SAP Cutover Lead

SAP Cutover Lead

The SAP Cutover Lead will be responsible for end-to-end planning and execution of cutover activities for an SAP S/4

HANA Greenfield Transformation. This role ensures smooth transition from legacy systems to SAP S/4

HANA by coordinating activities across functional, technical, data migration, infrastructure, and business teams. The Cutover Lead acts as the central command point during mock cutovers and the go-live event.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop the cutover strategy, covering scope, timelines, dependencies, and execution plan.
• Define roles & responsibilities (RACI) across IT, business, migration, and infra teams.
• Prepare and maintain the Cutover Playbook and detailed cutover checklist.
• Create cutover run-books with sequencing of activities, validation points, cutover windows, and rollback plans.
• Lead and manage all cutover activities during mock cycles and production go-live.
• Coordinate with functional consultants, BASIS, ABAP, business SMEs, data migration teams, and PMO.
• Track hour-by-hour progress during cutover weekend and ensure timely escalation of risks/issues.
• Ensure completion of technical cutover and functional cutover tasks.
• Work closely with Data Migration Lead on load plans, sequencing, pre-load checks, and post-load validation.
• Validate data load readiness and highlight dependencies that impact cutover.
• Ensure mock migration learnings are incorporated into final cutover plan.
• Align with BASIS & Infra teams for system refreshes, transport sequences, authorization updates, and interface readiness.
• Coordinate smoke testing/SIT readiness immediately after cutover to ensure system stability.
• Drive cutover readiness meetings, war-room discussions, and stakeholder updates.
• Align business teams on blackout periods, manual cutover tasks, and validation checkpoints.
• Ensure closure of UAT and collection of business approvals before production cutover.
• Identify cutover risks, maintain RAID logs, and prepare mitigation plans.
• Ensure version control of runbooks and incorporation of changes from mock cycles.
• Work with PMO to align cutover milestones with project governance.

Minimum Experience:

The candidate should have 15+ years of overall experience, including at least 8+ years as a Cutover Lead. Relocation Consideration:
Same as above—local candidates preferred; otherwise, travel every alternate week is required.