SAP SuccessFactors Project Lead

Simon-Kucher•Boston, MA

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

Simon-Kucher is transforming its global HR and Finance systems through SKale, a program implementing SAP SuccessFactors and SAP S/4HANA to create more integrated systems, standardized processes, and effective ways of working across its international organization. As the HR project moves from global solution design into country localization, testing, data migration, deployment, and business readiness, the SAP SuccessFactors Project Lead (HR Technology Deployment Lead) will be responsible for successful delivery through this phase. Go-live is currently planned for early 2028. The role is part of Simon-Kucher’s Global Transformation Office and reports directly to the Global Head of Transformation. It combines accountability for overall HR project delivery with practical execution, coordinating international HR stakeholders, regional deployment coordinators, functional experts, IT colleagues, and implementation partner PwC. The role ensures plans translate into action, deliverables meet required quality, and the organization is ready to transition to the new system without disrupting business operations. Collaboration is primarily virtual across countries and time zones. The team works mainly with Microsoft 365, including Teams, SharePoint, Excel, and PowerPoint, and uses digital collaboration and AI productivity tools. The position calls for strong project management, sound judgment, clear communication, and the ability to drive progress across organizational boundaries. The successful candidate need not be an SAP technical specialist but should understand HR technology implementations sufficiently to anticipate dependencies, challenge assumptions, and work effectively with technical and business experts. Simon-Kucher describes its culture as entrepreneurial and values-driven, with opportunities for professional development and flexible work from home or the office. Total compensation includes base salary, performance bonus, eligibility for annual merit-based increases, and benefits. The US base salary range is $160,000–$180,000 per year, with specific compensation depending on experience, skills, and location. Eligible employee benefits include paid time off, 13 paid holidays, medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan.

Requirements

Substantial hands-on delivery responsibility in at least one complex enterprise HR technology implementation, such as SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, or a comparable HCM solution.
Proven ability to independently manage implementation plans, milestones, resources, risks, dependencies, and recovery actions.
Experience driving project activities across geographically distributed teams in a matrixed organization.
Experience coordinating and constructively challenging external technology implementation partners, including managing commitments and delivery risks.
Practical knowledge of HR system implementations, including testing, data migration, integrations, access management, and cutover dependencies, sufficient to coordinate specialists and identify potential risks.
Fluent spoken and written English, including the ability to independently prepare executive-ready communications and facilitate complex stakeholder discussions.
Advanced practical PowerPoint and Excel skills and familiarity with Microsoft 365 collaboration tools, particularly Teams and SharePoint, or comparable platforms.
Demonstrated experience using at least one AI productivity tool for professional work, with appropriate judgment in reviewing outputs and protecting confidential information.
Proactive and reliable working style, sound judgment under pressure, and flexibility to collaborate across international time zones, including agreed availability during critical project phases.

Nice To Haves

Direct SAP SuccessFactors implementation experience, particularly Employee Central and Time Off.
Experience with multiple international HR technology implementations, ideally including cutover, go-live, and hypercare.
Experience in consulting, professional services, or another fast-paced international environment.
Practical knowledge of HR operations, business processes, and regional deployment requirements.
Experience managing HR/Finance implementation dependencies, such as payroll integration, time tracking, reporting, or SAP S/4HANA interfaces.

Responsibilities

Maintain an actionable HR project plan covering milestones, deliverables, responsibilities, dependencies, resources, and critical paths; ensure significant deliverables have an owner, deadline, and completion criteria.
Monitor progress, verify completion, identify deviations early, and coordinate corrective action when delivery is at risk.
Provide direction to regional deployment coordinators and establish effective coordination across regions and countries.
Ensure local HR teams understand their tasks, deadlines, dependencies, and required contributions; track country deliverables, address capacity constraints, and escalate unresolved blockers while balancing project requirements with business operations.
Serve as Simon-Kucher’s primary HR delivery counterpart to PwC, coordinating commitments, deliverables, risks, and decisions.
Coordinate dependencies across systems, processes, data, and implementation activities with Finance, IT, and HR functional experts; challenge assumptions and ensure appropriate owners review and accept specialist deliverables.
Coordinate HR testing, defect resolution, data migration, and validation with responsible teams.
Ensure business inputs, resources, test results, and sign-offs are available at relevant project milestones.
Track training and adoption readiness, identify gaps, and secure corrective actions from responsible owners.
Coordinate HR-specific cutover activities and regional readiness within the integrated program cutover framework.
Make cutover dependencies, readiness evidence, contingency requirements, and outstanding issues visible to decision-makers.
Coordinate HR hypercare and the structured handover of outstanding responsibilities to operational teams.
Prepare project updates, decision materials, implementation schedules, and stakeholder communications.
Organize productive working sessions with appropriate preparation, participants, objectives, and documented follow-up.
Resolve issues within authority, promptly escalate decisions and risks, and keep stakeholders informed about progress, changes, and required actions.