SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Project Manager | Contract | Outside IR35

Location: Remote, UK-based with occasional UK client travel
Contract: Outside IR35
Day Rate: Competitive, dependent on experience
Start Date: ASAP / Subject to availability

The Opportunity:

We’re working with a growing SAP Cloud consultancy looking for an experienced SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Project Manager to lead customer-facing implementation projects.
This is an opportunity for a hands-on SAP PM who combines genuine Public Cloud implementation experience with strong commercial awareness, solution understanding and excellent customer management skills.

We’re not looking for someone who simply manages project plans, RAID logs and governance. We need somebody who can take ownership of delivery, manage project costs, challenge stakeholders constructively and make difficult decisions when required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition implementations from mobilisation through to go-live and hypercare.
• Manage the full SAP Activate lifecycle, including Fit-to-Standard, configuration, integrations, data migration, testing and cutover.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans across multiple functional and technical workstreams.
• Manage project budgets, resource plans, forecasts, risks, dependencies and delivery milestones.
• Monitor planned versus actual delivery costs, resource utilisation and weekly budget burn.
• Identify potential cost overruns early and implement corrective actions to protect project margins.
• Optimise onshore/offshore delivery models and resource allocation without compromising quality or critical customer-facing expertise.
• Manage customer expectations, scope changes and commercial implications throughout the implementation.
• Lead customer Steering Committees, communicate project status and drive timely decisions.
• Coordinate Solution Architects, functional consultants, technical teams, offshore resources and third-party suppliers.
• Identify delivery challenges early, develop recovery plans and maintain project momentum.

Essential Experience:

• Proven SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition implementation experience. Private Cloud or RISE experience alone will not be sufficient.
• Strong end-to-end SAP Project Management experience, ideally within a consultancy or systems integrator.
• Practical experience applying SAP Activate and Fit-to-Standard methodologies.
• Strong understanding of SAP solution architecture, integrations, data migration, testing and cutover.
• Experience managing project budgets, delivery costs, resource utilisation and commercial performance.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams, complex dependencies and distributed delivery teams.
• Excellent customer-facing communication and senior stakeholder management.
• Proven ability to challenge customers, Solution Architects and delivery teams when proposed decisions threaten scope, cost, quality or timelines.
• Experience managing change requests, commercial risks and project recovery.

Commercial Awareness & Customer Leadership:

A particularly important aspect of this role is the ability to balance successful customer delivery with the commercial performance of the engagement.

You’ll understand how to:

• Build realistic bottom-up resource plans and delivery forecasts.
• Manage consultant utilisation and onshore/offshore resource allocation.
• Protect senior consultant involvement in critical workshops and solution decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve delivery efficiency without compromising quality.
• Monitor forecast costs and protect planned project margins.
• Challenge unrealistic customer demands and manage scope creep.
• Present clear options and recommendations when delivery decisions affect cost, risk or timelines.

We’re looking for someone who is confident, commercially aware and comfortable holding their position when challenged, while maintaining positive customer relationships.

Ideal Background:

Candidates who have progressed from SAP Functional Consulting or Solution Architecture into Project Management would be particularly interesting.

You don’t need to be the Solution Architect, but you should have enough functional and technical understanding to challenge solution decisions and understand their implications for the wider project.

Experience delivering SAP Public Cloud implementations for mid-market customers would also be highly advantageous.

This environment requires a pragmatic, customer-focused approach rather than heavyweight enterprise governance.

Interested?

If you’ve successfully delivered genuine SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud implementations and can demonstrate strong commercial ownership alongside confident customer leadership, we’d be keen to hear from you.

Please apply with your latest CV, availability and expected day rate.

Disclaimer: Any remuneration stated in this advertisement is indicative and will be dependent on the successful candidate’s experience, skills and qualifications. Final remuneration will be agreed with the successful candidate and will be subject to the terms of the contract.