India COE Lead- SAP MDG

The client is looking for an experienced India CoE Lead to lead our SAP Center of Excellence in India. Functional CoEs across SAP modules (such as Retail, FICO, and MM) will report into this role. The CoE Lead will drive delivery excellence across complex SAP implementation and transformation programs, act as an expert business partner to multiple enterprise clients, and own global stakeholder management. In the initial phase, the role will also directly manage ABAP project teams and lead cross-functional projects.

The ideal candidate should have strong experience/knowledge across SAP MDG, SAP technical implementations, delivery governance, customer management, workforce planning, and capability development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the India SAP CoE, with module-specific CoEs (Retail, FICO, MM, and others) and their SMEs reporting into this role.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex SAP MDG and SAP transformation programs, including cross-functional projects spanning multiple modules and teams.
• Drive delivery governance, quality, timelines, risks, resources, and overall project performance.
• Act as an expert business partner to multiple enterprise customers, owning global stakeholder management and building and maintaining strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Lead SAP MDG functional implementations and provide guidance on solution design and best practices.
• Provide leadership across SAP technical implementations, architecture, development, and integration.
• Directly manage ABAP project teams in the initial phase, ensuring code quality, timelines, and technical standards.
• Mentor SAP module SMEs, consultants, developers, and delivery managers and support capability development.
• Drive workforce planning, resource allocation, utilization, and delivery capacity across projects and module CoEs.
• Identify delivery improvement, automation, and innovation opportunities using technologies such as SAP BTP and AI.
• Partner with Sales and leadership teams to identify new business and expansion opportunities.
• Support strategic decision-making, commercial planning, and customer growth.
• Establish scalable delivery processes, governance frameworks, reusable assets, and best practices across the CoEs.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration across Product, Engineering, Sales, and Delivery teams.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex customer and delivery issues.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• 12+ years of experience in SAP consulting, implementation, delivery, or technology transformation.
• Strong experience/knowledge in SAP MDG and enterprise SAP implementations.
• Broad understanding of multiple SAP modules (FICO, MM, Retail, or similar) and how they integrate.
• Experience leading large or complex SAP delivery programs, including cross-functional engagements.
• Experience managing ABAP/SAP technical teams; strong understanding of SAP BTP and SAP technical architecture is preferred.
• Experience managing senior stakeholders and enterprise customers, including global stakeholder management.
• Proven experience in team leadership, mentoring, and workforce planning.
• Strong understanding of delivery governance, project financials, risk management, and quality.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to identify and drive growth opportunities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
• Experience working with global/U.S.-based customers is a plus.

Work Schedule

• Working hours: 3:00 PM 12:00 AM IST to support Europe and U.S. business hours.
• Cab transportation will be provided as per company policy.
• Occasional travel may be required based on business and customer requirements.