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

JOB PURPOSE:

• Strategic and tactical role within the Digital Technology organisation responsible for the design, configuration, enablement, and continuous improvement of Group ERP platforms supporting current and future business needs. ERP solution design and delivery includes not only technology components but also the changes required to services, business processes, organisational structures, and operating models needed to deliver sustainable enterprise capabilities. The role provides specialist guidance on the development and evolution of ERP solution components to ensure alignment with enterprise architectures, strategies, policies, standards, and practices (including quality and security) while maintaining interoperability across the enterprise technology landscape. As part of the ERP platform ownership model, the role contributes to the lifecycle management of the Group SAP landscape, with particular focus on SAP S/4HANA, SAP ECC, SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), and integrations with non-SAP enterprise platforms. The incumbent ensures that platform enhancements, releases, integrations, data integrity controls, and operational performance are executed in line with approved platform roadmaps, governance standards, and regulatory, audit, and quality expectations. The role acts as a subject matter specialist for ERP platform capabilities, translating business and platform requirements into scalable SAP solutions through configuration, integration, and solution design. The role also contributes to financial planning and governance for the ERP platform ecosystem. This includes supporting platform license management, contributing to operational and project budgeting (OPEX and CAPEX), assisting with project scoping and cost estimation, and providing architectural input into ERP platform investment decisions, technology lifecycle planning, and cost optimisation initiatives.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

ERP Platform Architecture and Solution Design 

• Design and implement ERP solution configurations aligned with enterprise architecture principles and business requirements.
• Ensure ERP solutions remain interoperable with enterprise platforms and comply with architectural standards.
• Support the selection and use of ERP solution components aligned with enterprise architecture and clean-core principles.
• Contribute to the coordination of ERP solution architecture across projects and initiatives.
• Ensure solution designs remain stable, viable, and consistent across platform environments and releases.
• Act as the technical specialist for assigned ERP platform capabilities, ensuring solutions are aligned with platform strategy and enterprise architecture.

ERP Platform Lifecycle Management 

• Support the execution of ERP platform roadmaps, including upgrades, enhancements, and lifecycle improvements.
• Develop and maintain ERP solution components across SAP S/4HANA, ECC, SuccessFactors, and SAP BTP.
• Ensure ERP platform enhancements and releases are delivered in line with governance standards and operational requirements.
• Support the definition of ERP operational and support models, including documentation, handover, and run-state readiness.

ERP Integration and Solution Delivery Support 

• Support ERP systems integration and build capabilities, including SAP core modules and extended functionality.
• Ensure ERP build and integration activities align with enterprise architecture, security, and quality standards.
• Support the design and implementation of integrations between SAP platforms and adjacent enterprise systems, including analytics platforms, tax engines, and third-party applications.
• Support automation and continuous integration practices for ERP build, testing, and deployment activities.
• Participate in testing, validation, and formal sign-off of ERP changes and enhancements.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Ensure ERP solution designs embed security, privacy, data integrity, and segregation-of-duties controls.
• Support governance processes, including evaluation of change requests and deviations from approved designs.
• Ensure ERP platform changes comply with enterprise standards and regulatory requirements.
• Provide structured input into risk and issue management processes.

Business Alignment and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work with business and technology stakeholders to translate business requirements into ERP solutions.
• Support stakeholder engagement and alignment for ERP initiatives and solution designs.
• Provide input into ERP platform roadmaps and strategic initiatives.
• Assist in the development of solution options and business cases supporting ERP initiatives.

Technology Awareness and Continuous Improvement 

• Monitor technology, market, and regulatory trends impacting ERP platforms.
• Identify opportunities to improve ERP-enabled business processes through technology, data, and configuration improvements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the ERP platform ecosystem.

ERP Platform Financial Planning and Cost Management

• Supports financial planning and cost governance for the ERP platform landscape.
• Provides architectural input into ERP platform investment decisions, technology lifecycle planning, and platform optimisation initiatives.
• Supports management of operational and capital expenditure associated with ERP platforms, including SAP licensing, platform infrastructure consumption, and associated enterprise tools.
• Contributes to the development of business cases for ERP initiatives, enhancements, and transformation programmes.
• Works with platform owners, finance stakeholders, and delivery teams to ensure ERP solutions and enhancements align with approved budgets and cost optimisation objectives.
• Provides architectural guidance to balance functionality, performance, scalability, and cost efficiency across ERP solutions.

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 like S/4 HANA, SuccessFactors, and BTP
• 6 - 10+ years’ experience working with enterprise ERP platforms in complex organisational environments.
• Extensive experience delivering SAP-based enterprise solutions.
• Experience operating in large, complex, or matrix global organisations.
• Sound knowledge of business processes, enterprise solution design practices, and business improvement practices.
• Strong experience in solutioning and planning SAP enterprise platforms, including SAP S/4HANA, SAP ECC, SAP SuccessFactors, and SAP Business Technology Platform.
• Experience designing and implementing ERP solution configurations aligned with enterprise architecture standards.
• Experience supporting ERP platform lifecycle activities, including enhancements, testing, releases, and operational support.
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable ERP solutions.
• Strong understanding of enterprise system integration and interoperability.
• Experience providing expert guidance and support for ERP solutions in complex enterprise landscapes with multiple integrations and governance requirements.