Director, IT Digital Partner - Manufacturing, Supply and SAP

We Make Life More Rewarding and Dignified 

Location: ​Libertyville​
Department: ​Information Technology 

Summary:

Join our Global IT Organization as we help shape the future through digital, data, and AI. We are seeking an innovative and strategic leader to join our Global IT Organization as the Director IT, Digital Partner – Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and SAP COE. This is a pivotal role in accelerating our digital transformation journey through a multi-year SAP S/4HANA business transformation leveraging the latest innovations in SAP S/4HANA. In addition, the role will explore and implement advanced technologies like IIoT, digital twin, real-time predictive analytics and AI to transform our manufacturing environments and our global supply chain network.

Reporting directly to the Global Chief Information Officer, you will collaborate with senior leaders across manufacturing, supply chain and our global IT organization to reimagine the future of our business, creating unparalleled business value.

This role will lead our multi-year global SAP S/4HANA program as well as lead an enterprise culture shift toward a digital-first, AI-first, data-driven culture. You will help evolve the IT landscape to support seamless end-to-end business processes, efficient, resilient, and agile operations aligned with industry 5.0 standards to respond swiftly to market changes and disruptions while maintaining high standards of quality and sustainability. You will inspire a high-performing global IT team to deliver continuous business value.

This role builds deep, trusted relationships with business leaders across the core ERP functional areas (Order Management, Supply Chain, Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement), understanding their operating environments, key strategies and tactics while providing ERP and other technology recommendations to business leaders to maximize value. Hollister operates in a hybrid work enviornment. This position is to be based out of the Libertyville, IL office.

Responsibilities:

• SAP S/4HANA ERP Transformation:  Partnering closely with the CIO and VP Transformation, you will lead the technology transition from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA, leveraging RISE with SAP to modernize our ERP systems and processes, creating unparalleled business value. This transformation will significantly enhance the company’s ability to scale and support its growth strategy.

• Leadership and Strategy: Be an industry thought leader and provide strategic direction to the SAP Platform team, IT Digitals Partners, and Global Process Owners, aligning Product and Platform roadmaps with manufacturing and supply chain roadmaps and corporate objectives. Stay informed on emerging technologies and SAP’s roadmap and assess their potential impact on the business. Evolve our SAP practices, standards and governance in alignment with industry advances and regulatory requirements.
• Innovation and Collaboration: Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within the team and across the enterprise, establishing Global IT as a strategic partner and change catalyst driving unparalleled business value. Role model and encourage “Outside In” thinking leveraging SAP and Industry experience.
• Future SAP Architecture and Platform: Design and implement modern SAP architectures to enhance analytics, AI / Agentic AI, hardware connectivity, edge system and partner integrations required to operate the global business. Develop a secure, compliant, and scalable SAP platform that is easily upgradable to stay current with latest SAP investments and feature packs.
• Legacy SAP Platforms: Responsible for the ongoing operation of the current SAP ECC platform (Business as Usual) including HA/DR, data retention, integrations including EDI partner connections & archiving strategies. Plan critical development and enhancements to meet key business needs & value drivers in the legacy platform while the new S/4HANA solutions are being implemented.
• Security, Governance, Risk & Compliance: Establish comprehensive frameworks using SAP and other approved toolsets to ensure data quality, security, and compliance while simplifying governance via AI and automation within the SAP environment. Ongoing collaboration with Internal and external audit for all related improvements & observations.
• Cloud Transformation: Drive the transition from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA, leveraging RISE with SAP to modernize ERP usage, leverage industry best practices, increase flexibility, and unlock business value. Use FinOps to reduce SAP cloud expenses.
• Automation Advancement: Expand and promote use of Tricentis Testing automation suite, RPA, AI / Agentic AI / GenAI / Joule, and the latest technological advancements to accelerate business agility and performance.
• Compliance and Validation: Ensure adherence to medical device industry-specific software lifecycle implementation techniques required in a validated environment (21 CFR part 11, 21 CFR part 820, ISO:13485, etc.). Oversee GxP validation practices within the SAP ERP platform and ensure audit readiness. Maintain compliance with segregation of duties and access controls best practices, and support internal audits.  
• Digital Business Partner: Leads the Digital Business Partner conversations with the key business stakeholders (across all dimensions of Planning, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Procurement) to ensure alignment of technology needs to business strategies and the development of a multi-year business technology roadmaps.
• Financial Budget & Key Vendor management: Ownership and analysis of both SAP contract and departmental budget. Accountable for forecasting, monitoring and reporting on financial performance within SAP enabled areas. This includes proposing adaptations to the SAP RISE agreements as our use of SAP increases over time and the way SAP monetize their products changes.

Essential Functions:

• Architectural and Integration Experience: Deep experience in designing scalable SAP Cloud Platforms, integrations with edge systems such as 3PL, WMS, EDI partners, microservices, APIs, reusable assets, products, and solutions. Includes qualification and contracting 3rd parties to partner on project delivery.
• Technology Industry Expertise: Extensive knowledge of technology trends, IIoT, Digital Twins, AI / Agentic AI, and best practices in SAP platforms, SAP Activate methodology, Transformational ERP frameworks used by Big 4 consultancies, data harmonisation & clean-up, journey to cloud strategy, implementation techniques for PaaS, SaaS & COTB tools. Experience in human-centric design and/or customer-facing digital products/apps.
• Leadership Experience: Proven track record in leading and inspiring highly technical teams, driving change, and advancing an enterprise-wide transformational ERP journey, digital literacy, and cultural change to simplify, standardize, and intelligently automate our processes and data.
• Governance: Ensures global standards and practices are established / evolved to fit the new PaaS / SaaS landscape.
• People: Develop talent, inspire teams, and evolve the organization toward our future Product / Platform IT Operating Model, agile ways of working, and delivery of our Digital Roadmap to drive unprecedented value through digital technologies, data, and AI.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate business objectives into effective long-term technology strategies and roadmaps.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to deliver solutions that drive business results.
• Collaboration and Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills for collaboration with cross-functional teams and executives, with the ability to influence senior leaders and peers toward business outcomes. Ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Industry Experience: Experience in life sciences or related high-regulated industries, with executive leadership in SAP operations or technology organizations.

Requirements:

• 15+ years overall experience in IT, with at least 10 years in SAP Implementation specific roles and 5 years in S/4HANA and/or RISE with SAP.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Information Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics/Statistics, or related field. MBA or Master of Science preferred.
• Proven record of developing and delivering SAP upgrade and implementation strategies across multiple functions and businesses in a global company.
• Industry visibility, panel participation, and other publicly available thought leadership. Big 4 consulting experience a plus.
• Advanced understanding of various SAP platforms, complementary Edge systems, integration approaches, ERP frameworks, digital platforms, and cloud platforms to support data modernization and customer mobile/web app development.
• Advanced knowledge of software development lifecycle across Waterfall, Agile, Scrumfall techniques.
• Advanced understanding of DevOps, Change & Release Management and FinOps.
• Experience in leading digital transformation through SAP, analytics, AI, and GenAI.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience with data governance and data literacy programs and delivery.
• Proven record of managing executive relationships and driving a data-first mindset across a complex, multinational, multiple business unit organization.
• Ability to travel (~25%) as needed.

Specialized Skills/Technical Knowledge:

• Formal education/training and experience with SAP S/4HANA.
• Experience driving significant digitally enabled programs within Supply Chain and Manufacturing, such as Global Supply/Demand planning, WMS implementation, Transportation Management, Product labelling, Manufacturing Execution System.
• Working knowledge of SAP ecosystem, technology, and industry best practices including change & release management, upgrade strategy, SAP Joule, Business Technology Platform (BTP).
• Experience navigating CSV in a medical device or pharmaceutical industry
• Project / Program management certification.
• Organization Change Management experience, including business process reengineering.
• Experience with Dell-Boomi, Azure and DevOps is a plus.
• Global work experience / outlook is necessary for this position.

#LI-Hybrid

Our Total Rewards package in aggregate is above market and includes competitive pay, paid time off programs, peer-to-peer recognition, health and life insurance, wellness programs and incentives, generous retirement savings, and a unique Benefit of Employee Share Ownership Program (BESOP). ​

• The anticipated base pay range for this position is $163,000 - $240,000 yearly. The actual salary varies based on applicant's location, education, experience, skills, abilities, and other legitimate business factors.​
• This position is also eligible to participate in the Hollister Corporate Bonus Plan. The Company also provides a unique Benefit of Employee Share Ownership Program (BESOP) program based on earnings and length of service.
• The Company’s health and welfare benefits include medical, prescription, dental, vision, spending/savings accounts, disability, company paid (parental and caregiver) leaves, statutory leaves/disability programs, accident, life, wellbeing, education assistance, adoption assistance, and voluntary benefit programs. ​
• The Company’s 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan includes: auto-enrollment, ROTH, vesting and eligible participants “safe harbor” matching contributions. ​
• The Company’s paid time off benefits include: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation based on length of service and exempt/non-exempt status, and sick days based on statutory requirements and/or exempt/non-exempt status. ​
• The Company’s additional benefits include: education assistance and adoption assistance benefit programs. 

About Hollister Incorporated
Hollister Incorporated is an independent, employee-owned company that develops, manufactures and markets healthcare products worldwide. The company spearheads the advancement of innovative products for ostomy care, continence care and critical care, and also creates educational support materials for patients and healthcare professionals. Headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, Hollister has manufacturing and distribution centers on three continents and sells in nearly 80 countries. Hollister is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Firm of John Dickinson Schneider, Inc., and is guided both by its Mission to make life more rewarding and dignified for people who use our products and services, as well as its Vision to grow and prosper as an independent, employee-owned company, and in the process, to become better human beings.

EOE Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job Req ID: 34659