IT Business Applications Manager

ATS Client; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

ATS Client is seeking a seasoned Business Application Manager to lead the enterprise applications portfolio in a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment. You will drive lifecycle management, vendor relations, and continuous improvement to align technology with business strategy.

The role requires strong leadership, project management, and regulatory acumen to ensure compliant, reliable, and efficient application landscape across ERP, LIMS, and QMS systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, CS, or related field.
• 7–10 years in IT application management, preferably in pharma/healthcare.
• Knowledge of ERP, LIMS, and QMS systems.
• Regulatory knowledge incl. FDA, GxP, and data privacy.

Responsibilities

• Oversee application portfolio management, selection, implementation, maintenance, and retirement.
• Provide technical and functional leadership across enterprise applications.
• Plan, execute, and deliver application projects within scope, time, and budget.
• Manage full lifecycle: requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, support, retirement.
• Manage vendor relationships, SLAs, and procurement processes.
• Translate business needs into functional specs and drive improvements.
• Lead change management for enhancements and upgrades and ensure user adoption.
• Lead IT applications team, foster collaboration, and mentor staff.
• Ensure compliance with quality, regulatory, and security standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in IT/CS

SAP Certification

ITIL Certification

PRINCE2 Certification

Tools

SAP HANA

SAP S/4HANA

ERP systems

LIMS

QMS

RPA

IDP

Process Mining

Job description

Job Description

WE ARE HIRING!

A leading organization in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector is seeking a dynamic, passionate, confident, proactive, and meticulous Business Application Manager to join a high-performing Information Technology team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and optimizing the organization's business application landscape, ensuring alignment between technology solutions and strategic business objectives while maintaining compliance with industry regulations and best practices.

Key Purpose of the Role

The Business Application Manager will oversee the full lifecycle management of enterprise applications, including implementation, enhancement, maintenance, support, and retirement. The role requires strong leadership, technical expertise, project management capabilities, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders in a highly regulated environment.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Application Portfolio Management

• Manage the organization's application portfolio, including the selection, implementation, maintenance, optimization, and retirement of applications.
• Align application strategies with business objectives and operational priorities.
• Ensure optimal utilization of IT resources and technology investments.

Technical & Functional Leadership

• Maintain strong knowledge of enterprise applications, including ERP, CRM, data management, and industry-specific systems.
• Stay informed of emerging technologies and trends in application management and digital transformation.
• Lead initiatives that improve business processes through automation and innovation.

Project Management

• Plan, execute, and deliver application-related projects within scope, budget, and timelines.
• Apply project management methodologies, tools, and best practices to ensure successful outcomes.

Application Lifecycle Management

• Oversee the full application lifecycle, including:
  • Requirements gathering
  • Design
  • Development
  • Testing
  • Deployment
  • Support and maintenance
  • Retirement

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with application vendors and service providers.
• Evaluate vendor performance and ensure compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Negotiate contracts and support procurement processes where necessary.

Business Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Translate complex business requirements into functional specifications and technology solutions.
• Analyze application performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities.
• Support data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency initiatives.

Problem Solving & Support

• Troubleshoot application-related issues and implement effective corrective actions.
• Conduct root cause analysis and drive long-term resolution strategies.

Change Management

• Implement and manage change control processes related to application enhancements and upgrades.
• Communicate system changes effectively and ensure smooth user adoption.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor the IT applications team.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on innovation and continuous learning.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and professional development support to team members.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure applications meet quality standards, regulatory requirements, and security best practices.
• Oversee testing, validation, and compliance activities to maintain system reliability and integrity.

Competencies & Skills

• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Business process understanding and strategic thinking
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and regulated environment
• Strong organizational and time management capabilities
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality

Requirements

Qualifications & Certifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.

Preferred

• SAP Certification
• ITIL Certification
• Project Management Certification (e.g., PRINCE2)

Experience & Industry Knowledge

Essential Experience

• 7-10 years' proven experience in IT application management, preferably within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Strong technical knowledge of application lifecycle management, including application selection, implementation, support, maintenance, and retirement.
• Experience managing complex enterprise application landscapes, including:
  • ERP systems
  • Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
  • Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• Demonstrated experience leading application-related projects using formal project management methodologies and tools.
• Experience with SAP technologies, including SAP HANA and SAP S/4HANA.
• Exposure to and implementation experience in one or more of the following:
  • Generative AI
  • Data Analytics & Data Science
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
  • Intelligent Document Processing (IDP)
  • Process Mining

Industry Knowledge

• Knowledge of pharmaceutical regulatory requirements, including:
  • FDA regulations
  • GxP guidelines
  • Data privacy regulations