Senior SAP PP / Manufacturing Architect Position Summary We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled SAP PP / Manufacturing Architect to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of SAP manufacturing solutions in a regulated pharmaceutical or food manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in SAP Production Planning (PP) and related manufacturing processes, along with exceptional communication and facilitation skills to engage effectively with business stakeholders, plant leadership, and shop floor operators. This role requires a strategic leader with extensive hands-on SAP manufacturing experience who can bridge the gap between business operations and technical solution design while driving process standardization and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, and implementation of SAP PP and manufacturing-related solutions across enterprise manufacturing operations.
• Facilitate workshops, discovery sessions, and process-mapping meetings with business users, plant operators, production supervisors, quality teams, and supply chain stakeholders.
• Analyze current manufacturing processes and recommend SAP best practices and process improvements.
• Design end-to-end manufacturing solutions supporting production planning, process manufacturing, batch management, inventory management, shop floor integration, and quality processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including SAP MM, QM, WM/EWM, SD, and MES integration teams.
• Serve as the primary SAP manufacturing subject matter expert for business and IT leadership.
• Lead blueprinting, solution architecture, fit-gap analysis, configuration oversight, testing strategy, and deployment activities.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and validation requirements within pharmaceutical or food manufacturing environments.
• Support manufacturing transformation initiatives, SAP upgrades, migrations, and continuous improvement programs.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to functional consultants, analysts, and project teams.
• Drive issue resolution, risk mitigation, and stakeholder alignment throughout project lifecycles.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with plant leadership and operational teams.

Required Qualifications

• 20+ years of SAP experience with significant focus on SAP PP and manufacturing solutions.
• Extensive experience working within pharmaceutical or food manufacturing industries.
• Proven expertise in SAP Production Planning (PP) and manufacturing execution processes.
• Strong understanding of regulated manufacturing environments, including GMP, FDA, or related compliance standards.
• Experience facilitating workshops and collaborating directly with business users and plant floor operators.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale SAP implementations and manufacturing transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end manufacturing and supply chain business processes.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business-friendly language.
• Experience working with global and cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and leadership capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing solutions.
• Knowledge of SAP PP-PI, QM, MM, EWM, and MES integrations.
• Experience with manufacturing automation and shop floor system integration.
• SAP certification(s) preferred.
• Experience leading offshore/onshore delivery teams.

Key Competencies

• Executive-level communication
• Workshop facilitation
• Manufacturing process optimization
• Solution architecture
• Stakeholder engagement
• Team leadership
• Strategic thinking
• Regulatory compliance knowledge
• Change management

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or related field preferred.

Work Environment

• Ability to travel to manufacturing plants and client locations as needed.
• Comfortable working directly in plant and production environments.

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