Title: Program Manager
Location: Germany
About smartShift
smartShift is a global leader in SAP custom code transformation for SAP S/4HANA and Clean Core.
We help the world’s biggest brands, including Airbus, BMW, and Procter & Gamble, modernize their SAP systems with secure, stable, and future-ready code.
With 3,300+ transformations and 3.5 billion+ lines of code converted, our AI-powered automation delivers guaranteed results—fast, accurate, and disruption-free.
We’re a 350+-person company with global teams and a strong track record of profitable growth.
Shape the systems that power global business—and your future.
Top 3 Reasons to Join smartShift
Big Impact, Global Scale Works with the world’s most iconic brands and modernizes their SAP systems that keep global business running.
Breakthrough Tech, Proven Results: Leverage patented AI-powered automation that has transformed thousands of SAP systems with unmatched speed and precision.
Growth, Stability, and Opportunity Be part of a growing, profitable, and collaborative global company that values innovation and your contributions.
About role:
As Program Manager, you will be responsible for managing a large program or cluster of projects, focusing on program governance, defining methodology, best practices, and facilitating the use of archives & tools for the Customer Success department.
Working in close collaboration with customers and partners, he/she ensures that all the programs are running on track and as planned. They ensure to deliver the programs on time and highlight the risks at the earlier stages with clear mitigation.
Skills and Experience
Mandatory skills
The successful applicant will be expected to manage a large or a cluster of SAP projects.
Must have extensive experience working for large IT services/IT outsourcing companies, with strong client-facing and delivery experience
The role will be focused on customer engagement management and relationships - overseeing project delivery. Working with customer/partner management teams, system owners, and their technical architects to ensure timelines for delivery of solutions are understood, and any issues /risks are documented and actioned/escalated
Ensure that project processes and approval gateways are defined and met in the delivery plan.
Establish and maintain a project plan to track and monitor delivery progress for the agreed schedule. Agree on reporting profile with existing business teams to include resource profile, costs, and milestone achievement status. Provide reports on status and progress as required
Manage the Project Time Management Plan defined by the senior management.
Building schedules for his / her area based on internal standard WBS, contractual targets, and data provided by all stakeholders
Provide a timely updated schedule/revenue situation highlighting the gap between the actual and the baseline
Focus on early identification of potential delays (critical paths), including the status of risks and margin related to the schedule
Consolidate, review, and present program data and report to Customer Success leadership. Provide data and reports to the management, and provide data on :
Progress of the project.
Milestones are being achieved on time or not.
Progress on mitigation of the risks.
Financial Data such as budget, margins, and actual costs.
Timely Dashboard for Business reviews
Qualifications & Skills:
Education
Bachelor's/Post Graduate in Engineering – IT, CS, ECE, & EEE or Equivalent
Behavioural Competencies
Demonstrate excellent communication skills (Deutsch/German and English are a must) and be able to influence, negotiate, and communicate at all levels, including Top Management.
Strong knowledge of SAP systems
Several years of program and client management experience, ability to oversee several details of multiple projects simultaneously
An in-depth understanding of ERP SAP business solutions as a Program Manager
Excellent client-facing experience and relationship management experience, PMP/PRINCE 2 Practitioner or equivalent
SAP S4HANA experience is desirable
Exhibit good leadership skills with Attention to detail, data Literacy, and Organizational awareness.
Team Player with prior experience in working with Global teams is preferable.
Strong people orientation & collaboration skills.
Experience required:
10+ years of experience in an IT organization, involved in end-to-end software services/product development: Should have a minimum of 7 years of experience in managing/leading a project management office.
The successful candidate will be able to thrive in a highly collaborative workplace and actively engage in the delivery process spread across different geographical locations.
Strong delivery and process background
Experience in project/program execution and management
If you are passionate about building the technology world, be smart and join us at smartShift!
Do check out our website: https://smartshift.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartshift-inc/mycompany/
Requirements
● Fluent in German and English
● Added advantage if worked in SAP Upgrade projects
● Working in close collaboration with customers and partners, he/she ensures that all the programs are running on track and as planned. They ensure to deliver the programs on time and highlight the risks at the earlier stages with clear mitigation.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in Engineering, IT, Computer Science, ECE, EEE, or equivalent
- Fluent German and English communication skills
- Strong knowledge of SAP systems
- Several years of program and client management experience overseeing multiple projects
- In-depth understanding of SAP ERP business solutions
- Excellent client-facing and relationship management experience
- PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or equivalent certification
- 10+ years of experience in an IT organization involved in end-to-end software services or product development
- At least 7 years of experience managing or leading a project management office
- Strong delivery and process background
- Experience in project or program execution and management
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, organizational, collaboration, and data literacy skills
- Experience working with global teams
- SAP S/4HANA experience
What We Do
smartShift offers a better way for SAP customers to migrate and optimize their custom code. With its patented AI-powered solutions, smartShift delivers secure, stable, and optimized code in weeks rather than the months required by conventional approaches. smartShift is trusted by many of the world’s largest SAP customers and has been used to modernize over 3,300 SAP systems, converting over 3 billion lines of code
