Director IT Readiness; SAP S​/HANA

Job Summary

The Director of Application Readiness / Delivery Lead is accountable for ensuring end-to-end application readiness and controlled go‑live execution for CenterPoint’s SAP S/4

HANA, SAP Edge, and integrated non‑SAP solutions within the Velocity program. This role owns the detailed planning, coordination, and execution required to move the solution safely from build completion through cutover, go‑live, and stabilization.

The Director works in close partnership with the IT Transformation Lead, Business Transformation leadership, and the Director of Change Management & Business Readiness to ensure solutions are production‑ready, risks are surfaced early, and go‑live outcomes are predictable, compliant, and stable.

• All SAP and non‑SAP applications meet defined readiness criteria prior to go‑live.
• Cutover and deployment activities are sequenced, tested, and executed with discipline.
• Dependencies across applications, integrations, data, environments, and infrastructure are actively managed.
• Go‑live risks are identified, escalated, and mitigated before they impact operations.
• Post‑go‑live stabilization is controlled, transparent, and rapidly resolved.

• Own end‑to‑end application readiness across SAP S/4
  
  HANA, SAP Edge, and integrated non‑SAP systems from build completion through stabilization.
• Define and manage objective readiness entry and exit criteria for testing, cutover, go‑live, and hypercare.
• Plan and execute cutover activities, including sequencing, mock runs, dress rehearsals, and go‑live runbooks.

• Manage cross‑application and cross‑workstream dependencies spanning integrations, data, environments, security, and infrastructure.
• Drive defect triage, prioritization, and resolution with a strong bias toward production readiness.
• Identify readiness and execution risks early and escalated with clear mitigation recommendations.

• Coordinate readiness of all environments (development, test, UAT, pre‑production, production).
• Enforce release, transport, and configuration management discipline across partners.
• Ensure non‑functional readiness, including performance, availability, batch processing, and monitoring.

• Coordinate execution across System Integrators, Business Integrators, application teams, and infrastructure teams.
• Serve as the primary execution integrator ensuring work streams are aligned to go‑live sequencing.
• Drive closure on readiness gaps without ambiguity in ownership.

• Provide concise, fact‑based readiness status reporting to IT Transformation leadership and governance forums.
• Lead post‑go‑live stabilization, including defect management, prioritization, and operational handoff.
• Maintain calm, structured control during high‑pressure cutover and go‑live periods.

• Execute against solution intent, design standards, and governance defined by the IT Transformation Lead.
• Partner with Change Management & Business Readiness to align readiness milestones, training cutoffs, and adoption timing.
• Maintain clear separation of accountability; this role owns application readiness and execution while other leaders own design, business outcomes, and adoption.

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or related field required.
• Advanced degree preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in large‑scale enterprise application delivery or ERP programs.
• 6+ years in leadership roles overseeing application readiness, cutover, go‑live, and stabilization for SAP S/4
  
  HANA or comparable ERP implementations.
• Demonstrated experience operating within complex, multi‑vendor delivery environments.
• Proven success managing high‑risk go‑live events in regulated or asset‑intensive industries.
• End‑to‑end application readiness and cutover leadership.
• Strong dependency, defect, and release management discipline.
• Deep understanding of SAP and non‑SAP integration landscapes.
• Structured, detail‑oriented, execution‑focused mindset.
• Clear, direct communication and escalation skills.
• Ability to remain calm and decisive under go‑live pressure.