Ralph Lauren ERP+ Vendor and Material Master Data Business Manager

Ralph Lauren; Watford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global fashion retailer is seeking an ERP+ Master Data Manager to manage vendor and article master data during a significant ERP transformation. This role involves defining data standards, supporting data migration, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality data governance. Ideal candidates will have strong SAP experience and data management expertise, along with excellent communication and analytical skills. The position may require some travel as it supports a global initiative.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Master Data processes in an international fashion apparel business.
• Experience within a vertically integrated retail environment.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with IT and external partners.
• Strong analytical skills for strategic decision making.

Responsibilities

• Manage vendor and article master data during the ERP transition.
• Define and enforce data standards and policies.
• Support data migration initiatives from legacy systems.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure accurate data solutions.
• Develop ongoing data maintenance and governance strategies.

Skills

SAP Vendor and Material Master data

Data governance

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

SAP S4 Fashion

Signavio

Job description

Company Description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview

As part of Ralph Lauren's Next Generation Transformation (NGT) initiative, we are replacing our core operating systems (SAP, Island Pacific, and Microsoft D365) with a unified Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. This transformation will standardize business operations across Master Data, Planning, Sourcing and Buying, Retail and Wholesale, Logistics and Distribution, and Finance. The ERP+ Master Data Manager will play a critical role in managing and optimizing vendor and article master data during the ERP transition. This role will ensure high-quality data governance, support seamless data migration, and align master data strategies with business transformation objectives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage vendor master and article master data efforts within the ERP transformation program.
• Provide expertise in SAP Fashion/Retail vendor and article master data governance, and optimization.
• Define and enforce data standards, policies, and best practices for vendor/article master data across all business units.
• Ensure alignment of vendor and article data models with business processes and ERP system architecture.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, IT teams, and ERP vendors to drive accurate and consistent master data solutions.
• Support data migration initiatives, ensuring seamless data transfer and transformation from legacy systems to SAP S4 Fashion.
• Work with Signavio or equivalent business process tools to ensure efficient and accurate data management and migration.
• Support data cleansing, validation, and enrichment to improve overall data quality and integrity.
• Serve as the primary liaison for vendor master data-related decisions in the Design Authority, ensuring consistency across functional teams.
• Support, develop and implement strategies for ongoing data maintenance, governance, and lifecycle management post-implementation.
• Work with upstream IT and business partners to design and build scalable integration to bring required product master data into ERP.
• The role will involve some travel and will require working with colleagues of the same function in other regions. This is a truly global program, so collaborating in the Ralph Lauren way is required.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Experience of SAP Vendor and Material Master data Experience with knowledge of SAP data and process frameworks, tools, and best practices.

• Has a strong understanding of the Master Data business operational processes within an international fashion apparel business.
• Experience within a vertically integrated retail environment; fashion apparel experience is highly desirable.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills. Must be adept at translating technical data concepts into business-friendly language.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with business, IT, and external partners.
• Possesses strong analytical skills: Leverages data to make strategic decisions.
• The ideal candidate is pragmatic, a problem solver, thrives under pressure, and excels at multitasking. Has the ability to make decisive and timely decisions while acting with authority.
• Possesses a strong strategic vision but is also comfortable taking a hands-on approach to achieve results.
• Experience working in a global organization with multi-region ERP deployments.