Senior Manager - MDM Technology & Governance (m/f/d)

Evident Microscopy; Hamburg; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Evident Europe GmbH in Hamburg seeks an IT MDM Leader to champion enterprise master data initiatives across SAP ECC/S/4HANA. This high-visibility role demands executive alignment, governance, and global data standards adherence, delivering value on time and within budget.

You will lead a matrixed team of analysts, data stewards, SAP leads, and external vendors, turning complex data structures into strategic business outcomes with urgency and precision.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of IT project/program management with 5+ years leading complex MDM in SAP (ECC 6.0 or S/4HANA).
• Proven leadership leading large cross-functional teams and navigating complex politics.
• Deep SAP master data domain knowledge (material, vendor, customer, finance).
• Governance mastery with prioritization matrices and Agile/Waterfall methods (Jira/MS Project/Smartsheet).
• Bias for action; thrives in fast-paced environments with rapid decision-making.
• Strong cross-functional influencer able to challenge, negotiate, and build consensus at exec level.
• Resilient conflict manager; confident, empathetic in change resistance scenarios.
• Strategic visionary linking micro data issues to macro business strategy.
• Bachelor’s degree or above in relevant field; 7+ years SAP/enterprise app mgmt.
• Fluency in English; manufacturing/Order-to-Cash leadership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end MDM programs (SAP MDM, MDG, data cleansing, migration) with budget responsibility.
• Chair governance bodies; drive data ownership, standards, conflict resolution across units.
• Establish frameworks to prioritize data demands across IT, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, Ops.
• Escalate risks, resolve ownership disputes, and ensure timely, data-driven decisions.
• Define SAP master data requirements; ensure solutions map to business needs.
• Oversee data quality, migration, and governance in ECC/S/4HANA environments.
• Translate complex data issues into strategic business outcomes; secure executive buy-in.
• Manage and mentor a matrixed team of analysts, data stewards, SAP leads, and vendors.
• Drive velocity during critical phases (UAT, cutover, hyper-care).
• Ensure vendor deliverables align with internal timelines and scope.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Bias for action

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree (CS / IT / Business)

Tools

Jira

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

EMEA Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Evident employs around 4,500 people at a total of 57 locations worldwide. Evident Europe, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, employs approximately 770 people in 16 countries. The product portfolio includes a wide range of microscope systems used in clinical diagnostics, medical and basic research, as well as in various industrial areas. In addition, Evident offers videoscopes, products for non-destructive testing techniques and for X-ray fluorescence analysis.

We are seeking a decisive, high-energy, and proven IT MDM Leader with extensive cross-system (SAP, SFDC, Snowflake, etc.) knowledge to champion and accelerate master data initiatives from concept to execution. This is not a developer role; it is a high-visibility leadership position.

Operating with a strong sense of urgency, you will owe prioritization, execution, and governance of enterprise MDM initiatives. You must be a strong cross-functional influencer capable of breaking down silos, driving alignment across diverse business units, and ensuring critical master data projects deliver maximum business value on time and on budget.

Your Responsibilities

• Drive Executive Alignment: Chair and drive alignment within the Data Governance Council, actively steering cross-functional business leaders toward decisive actions regarding data ownership, standards, and conflict resolution.
• Strategic Prioritization: Establish clear frameworks to prioritize competing data demands across IT, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, and Operations based on business impact, risk, and resource constraints.
• High-Stakes Problem Solving: Act as the ultimate escalation point for MDM project risks, ownership disputes, and roadblocks, making swift, data-driven decisions to keep initiatives moving forward.
• Accountability & Execution: Lead end-to-end MDM projects (e.g., SAP MDM implementation, data cleansing, migration, governance rollout, MDG setup) with strict accountability for timelines, budgets, and resource optimization.
• Architect Solutions: Define comprehensive project requirements for SAP master data (material, customer, vendor, finance) and challenge technical teams to ensure solutions map perfectly to strategic business needs.
• Enforce Governance: Oversee data quality, migration, and governance deliverables in SAP environments (ECC, S/4HANA), ensuring strict compliance with global data standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Business Transformation: Actively translate complex technical data structures into strategic business outcomes, establishing strong buy-in and organizational rapport.
• Inspire & Mobilize: Lead, mentor, and inspire a matrixed team of business analysts, data stewards, SAP functional leads, and external vendors to deliver high-quality outcomes under tight deadlines.
• Drive Velocity: Foster a culture of urgency, pushing for fast but deliberate execution during high-impact phases like UAT, cutover planning, and hyper-care.
• Vendor Accountability: Aggressively manage external consultants and vendor deliverables, ensuring full alignment with internal timelines and scope boundaries.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive IT project and program management experience, with at least 5 years explicitly leading complex MDM initiatives in SAP environments (ECC 6.0 or S/4HANA).
• Proven Leadership: Demonstrated track record of leading large-scale, cross-functional teams and successfully navigating complex organizational politics to achieve project goals.
• Deep Domain Expertise: Robust understanding of SAP master data objects (material, vendor, customer, finance) – possessing the credibility and technical depth to challenge technical teams and decisively guide business users.
• Governance Mastery: Expert-level command of project governance, prioritization matrices, and Agile/Waterfall methodologies using tools like Jira, MS Project, or Smartsheet.
• Bias for Action: Operates with a natural sense of urgency and speed; thrives in fast-paced environments requiring rapid decision-making.
• Strong Cross-Functional Influencer: Exceptional stakeholder management skills with a proven ability to challenge, negotiate, and build consensus at both staff and executive levels.
• Resilient Conflict Manager: A confident, empathetic demeanor equipped with strong conflict-resolution skills to confidently navigate resistance to change.
• Strategic Visionary: Ability to connect micro-level data issues to macro-level business strategies, inspiring others to deliver value in a cost-effective, secure, and highly efficient manner.
• Bachelor’s degree or above, with a major in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in SAP and enterprise application management.
• Perfect English (ideally a native speaker)
• Prior leadership experience within a manufacturing or Order-to-Cash environment is highly preferred.

Evident Europe GmbH is an equal opportunities employer and we look forward to receiving your application.