SAP Architect, Lead

The Role

We are seeking a Regional SAP Architect to act as the design authority for the TOPPAKO program within an assigned region. The role connects global template governance with regional deployment needs, ensuring that SAP S/4HANA solutions remain standardized, integrated, scalable, and aligned with business outcomes. The architect will guide end-to-end solution decisions across O2C, P2P, R2R, Plan-to-Deliver, manufacturing, logistics, and EWM, working closely with Global Process Owners, Regional Process Owners, BRMs, delivery partners, and local business teams.

Key Responsibilities

* Own regional solution architecture and ensure alignment with the TOPPAKO global template, SAP standards, and clean-core principles.
 * Lead architecture and design workshops across finance, sales, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, and warehouse processes.
 * Assess local requirements, challenge unnecessary deviations, and define fit-to-standard solutions with clear business and technical rationale.
 * Govern cross-process and cross-system integration, including interfaces, data, security, reporting, and non-functional requirements.
 * Maintain regional architecture decisions, solution patterns, risks, dependencies, and the roadmap for approved gaps or extensions.
 * Partner with GPOs, RPOs, BRMs, product teams, system integrators, and local stakeholders to resolve design issues and secure timely decisions.
 * Review functional and technical designs, configuration approaches, custom developments, and integration specifications before build approval.
 * Support SAP Activate deliverables through Explore, Realize, Deploy, and Run, including SIT, UAT, cutover, hypercare, and transition to operations.
 * Provide architecture leadership for defects, change requests, and release planning while protecting template integrity and regional business continuity.
 * Coach functional leads and consultants, promote reuse, and communicate complex design choices clearly to senior stakeholders.

Job Requirements

* 10+ years of SAP experience, including solution architecture or design authority responsibility in complex regional or global programs.
 * Strong SAP S/4HANA expertise and end-to-end understanding of at least three core process domains, with the ability to govern cross-module integration.
 * Demonstrated experience in global template design, localization, rollout governance, and fit-to-standard decision-making.
 * Working knowledge of SAP Activate, clean-core principles, extensibility options, integration architecture, data migration, security, and application lifecycle management.
 * Experience reviewing solution designs and challenging custom development based on value, risk, supportability, and upgrade impact.
 * At least two full lifecycle SAP implementations or major regional deployments in manufacturing environments; automotive experience is strongly preferred.
 * Strong stakeholder management, facilitation, negotiation, and executive communication skills.
 * Fluent business English; additional regional languages are an advantage.
 * Ability to travel within the assigned region and collaborate effectively across global time zones.

Preferred Capabilities

* Expertise in enterprise architecture methods and SAP reference architectures.
 * Familiarity with SAP BTP, APIs, event-driven integration, Fiori, analytics, and cloud services.
 * Experience with architecture governance forums, design assurance, technical debt management, and application rationalization.
 * Understanding of regional statutory, tax, trade, data privacy, and cybersecurity requirements.
 * Proven ability to work across Japanese, European, and other regional business cultures. 

Leadership Profile

Strategic and pragmatic, with the authority to make and defend architecture decisions. Collaborative across business and technology teams, disciplined in governance, attentive to detail, and able to balance global standardization with essential regional needs. Comfortable operating through influence in a matrix organization and accountable for transparent escalation of risks, trade-offs, and decisions.

Software & Tools

SAP S/4HANA; SAP BTP and integration services; SAP Fiori; SAP Cloud ALM or Solution Manager; enterprise architecture repositories; process modelling tools; Azure DevOps or Jira; and standard collaboration and documentation platforms.

Why Join TOPPAKO?

Shape a strategic SAP S/4HANA transformation, influence regional and global design decisions, and help establish a scalable, clean, and sustainable template for future deployments. This role offers broad business exposure, cross-regional collaboration, and direct impact on long-term technology and operating-model outcomes.

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