SAP Enterprise Applications Manager

DataTech Recruitment; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

DataTech Recruitment is seeking a senior SAP & Enterprise Applications Manager for a Johannesburg-based role, combining hands-on technical leadership with strategic planning. You will own the SAP landscape, drive modernisation and ensure critical systems are secure, reliable and prepared for future transformation.

The role focuses on SAP ERP/SAP S/4HANA, integration middleware and governance, in a demanding logistics/supply chain environment with 24/7 operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in IT, CS or related field.
• 8–10 years of SAP/enterprise technology leadership experience.
• Exposure to SAP S/4HANA migration and transformation initiatives.
• Proven track record leading SAP specialists, developers and external service providers.
• Experience managing enterprise integrations, middleware platforms and application support services.
• Strong vendor management, budgeting, contract management and commercial negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Lead SAP & Enterprise Applications governance, roadmaps and continuous improvement.
• Drive SAP S/4HANA transformation planning, technical assessments and migration readiness.
• Oversee integration, middleware and enterprise automation platforms.
• Ensure 24/7 operational stability, security and service delivery for critical systems.
• Lead and develop SAP and IT teams, and manage external partners.

Skills

SAP

S/4HANA

ABAP

Leadership

Vendor management

IT architecture

Agile delivery

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/CS or related field

Tools

SAP Basis

Process Orchestration (PO)

SAP Data Services

SAP BTP Cloud Integration

RPA and automation

Job description

SAP Enterprise Applications Manager required in Johannesburg.

The environment suits someone who enjoys both the technical and leadership sides of the job and does not want to choose between the two.

Managing SAP is one thing. Leading an entire enterprise applications environment, keeping critical systems running and preparing the business for its next phase of technology transformation is quite another.

We’re looking for an experienced SAP & Enterprise Applications Manager who can take ownership of a complex SAP and enterprise applications landscape, lead technical teams and ensure business‑critical systems remain secure, reliable and ready for the future.

You’ll join an established business operating in a demanding, 24/7 logistics and supply chain environment, where technology has a direct impact on daily operations.

This is a senior leadership role combining hands‑on technical understanding with strategic planning, architecture oversight, vendor management and operational accountability.

A key focus will be preparing the SAP environment for future transformation, including SAP S/4HANA readiness, clean‑core adoption and application modernisation.

Core Technologies: SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA, SAP Basis, SAP Process Orchestration (PO), SAP Data Services, SAP BTP Cloud Integration, ABAP, enterprise middleware, integration platforms, RPA and application automation.

Location: Midrand, Johannesburg (Onsite).

Salary: R1.1m – R1.2m per annum CTC.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• SAP & Enterprise Applications Leadership
  • Lead the management, governance and continuous improvement of SAP platforms, enterprise applications, integrations and middleware.
  • Develop and execute technology roadmaps covering platform upgrades, modernisation, lifecycle management and future investment.
  • Ensure enterprise applications remain secure, scalable, reliable and aligned with business requirements.
  • Oversee application performance, availability, technical debt and ongoing platform optimisation.
  • Manage technology budgets, vendors, contracts and service delivery agreements.
• SAP Transformation & Architecture
  • Drive SAP technology best practices, standardisation and clean‑core principles.
  • Support SAP S/4HANA transformation planning, technical assessments and migration readiness.
  • Oversee SAP architecture reviews, custom-code governance and ABAP development standards.
  • Evaluate new technologies and make recommendations on platform improvements and investment.
  • Collaborate with enterprise architecture and infrastructure teams on technology decisions.
• Integration, Middleware & Automation
  • Oversee enterprise integration architecture and middleware platforms, including SAP Process Orchestration and SAP Data Services.
  • Support the future adoption of SAP BTP Cloud Integration.
  • Ensure secure, reliable data exchange between SAP, enterprise applications and external business partners.
  • Govern integration standards, data security, automation solutions and robotic process automation (RPA) providers.
  • Oversee secure file transfers, data archiving and integration lifecycle management.
• Operational Stability & Service Delivery
  • Ensure business‑critical enterprise applications support a 24/7 operational environment.
  • Oversee SAP Basis services, system administration, technical support and outsourced managed services.
  • Manage incident resolution, problem management, change control and release activities.
  • Coordinate SAP upgrades, patching and maintenance while minimising operational disruption.
  • Support disaster recovery and business continuity planning, including recovery objectives, testing and operational readiness.
  • Ensure appropriate information security controls, risk management and audit compliance.
• Team & Stakeholder Leadership
  • Lead and develop SAP, enterprise systems, integration, development and technical support teams.
  • Manage third‑party technology partners and outsourced service providers against agreed service levels.
  • Work closely with IT leadership, business stakeholders, application owners and infrastructure teams.
  • Oversee Agile delivery practices, technical quality and release management.
  • Provide technical guidance, coaching and performance management to internal teams.
  • Translate complex technical challenges into clear business recommendations.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, Advanced Diploma or equivalent higher education qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field.
• Relevant SAP, ITIL, Agile, cybersecurity, cloud or project management certifications would be advantageous.
• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience managing SAP and enterprise technology environments.
• Strong technical understanding of SAP platforms, enterprise applications and their supporting technologies.
• Proven experience leading technical teams, SAP specialists, developers and external service providers.
• Experience managing enterprise integrations, middleware platforms and application support services.
• Exposure to SAP S/4HANA migration, implementation or transformation initiatives.
• Experience with SAP Basis operations, architecture governance and application lifecycle management.
• Solid understanding of SAP clean‑core principles, ABAP development governance and standard SAP functionality.
• Experience in technology roadmap development, strategic planning and architecture reviews.
• Experience supporting high‑availability systems, disaster recovery and business continuity.
• Working knowledge of Agile delivery, IT service management and change control processes.
• Strong experience in vendor management, budgeting, contract management and commercial negotiations.
• Experience in complex enterprise, logistics, distribution or supply chain environments would be particularly valuable.

Technical Knowledge:

• SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA environments.
• SAP Basis administration and technical operations.
• SAP Process Orchestration (PO) and SAP Data Services.
• SAP BTP and cloud integration concepts.
• ABAP development governance and clean‑core principles.
• Enterprise application integration and middleware architecture.
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and enterprise automation.
• IT service management, information security and risk management.
• Disaster recovery, high availability and business continuity.
• Cloud, hosting, database and infrastructure concepts.

Leadership & Personal Attributes:

• Confident technical leader who can guide experienced specialists and manage external technology partners.
• Able to balance long‑term technology planning with day‑to‑day operational demands.
• Strong analytical thinking and sound technical judgement.
• Comfortable making decisions in complex, business‑critical environments.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and relationship management skills.
• Commercially aware, with an understanding of technology investment and cost management.
• Able to challenge existing approaches and drive practical improvements without compromising operational stability.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to influence the future of a substantial enterprise technology environment rather than simply maintain what already exists.

You’ll have responsibility for business‑critical SAP and application platforms, the opportunity to shape modernisation initiatives and a leadership role in preparing the organisation for its next phase of SAP transformation.

If you enjoy the challenge of keeping complex systems running while finding better ways to build, integrate and improve them, this could be a strong next move.