accurate BOM/routing determination, planning strategies (e.g., MTO/CTO with variants, planning variants), production order creation from configurations, ATP checks, and execution in engineer-to-order or make-to-order environments.
• Drive cross-module integrations: PP with SD (sales-order-driven production), MM (component procurement for variants), QM (inspections on configured items), FI/CO (variant costing), EWM/WM (warehouse impacts), and external systems.
• Lead functional activities across the project lifecycle: requirements gathering, blueprinting, fit-gap analysis, solution design, configuration, realization, testing (unit/integration/regression/UAT), cutover, go-live, and ongoing sustainment/continuous improvement.
• Identify and implement optimizations: performance tuning (e.g., MRP runs, variant explosions), process automation, adoption of S/4HANA AVC advancements (advanced processing mode, simplified modeling, Fiori apps), and innovations like embedded analytics or AI-driven planning.
• Provide leadership and mentorship: guide junior consultants/team members, coordinate global/onshore/offshore resources, facilitate business workshops, and act as the primary AVC/PP expert for stakeholders.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives: S/4HANA migrations/enhancements (from ECC/classic VC to AVC), master data governance for configurable objects, data migration, compliance, and KPI tracking (e.g., planning accuracy, on-time delivery, production efficiency).
• Own documentation, knowledge transfer, change management, incident resolution, root-cause analysis, and annual planning/budgeting for PP/AVC enhancements.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of hands-on SAP PP experience, with 6+ years specializing in variant configuration (classic VC transitioning to Advanced Variant Configuration in S/4HANA strongly preferred).
• Proven leadership in SAP PP/AVC implementations, rollouts, or sustainment projects in manufacturing industries (e.g., automotive, machinery, high-tech, furniture, or similar configurable product sectors).
• Expert knowledge of AVC for production: dependency modeling, constraints, multi-level configuration, production variants, integration with MRP/production orders, and S/4HANA-specific features (e.g., advanced mode, PMEVC tools).
• Strong configuration expertise in PP: MRP groups/types, lot sizing, scheduling, capacity planning, production versions, shop floor integration, and manufacturing master data (BOMs, routings, work centers).
• Experience with cross-module integrations in variant-heavy environments and familiarity with S/4HANA architecture.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills; track record of leading workshops, teams, and business-aligned solutions.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, IT, Supply Chain, or related field (Master's preferred).

Preferred Skills

• SAP certifications in PP, Variant Configuration/AVC, S/4HANA Manufacturing, or related areas.
• Hands-on experience with S/4HANA for Manufacturing, PP/DS (embedded/advanced planning), product costing for variants, or industry solutions.
• Knowledge of ABAP debugging, BAdIs/user exits in PP/AVC, IDOCs/interfaces, and tools like SAP Solution Manager or Jira.
• Exposure to agile methodologies, digital manufacturing trends, or sustainability tracking in production.
• Experience in full lifecycle projects (blueprint to hypercare) as a lead or architect.

This full-time role provides competitive salary, performance bonuses, comprehensive benefits (health, PTO), professional development (certifications, conferences), and the opportunity to shape long-term manufacturing strategy in a collaborative, innovative environment. Ideal for a passionate leader who thrives on complex configurable production challenges.