Principal IT Bus Analyst

Michael Foods Inc.•Hopkins, MN

About The Position

The Principal IT Business Analyst plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between enterprise-level business requirements and SAP system capabilities. This individual possesses extensive SAP and functional business expertise, providing both strategic direction and technical leadership across the IT Applications landscape. They oversee large-scale SAP initiatives, drive process optimization, and mentor technical resources, ensuring that solutions align with organizational objectives and long-term technology strategy. The Principal IT Business Analyst also identifies and champions next-generation solutions, whether developed internally or acquired from the market—while staying current with industry trends, SAP best practices, and emerging technologies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Business, or related field.
10+ years of SAP implementation, configuration, and support experience, including multi-module leadership.
Proven track record in SAP EWM and SAP ECC modules WM, MM, and QM
Demonstrated experience in large-scale, enterprise-wide SAP projects.
Strong business acumen with ability to influence senior leadership.
Experience managing vendor relationships and third-party service providers.
Effective communicator with strong leadership, mentoring, and presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

SAP certifications in relevant modules.
Experience with SAP rollouts to new locations or acquisitions.
Familiarity with BW data modeling, queries, and reporting.
Knowledge of APO-PPDS, IBP, and other advanced planning tools.
Food manufacturing or regulated industry experience.
Experience in S/4HANA implementation

Responsibilities

Demonstrate expert-level functional and business knowledge across multiple SAP modules, translating enterprise requirements into effective, scalable solutions.
Partner with senior leadership to shape IT and SAP strategies that align with organizational goals.
Advise on business processes, policies, and practices, ensuring solutions deliver measurable business value.
Serve as a trusted advisor to business units, department heads, and project sponsors.
Lead design, configuration, and integration of SAP ECC, S/4 HANA, and related modules.
Oversee technical compliance with SAP standards, ensuring system scalability, efficiency, and alignment with best practices.
Review and approve programming specifications, guide ABAP development, and perform debugging as needed.
Manage complex data conversions, data loads, interfaces, and cross-platform integrations.
Analyze enterprise-wide business processes, identifying opportunities for automation, standardization, and optimization using SAP technology.
Develop multi-year SAP roadmaps and ensure timely, cost-effective implementation of initiatives.
Recommend and evaluate system upgrades, patch strategies, and new module deployments.
Provide technical leadership to SAP teams, including developers, functional analysts, and external consultants.
Mentor team members across functional and technical areas, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing.
Lead large-scale, cross-functional projects from planning to execution, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
Participate in talent acquisition, onboarding, and performance coaching for IT staff.
Manage relationships with SAP vendors and third-party providers, ensuring suitable services and functionality are offered and delivered to Michael Foods.
Oversee vendor performance and ensure alignment with internal technology standards.
Build strong partnerships with key stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and change adoption.
Ensure SAP systems meet all compliance standards and data security protocols.
Partner with cybersecurity teams to implement and maintain robust security controls.
Expert-level proficiency in SAP ECC, S/4 HANA, BW, and relevant modules (EWM, MM, PP, APO, IBP)
Proficiency with Microsoft productivity tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio).
Advanced understanding of ABAP, data modeling, and reporting tools.
Strong working knowledge of IT project methodologies and governance frameworks.