Sr. Director, ERP Strategy & Operations

Basic Function

The Digital Technology Leader, ERP Strategy & Operations reports directly to the Chief Digital & Information Officer, is part of the global Digital Technology leadership team, and has direct accountability for the entire lifecycle of LYB’s ERP applications.  ERP application management includes but is not limited to strategy, functional and technical development, support, maintenance/release packs, and decommissioning.   

As the system owner for a wide variety of mission-critical ERP platforms, the incumbent works with all internal functions and external providers to provide services from developing the strategy through to executing the development lifecycle. With a resolute focus on operational excellence, all services will fully align with business objectives and priorities.

The primary objectives of the position will be to drive quality in LYB’s global applications operations, further develop a service orientation and ensure efficient operational processes that adapt to the dynamics of the business. The DT Leader, ERP Strategy & Operations, will direct and appropriately participate in envisioning, planning, designing, implementing and supporting all related business processes necessary to manage LYB’s SAP technology platform.

Roles & Responsibilities

• The DT Leader, ERP Strategy & Operations, will oversee all activities that optimize the value, cost and risk of ERP applications:
• Provide leadership, vision, and direction to the Digital Technology organization to ensure it will contribute to the company achieving its goals.
• Work with CDIO and other DT leaders to develop overall global ERP strategy including the SAP strategy.
• Develop productive relationships with business and DT leaders to influence how SAP can enable new sources of value. Develop and maintain a strong partnership with the GPO’s.
• Define and enhance methodologies and practices for the ERP application life cycle management in line with best practice and practical experience of continuous improvement.
• Manage the global ERP teams, developing their skills and capabilities to meet the needs of the organization, as well as building on existing recruiting capabilities to address new needs and skills gaps.
• Implement and manage ERP application life cycle management status reporting, metrics and benchmarks.
• Manage relationships with major application vendors and service providers to ensure they cost-effectively meet the needs of the organization.
• Work with stakeholders to accomplish ERP application work in a way that improves the business and technical fitness of the application portfolio and minimizes its ongoing support costs.
• Owns the end-to-end operations, projects, and delivery of all ERP environments, including lifecycle management.

Area of Expertise, Requirements:

• Strong value and business partner orientation. A visible, collaborative and accessible leader to both the DT organization and the rest of the company.
• Participate as an active member of the CDIO’s global leadership team helping to drive strategy.
• Drives for continuous improvement, cost reduction and productivity of current and future SAP systems.
• Drives change and accountability. A leader with considerable experience leading transformational change within technology organizations and between DT and our business partners.  
• A leader who focuses not only on relentless execution to a global strategy but also on the development of the people that enable the company to achieve these ends. The DT Leader will be an inspirational leader and effective at developing people to reach their full potential.
• Fast mover, nimble and decisive with as demonstrated entrepreneurial approach to business process, balancing control with flexibility, procedure with simplicity, and willingness to innovate and change while creating an environment of rigor and discipline.
• Strong partnership and collaborative style with outstanding communication skills: written, verbal and presentation. Ability to communicate effectively and understand the needs of non-technical internal clients as well as different global cultures.
• Solid knowledge of SAP standards, process, applications and platforms. Successful past accountability for applications and support organizations, including the management of successful implementations and integration projects globally.
• Experience in designing or redesigning global ERP operations processes for a very complex, large global company that is constantly evolving; applying best practices, which produce enhanced operating results. 
• International experience is a plus as this position conducts business globally and in areas/communities that have strong, unique ethnic/cultural traditions.
• Ability to travel approximately 35 percent, domestically and internationally.

Min. Qualifications

Education
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Management, Engineering, or other related discipline

Work Experience 
Significant experience (15+ years) in a high-transaction, services-oriented, global, business with strong leadership experience in applications management within a large, complex, fast-paced and dynamic company; with an emphasis on global SAP implementations.

Languages -  English, additional language preferred

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Competencies