Enterprise Applications COE Director

Uniphar Group

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a platform ownership role, distinct from the ERP programme delivery function which has its own dedicated lead. The CoE Director operates as the standards authority and value realisation engine: shaping how Dynamics 365 and the wider enterprise applications portfolio are used consistently across Uniphar, driving adoption and change, owning the continuous improvement backlog, and managing the long-term roadmap well beyond initial go-live. The ERP programme is an important context for this role — the CoE Director will be a key partner to it — but the purpose of this position is enduring: to make enterprise applications a genuine competitive capability for the Group. The right candidate will combine deep Microsoft Dynamics 365 expertise with the leadership presence to influence senior business stakeholders, the operational discipline to build enduring governance processes, and the commercial acumen to translate enterprise applications capability into measurable business outcomes.

Requirements

Significant experience (typically 12+ years) in enterprise applications or ERP-related roles, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or platform ownership capacity.
Deep, hands-on expertise with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (or Business Central), including design, governance, and continuous improvement at scale, Microsoft Power Platform and its integration with Dynamics 365 and understanding of D365 reporting and analytical tools.
Proven track record building or leading a Centre of Excellence, platform governance function, or equivalent centre of expertise.
Demonstrable success driving enterprise applications adoption and value realisation in a complex, multi-entity or multi-country organisation.
Experience partnering with or overseeing a major ERP implementation programme, with accountability for post-go-live governance and adoption.
Strong background in change management, business readiness, and stakeholder engagement at senior level.
Degree in Information Technology, Business, Finance, or a related discipline; Microsoft Dynamics 365 certifications or equivalent professional accreditation are advantageous.
Familiarity with Azure DevOps for D365 ALM (application lifecycle management), CI/CD pipelines, and release management.
Solid grasp of enterprise application data architecture, master data management, and integration middleware (e.g. Azure Integration Services, Logic Apps, Dataverse).
Working knowledge of the wider enterprise applications landscape — CRM, HR/HCM, finance, EPM, and service management platforms — and how they integrate with a core ERP to deliver end-to-end business processes.

Responsibilities

Establish, design, and lead the Uniphar Enterprise Applications Centre of Excellence — defining its operating model, team structure, and ways of working.
Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing CoE team encompassing functional, technical, and change capability.
Define the operating relationship between the CoE, divisional IT leads, and the ERP programme team — ensuring clear ownership, escalation paths, and a structured handover from programme to BAU.
Build a culture of continuous improvement, shared learning, and knowledge management across Dynamics 365 practitioners throughout the Group.
Own and maintain the Uniphar Dynamics 365 governance framework: configuration standards, data model governance, change control, and release management.
Ensure consistent application of enterprise application standards across all Uniphar business units and entities, including acquired businesses onboarded to the platform.
Define and enforce the boundary between standard D365 capability, supported customisation, and out-of-scope extensions.
Chair the Enterprise Applications governance forum, providing senior stakeholders with transparent visibility of platform health, risk, and roadmap decisions.
Act as the CoE’s primary interface to the ERP implementation programme, ensuring design decisions are consistent with long-term governance principles.
Own the definition and acceptance of “CoE-ready” criteria — the standard that must be met before programme workstreams transition to BAU ownership.
Support the programme in cross-cutting areas including data governance, master data management, change management, and business readiness.
Prepare the CoE team to receive, support, and continuously optimise what the programme delivers.
Own the end-to-end adoption strategy for Dynamics 365 across Uniphar, spanning training, enablement, communications, and organisational change.
Define and track enterprise applications value realisation metrics: process efficiency, data quality, adoption rates, and business outcomes tied to the original investment case.
Partner with divisional leaders and Group Finance to demonstrate the value delivered by the enterprise applications investment and build the business case for future enhancements.
Ensure that users at all levels — from operational staff to senior leaders — have the skills, tools, and confidence to use the platform effectively.
Own and prioritise the Dynamics 365 continuous improvement backlog, balancing divisional requests, strategic priorities, and platform health needs.
Manage Microsoft’s D365 release cycle, assessing the impact of new features and updates on Uniphar’s configuration and operational processes.
Partner with Group Technology architecture to ensure Dynamics 365 evolves in alignment with the wider enterprise technology strategy.
Identify and evaluate opportunities to expand D365 capability — including Power Platform, Copilot for Finance & Operations, and integrated analytics — to deliver incremental business value.
Own enterprise application data governance: master data standards, data quality frameworks, and controls to ensure the integrity of financial and operational data within Dynamics 365 and connected systems.
Ensure D365 remains the authoritative source of record for in-scope business processes, managing integrations with upstream and downstream systems accordingly.
Work with the Group Data and Analytics function to ensure enterprise application data is available, reliable, and well-governed for reporting and AI use cases.
Own Uniphar’s strategic relationship with Microsoft in respect of Dynamics 365 licensing, roadmap alignment, and support escalation.
Manage relationships with implementation partners and managed service providers supporting the enterprise applications portfolio.
Ensure Uniphar extracts maximum value from its Microsoft licensing and support agreements, leveraging Group commercial frameworks where available.