Sr. Manager, Data Engineering - SAP

UNFI; Providence (RI); Remote; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

UNFI is seeking a Senior Manager Data Engineering – SAP to own the SAP Business Data Cloud buildout and enterprise data capability, aligning roadmaps and governance across SAP BDC, Datasphere, SAC, and reporting.

You will lead a blended team, govern partners, and drive adoption while ensuring scalable, trusted data access for analytics and AI use cases.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in data and analytics, data engineering, enterprise reporting, data warehousing, BI, or enterprise data platforms.
• 5+ years leading SAP data, analytics, reporting, or integration initiatives with SAP Datasphere, SAC, BW/4HANA, HANA, S/4HANA analytics.
• Experience governing consulting partners and system integrators, including scope management, delivery accountability, budgets, and risk management.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams and blended delivery models across internal associates, consultants, contractors, and offshore resources.
• Experience delivering complex programs involving enterprise reporting, analytics modernization, data integration, semantic modeling, data products, or cloud data platforms.

Responsibilities

• Own SAP Business Data Cloud environment buildout, delivery roadmap, data product model, platform standards, and operating practices.
• Establish strategy and delivery plans across SAP BDC, Datasphere, SAC, and enterprise reporting.
• Drive transition from legacy reporting to governed SAP BDC-enabled data products and analytics capabilities.
• Define standards for data product lifecycle, semantic modeling, data quality, lineage, and production support.
• Ensure business continuity as UNFI retires legacy platforms and moves to SAP-based data capabilities.
• Collaborate with SAP Program Leadership and data teams to align delivery plans and standards.
• Govern external partners delivering SAP BDC, reporting, integration, and data product delivery.
• Hold delivery partners accountable for scope, timelines, budgets, quality, risks, and outcomes.
• Review delivery plans and staffing across multiple workstreams.
• Support executive governance reviews with status, risks, and recommendations.
• Govern multi-partner delivery models with clear scope boundaries and escalation paths.

Skills

SAP data & analytics

Program leadership

Partner governance

Cross-functional leadership

Data governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, engineering, computer science, data science, information systems, operations, finance, or related field

Tools

SAP BDC

SAP Datasphere

SAP Analytics Cloud

Job description

Job Overview

The Senior Manager Data Engineering – SAP will own the buildout and ongoing delivery of UNFI’s SAP Business Data Cloud capability, establishing the environment, delivery model, governance structure, and roadmap needed to support SAP-enabled analytics, reporting, data products, and AI use cases. This role is accountable for turning SAP BDC, SAP Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud, and related integration patterns into a scalable enterprise capability that improves access to trusted business data while supporting UNFI’s broader SAP transformation. The ideal candidate combines strong SAP data and analytics experience with hands‑on program leadership, partner governance, and the ability to align business, technology, and delivery teams around clear outcomes.

Job Responsibilities

Own SAP Business Data Cloud Buildout and Enterprise Data Capability

• Own the SAP Business Data Cloud environment buildout, delivery roadmap, data product model, platform standards, and operating practices needed to support UNFI’s SAP transformation.
• Establish strategy and delivery plans across SAP Business Data Cloud, SAP Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud, enterprise reporting, semantic models, and downstream data integrations.
• Drive the transition from legacy reporting, extracts, and data feeds to governed SAP BDC-enabled data products and analytics capabilities.
• Define standards for data product lifecycle management, semantic modeling, consumption patterns, data quality, lineage, access, and production support.
• Ensure business continuity as UNFI retires legacy platforms and moves to scalable SAP-based data and analytics capabilities.
• Collaborate with SAP Program Leadership, Enterprise Applications, Data Architecture, Data Engineering, Data Platform, Analytics and BI, and Data Product teams to align delivery plans, architecture decisions, and technical standards.

Govern Consulting Partners

• Responsible for overseeing external partners supporting SAP BDC, reporting, integration, and data product delivery.
• Hold delivery partners accountable for scope, timelines, budgets, quality, risks, and measurable business outcomes.
• Review delivery plans, milestones, staffing models, technical approaches, and execution strategies across multiple workstreams.
• Support executive governance reviews by providing delivery status, risks, decisions, and recommendations.
• Govern multi-partner delivery models by defining clear scope boundaries, handoffs, accountabilities, and escalation paths across platform, modeling, reporting, and data feed workstreams.

Build and Lead High-Performing Teams

• Build and manage a blended team of UNFI associates, consultants, contractors, and offshore delivery resources.
• Build internal SAP BDC, Datasphere, SAC, and data product delivery capability to reduce long-term dependency on external partners.
• Establish clear accountability, delivery processes, operating models, and performance expectations across internal and partner resources.
• Mentor and develop internal talent while building sustainable organizational capability for SAP data, analytics, and reporting modernization.

Establish Governance and Operating Excellence

• Create governance frameworks that drive transparency, accountability, and predictable delivery outcomes across SAP BDC, Datasphere, SAC, reporting, and integration workstreams.
• Define portfolio prioritization processes, intake mechanisms, roadmap management practices, release planning, and delivery standards.
• Establish standards for environment readiness, access and security governance, data quality, lineage, metadata, test readiness, production support, and sustainment.
• Manage assigned budgets, resource plans, vendor capacity, and forecasts for SAP BDC delivery workstreams.
• Drive executive reporting, KPI measurement, risk management, dependency tracking, and transformation success metrics.
• Protect program scope boundaries against adjacent or overlapping enterprise initiatives, ensuring SAP BDC responsibilities, dependencies, and handoffs remain clearly defined.

Support Business Readiness and Adoption

• Partner with OCM, SAP program, and business leaders to support communications, training, readiness planning, and adoption tracking for users transitioning from legacy reports, feeds, and extracts.
• Ensure SAP BDC, SAC, reporting, and data product releases include clear adoption plans, user impacts, support models, and cutover readiness checkpoints.
• Provide input into training and communications based on delivery scope, release timing, data availability, and business process impacts.
• Track delivery, adoption, quality, and operational metrics for SAP BDC-related capabilities.

Education/Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, engineering, computer science, data science, information systems, operations, supply chain, finance, or a related field.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in data and analytics, data engineering, enterprise reporting, data warehousing, business intelligence, or enterprise data platforms.
• 5+ years leading SAP data, analytics, reporting, or integration initiatives, with experience in SAP Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud, BW/4HANA, HANA, S/4HANA analytics.
• Experience standing up, scaling, or modernizing enterprise data, analytics, reporting, or platform capabilities, including operating model, delivery standards, governance, and support practices.
• Demonstrated experience governing consulting partners and system integrators, including scope management, delivery accountability, budget oversight, escalation management, and quality assurance.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams and blended delivery models across internal associates, consultants, contractors, and offshore resources.
• Experience delivering complex programs involving enterprise reporting, analytics modernization, data integration, semantic modeling, data products, or cloud data platforms.
• Demonstrated experience leading formal Organizational Change Management efforts, including training, communications, readiness planning, and adoption tracking for enterprise system transitions.

Preferred Experience

• Background in retail, grocery, distribution, logistics, warehouse operations, supply chain, or wholesale industries.
• Professional certifications in program management, SAP, Agile, product management, or cloud technologies.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong understanding of SAP Business Data Cloud, SAP Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud, and SAP-based reporting architecture; direct SAP BDC experience preferred.
• Ability to define and govern standards for data products, semantic models, data quality, lineage, access controls, metadata, consumption patterns, and production support.
• Working knowledge of SAP and enterprise integration patterns, including CDS views, Change Data Capture, APIs, ETL/ELT, and governed data product delivery.
• Experience with modern cloud data platforms.
• Strong program leadership skills, including roadmap management, prioritization, financial stewardship, partner governance, risk management, and executive communication.
• Ability to translate business reporting, analytics, and data consumption needs into clear delivery scope, sequencing, adoption plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influence skills, with the ability to align business, technology, and partner teams around shared outcomes.
• Good judgment, sound escalation practices, and adherence to established procedures are required; the role generally operates with close supervision by management and senior team members.

Work Environment

Remote Role

• This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

Physical Environment/Demands

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.

UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected ground. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the job selection process. - Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Compensation

UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.

Benefits

For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.

Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.

UNFI’s compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.