Cutover Manager (SAP)

TL;DR

Cutover Manager (SAP): Planning, managing, and executing the cutover phase of SAP implementations for a pharmaceutical company with an accent on business continuity and system transition. Focus on coordinating cutover rehearsals, overseeing data migration, and leading hypercare phases to ensure minimal business disruption.

Location: Must be based in Japan (Remote within Japan if client project allows, temp office in Shinbashi, Tokyo)

Company

hirify.global is a global consulting firm providing expert talent for large-scale IT and SAP implementations.

What you will do

• Lead end-to-end cutover planning and execution for major SAP and IT system implementations to ensure smooth transition.
• Own and maintain the comprehensive cutover plan, including detailed tasks, milestones, and dependencies.
• Drive business readiness and continuity planning, including market supply measures and ramp-up/down plans.
• Coordinate cutover rehearsals to validate plans and oversee data migration for integrity and accuracy.
• Manage global cutover execution, leading governance forums and tracking progress toward go-live.
• Lead go-live, hypercare, and stabilization phases, ensuring a smooth transition to steady-state operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Pharmacy, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience managing cutover and transition activities, particularly in SAP or other enterprise systems.
• Fluent in English and Japanese (spoken and written).
• Proven experience with SAP implementations (e.g., S/4HANA, ECC).
• Expertise in risk management and troubleshooting during critical go-live phases.
• Must be based in Japan.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with pharmaceutical industry regulations (GxP) and compliance standards.
• PMP, PRINCE2, or similar project management certification.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary package with a 10% annual performance bonus.
• Annual professional development budget of approximately 280k JPY (CHF 1,500).
• Remote workstyle within Japan and 25 days of flexibility to work from preferred global locations.
• 20 days of annual vacation and flexible time off for work-life balance.
• Flat hierarchies with close mentoring by senior leaders.
• Anniversary bonus program and referral rewards.