Group Manager: Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms (Durban North) at Aspen Pharma Group

JOB PURPOSE:

• Strategic and tactical role within the Digital Technology organisation accountable for the ERP platform strategy, architecture, governance and lifecycle management of the Group’s ERP landscape. The role leads a team of ERP platform specialists responsible for the design, governance and lifecycle management of enterprise ERP capabilities across finance, supply chain and associated enterprise platforms. The role is responsible for defining and communicating the enterprise structures, architectural principles and operating models required to deliver integrated ERP capabilities that support Aspen’s global business operations. ERP architecture in this context includes not only technology components, but also changes to services, processes, structures and operating models required to deliver sustainable business capabilities. The role provides enterprise-level guidance on the development and evolution of ERP solution components, ensuring alignment with relevant architectures, strategies, policies, standards and practices (including quality and security), while maintaining interoperability across the enterprise technology landscape. In addition to architectural responsibilities, the role carries platform ownership and end-to-end lifecycle accountability for the Group SAP ecosystem, including SAP S/4HANA, SAP Supply Chain solutions (IBP, EWM, TM), SAP Finance, SAP GRC, SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), SAP SuccessFactors and integrations with non-SAP enterprise platforms. The incumbent ensures that ERP platform roadmaps, enhancement cycles, release management, data integrity frameworks and operational performance are aligned with business priorities, transformation programmes and regulatory, audit and quality expectations within a global pharmaceutical environment. The role is accountable for financial governance of the ERP platform ecosystem, including oversight of operational and capital expenditure associated with ERP technologies and services. This includes SAP licence management, platform operating costs, project investment planning, and the financial governance of ERP platform initiatives. The role ensures ERP platform investments are aligned with business priorities, technology strategy, and long-term platform sustainability while maintaining cost optimisation and value delivery.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

ERP Platform Strategy and Architecture

• Lead the definition and evolution of the ERP platform strategy and target architecture aligned with enterprise technology strategy and business capability requirements.
• Establish architectural principles, standards, and governance frameworks for ERP platforms and associated integrations.
• Coordinate and maintain the target ERP architecture across programmes and projects, ensuring solution consistency and alignment with enterprise architecture standards.
• Manage architectural trade-offs between functionality, service quality, risk, and long-term platform sustainability.

ERP Platform Ownership and Lifecycle Management

• Act as Platform Owner for the Group SAP landscape, ensuring stable, scalable, and secure ERP platform operations.
• Define and manage ERP platform roadmaps, upgrades, enhancements, and lifecycle planning.
• Ensure ERP platforms support evolving business capabilities across finance, supply chain, manufacturing, and corporate functions.
• Ensure ERP platform services remain stable, resilient, and compliant with regulatory and quality standards.

ERP Integration and Delivery Governance

• Lead the development of organisational capabilities for ERP integration, build, testing, and deployment.
• Establish policies and standards governing ERP solution design, configuration, and integration practices.
• Ensure ERP platform delivery adheres to enterprise architecture, quality, security, and compliance standards.
• Support the adoption of automation, DevOps, and continuous integration practices for ERP platform delivery

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Ensure ERP solutions meet security, privacy, data integrity, and segregation-of-duties requirements.
• Provide governance oversight for ERP platform changes, including review and approval of architectural deviations.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements relevant to global pharmaceutical operations.
• Embed appropriate control frameworks across ERP platform operations.

Business Alignment and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with senior business stakeholders to translate business strategy and operational requirements into ERP platform capabilities.
• Ensure strong stakeholder alignment and buy-in for ERP initiatives and solution designs.
• Communicate platform strategy, architectural decisions, and roadmap progress to senior leadership.

Technology Strategy and Innovation

• Monitor emerging technology, industry trends, and market developments that may impact the ERP platform landscape.
• Identify opportunities to leverage ERP platform capabilities to drive business transformation and operational efficiency.
• Develop business cases supporting ERP platform investments and strategic initiatives.

ERP Platform Financial Governance and Budget Management

• Accountable for financial governance of the ERP platform landscape, including operational and capital expenditure related to ERP platforms, services, and initiatives.
• Manages ERP platform budgets, including SAP licensing, infrastructure consumption, platform services, and associated technology investments.
• Provides financial oversight and governance for ERP transformation programmes, platform enhancements, and strategic initiatives.
• Works with business stakeholders, finance partners, and technology teams to align ERP platform investments with enterprise strategy and business priorities.
• Oversees development of business cases for ERP platform initiatives, ensuring alignment with organisational value, risk management, and return on investment expectations.
• Ensures effective cost management and optimisation of ERP platforms while maintaining performance, scalability, reliability, and compliance requirements.
• Provides financial input into vendor negotiations, licensing strategies, and platform lifecycle planning.
• Ensures financial transparency and reporting of ERP platform expenditure and investment outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, business, or Equivalent
• Current industry certification in architecture (i.e., TOGAF, GxP, ISO 9000)
• Business Process Management Methodology (i.e., BPM, SDLC, ITIL, DevOps, Agile, COBIT)
• Certification or relevant experience in SAP Platforms
• 10+ years’ experience working with enterprise ERP platforms in complex organisational environments.
• Strong experience managing relationships with internal business stakeholders in large global organisations.
• Proven experience leading and influencing cross-functional teams and aligning business needs with enterprise technology solutions.
• Extensive experience delivering SAP-based enterprise solutions.
• Experience operating in large, complex, or matrix global organisations.
• Experience working with extended ERP solutions such as SAP SuccessFactors, SAP BTP, and supply chain platforms including IBP, EWM, or TM.
• Experience working with enterprise systems integrated with ERP platforms (e.g., Tax systems, Integrated Business Planning, or other enterprise applications).
• Sound knowledge of business processes, enterprise solution design practices, and business improvement practices.