Title: SAP Release Manager
Duration: 6 months Contract to Hire
Location: Either Clearwater, FL or Harrisburg, PA – hybrid
The SAP Release Manager will play a critical role in a greenfield SAP S/4HANA RISE implementation as part of a large, enterprise-wide business transformation. This role is responsible for end-to-end planning, coordination, governance, and execution of SAP releases across all non-production and production environments using SAP Cloud ALM (CALM) and SAP Change and Release Management (ChaRM).
The individual will serve as the central point of accountability for transport and release activities, ensuring that SAP changes are delivered in a controlled, predictable, and low-risk manner. This position operates in a complex environment that includes system integrators, multiple SAP workstreams, internal IT teams, and business stakeholders, requiring strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills to prevent delays and protect critical milestones.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own and manage the SAP release and transport lifecycle across all SAP environments (development, quality, pre-production, and production) for an S/4HANA RISE landscape
- Establish, configure, and enforce release management processes using SAP ChaRM and SAP Cloud ALM in alignment with program governance standards
- Plan, schedule, coordinate, and execute transports and releases, including regular releases, emergency fixes, and cutover-related deployments
- Serve as the single point of coordination between SAP BASIS, Security, Development, Functional Configuration teams, system integrators, and other IT environment administrators
- Enforce transport sequencing, dependency management, and release readiness to minimize risk and avoid conflicts across workstreams
- Partner with the overall program and cutover leadership to support mock conversions, testing cycles, dress rehearsals, and go-live activities
- Identify, communicate, and proactively mitigate release-related risks that could impact project timelines, quality, or system stability
- Provide clear release status reporting, metrics, and dashboards to program leadership and key stakeholders
- Act as an escalation point for release conflicts, failed transports, and production issues, driving resolution while maintaining governance discipline
- Ensure compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and change management policies throughout the release lifecycle
- Contribute to the design and continuous improvement of release, change, and deployment governance processes
- Support knowledge transfer and operational readiness as the program transitions from implementation to steady-state support
- Assist in defining release-related roles, responsibilities, and RACI models across internal teams and system integrators
- Participate in post-release reviews and lessons-learned sessions to improve future releases
- Provide guidance and mentoring to team members on SAP release management best practices
- Support ad hoc analysis and planning related to SAP environment strategy, cutover planning, and operational stability
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and/or ABILITIES
- Extensive hands-on experience with SAP Change and Release Management (ChaRM) in SAP Solution Manager or SAP Cloud ALM
- Strong understanding of SAP transport management, landscape design, and release governance in complex, multi-team environments
- Proven ability to coordinate across technical, functional, and business stakeholders, including large system integrators, to uphold release and transport standards under high-pressure scenarios
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey risks, decisions, and status to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent releases and competing priorities while remaining calm under pressure
- Demonstrated sound decision-making and appropriate escalation to maintain delivery timelines and system stability
- Commitment to customer service excellence, attention to detail, and professional demeanor
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
Experience
- 7+ years of experience in SAP environments, with significant focus on release, change, or deployment management
- Direct experience supporting at least one SAP S/4HANA implementation or major SAP transformation program (greenfield strongly preferred)
- Experience with SAP RISE or cloud-based SAP deployments is highly preferred
- Prior experience supporting go-live, cutover, and post‑go‑live stabilization activities in large enterprise SAP programs
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