Cutover Manager

Version 1; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital consultancy is seeking a Cutover Manager to guide the transition from legacy systems to a new enterprise platform. This pivotal role involves creating cutover strategies, coordinating across multiple teams, and managing risks to ensure a successful go-live. Candidates should have proven experience in similar roles and a strong understanding of ERP systems like SAP or Oracle. The position offers hybrid working flexibility and significant career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Quarterly performance-related profit share

Hybrid / Remote working flexibility

Pension and private healthcare

Career progression and mentorship

Training budget for certifications

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex cutovers with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to manage legacy system transitions to new platforms.
• Strong leadership presence when operating with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a robust cutover plan.
• Orchestrate cutover activities across multiple workstreams.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Lead mock cutovers and rehearsals to validate readiness.
• Coordinate hypercare and transition to operational support.

Skills

Proven experience as a Cutover Manager

Strong understanding of ERP platforms (SAP or Oracle)

Excellent planning and coordination skills

Risk management skills

Confident communicator

Education

Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent)

Job description

Company Description

For over 29 years, Version 1 has partnered with leading global brands to deliver digital, cloud, and enterprise application solutions that drive business success. We are proud to be recognised as:

• Oracle Innovation Partner of the Year 2023 (EMEA)
• Microsoft Global Partner of the Year (Modernising Applications)
• AWS Collaboration Partner of the Year (EMEA)
• One of the Best Workplaces for Women in the UK & Ireland (2023)

With 3,700+ people and revenues exceeding €347m/£302m, Version 1 is a market leader in Oracle, Microsoft, and AWS consulting services – and one of the fastest-growing digital consultancies in Europe.

Job Description

You must be eligible for CTC Clearance (UK residency required for the past 3 years)

Lead the Moment That Matters Most

Go-live doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because exceptional Cutover Managers plan, coordinate, and execute with precision.

We’re looking for an experienced Cutover Manager to take ownership of one of the most critical phases of a large-scale IT transformation. This is a high-profile role at the heart of programme delivery, where your expertise will directly determine the success of go-live and business readiness.

If you thrive in complex environments, enjoy bringing order to moving parts, and are trusted to lead under pressure, this is the role where your impact will be felt immediately.

The Opportunity

As Cutover Manager, you will be fully accountable for the transition from legacy systems to a new enterprise platform. You’ll work across technology and business teams to ensure every activity, dependency, and risk is understood, planned, rehearsed, and executed flawlessly — with minimal disruption to the business.

This role offers visibility, influence, and the chance to play a defining role in a major transformation programme.

What You’ll Be Doing

Own the Cutover Strategy

You will:

• Create and maintain a robust, end-to-end cutover plan covering scope, timelines, dependencies, and resources.
• Define clear cutover objectives, success criteria, and go/no-go decision points aligned to the wider programme plan.

Coordinate & Lead Execution

You will:

• Orchestrate cutover activities across multiple workstreams, including technical, business, data migration, and infrastructure.
• Drive readiness assessments, manage entry and exit criteria, and ensure teams are fully prepared for go-live.
• Keep stakeholders aligned, informed, and confident at every stage.

Manage Risk & Complexity

You will:

• Proactively identify risks, issues, and dependencies that could impact cutover success.
• Develop and execute mitigation strategies, escalating where required.
• Maintain clear, structured risk and issue tracking.

Communicate with Impact

You will:

• Act as the single point of contact for all cutover-related communications.
• Provide clear, concise updates to senior stakeholders and governance forums.
• Build trust and confidence across business and technology leadership.

Test, Rehearse & Validate

You will:

• Plan and lead mock cutovers and dress rehearsals to validate readiness.
• Ensure data integrity, system stability, and functional readiness post-cutover.
• Drive rapid resolution of issues uncovered during rehearsals.

Go-Live & Hypercare

You will:

• Lead final cutover execution and early life support activities.
• Coordinate hypercare and ensure a smooth transition to operational support teams.
• Deliver post-cutover validation and formal handover.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

Essential Experience

You will have:

• Proven experience as a Cutover Manager (or similar role) on large-scale IT or ERP programmes.
• Strong understanding of ERP platforms such as SAP or Oracle, plus infrastructure and data migration.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex cutovers involving multiple stakeholders and workstreams.
• Excellent planning, coordination, and risk management skills.
• Confident communicator with strong leadership presence, able to operate at senior stakeholder level.

Desirable

You will have:

• Experience within major transformation programmes (ERP, Cloud, enterprise modernisation).
• Knowledge of ITIL and service transition principles.
• Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).

Additional Information

Why This Role?

• Play a mission-critical role in a major transformation programme
• High visibility and genuine influence over programme success
• Work with senior stakeholders across business and technology
• A role that values expertise, judgement, and leadership — not just process

Why Version 1?

• Strong career progression & mentorship through our Strength in Balance and leadership programmes, including quarterly Pathways Career Development reviews.
• Significant training budget for certifications and further education.
• Version 1 Annual Excellence Awards & Call-Out recognition platform celebrating achievement.
• Moments that matter & enhanced maternity/paternity leave policies to support your journey.
• Active ESG & CSR initiatives, allowing you to give back through fundraising, volunteering, and diversity, inclusion & belonging programmes.

Benefits include:

• Quarterly performance-related profit share
• Hybrid / Remote working flexibility
• Pension, private healthcare, life assurance cover
• Certified Great Place to Work for 10+ years running

This is hybrid based with occasional travel to your nearest base office.

Ashley Billington, Head of Talent Acquisition – Enterprise Applications (Oracle Cloud - ERP, HCM, EPM)

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#LI-AB1

#LI-Hybrid

We are an equal opportunities employer. Please refer to our Diversity & Inclusion statement located at: Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging | Version 1 Careers

Please note: We have an internal recruitment team and do not accept agency candidates. If you want to join the team here at Version 1, get in touch with us directly!