SAP Supply Chain Transformation Lead

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies.

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards.

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries.

We are seeking an experienced SAP Supply Chain Transformation Lead to drive the design and delivery of a global SAP-enabled supply chain planning transformation programme.

This role provides enterprise-level leadership across strategy, solution architecture, and programme execution. You will shape the supply chain operating model, define SAP planning design, and ensure delivery of measurable business outcomes and long-term operational performance.

You will work cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Finance, Commercial, and Technology teams, ensuring alignment between digital capabilities and business strategy.

Duties & Responsibilities (not limited to)

• Lead the global transformation strategy and multi-year roadmap aligned with growth objectives
• Own end-to-end programme delivery (scope, time, cost, quality) and value realisation
• Define and architect SAP supply chain planning solutions and operating model
• Establish governance frameworks and drive executive stakeholder alignment
• Standardise and scale supply planning and inventory management processes
• Embed data-driven and segmented planning approaches
• Drive change management, user adoption, and training strategies
• Monitor programme performance against milestones, budget, and outcomes
• Ensure consistency of planning processes across all regions
• Deliver measurable improvements in operational performance and efficiency

Key Metrics for Success

• Programme milestones delivered on time and in full
• Budget adherence and financial governance
• User adoption and process compliance post go-live
• Reduction in lead times and planning variability
• Inventory optimisation and cost efficiency
• Increased planning stability and reduced manual intervention

Key Accountabilities

• End-to-end delivery of global SAP supply chain transformation
• Ownership of programme budget, governance, and business case tracking
• Accountability for SAP planning design, standards, and configuration integrity
• Ensuring global process standardisation and scalability
• Delivering measurable operational and financial benefits
• Full accountability for programme budget and financial governance
• Ownership of business case tracking and value delivery
• Driving cost optimisation through planning transformation

Organisational Responsibility

• Reporting to Customer Operations Supply Chain Director
• Collaborating across Supply Chain, NIS, Finance, Commercial and external partners
• Leading cross-functional and global stakeholder engagement

• Extensive experience leading global SAP transformation programmes
• Deep expertise in SAP supply chain planning modules
• Strong understanding of planning parameters and optimisation
• Proven delivery of measurable operational improvements
• Experience in complex, cross-functional environments (e.g. ETO)
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and decision-making capability
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to operate at pace and deliver complex programmes

With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space…