Principal Consultant, People Services

6 Month Contract ( High Likely hood of Extension ) / Competitive day rate The Principal Consultant is the Thought Leader and Architecture Owner for the organisation’s People Services technology landscape. This includes strategic oversight of the existing Legacy SAP ECC 6.0 environment, its ongoing support, and the successful transformation to SAP S/4HANA and SuccessFactors Employee Central (EC). This role acts as a critical liaison between the executive team (including the Chief People Officer/HR Executive) and the technology delivery teams, ensuring that the technology roadmap achieves strategic goals while effectively managing the dual-system landscape during the transition. Key Accountabilities 1. Strategic Direction, Roadmap & Dual Landscape Management Define and own the 3-5 year technology roadmap for People Services, dictating the evolution from Legacy SAP ECC 6.0 to the S/4HANA and EC target state. Oversee strategic direction and stability of the legacy SAP ECC 6.0 system until successful cutover, ensuring ongoing improvements and operational stability. Evaluate and make recommendations on critical non-SAP systems, including the rationalisation of multiple existing rostering systems and the evaluation of recruitment platforms. Act as the expert advisor on market-leading HR technology trends, including AI/Automation, to influence strategic technology choices. Serve as the Organisation’s senior functional representative on the S/4HANA Payroll and Employee Central (EC) implementation programs. Provide strategic oversight and solution assurance over the System Integrator (SI) to prevent scope creep or inappropriate design decisions, specifically focusing on the integrity of the data and process transition from ECC to S/4HANA . Influence the direction of the programme, challenging major decisions (e.g., Lift and Shift approaches) when they compromise future strategy or business value. Ensure alignment between the S/4HANA solution and other peripheral HR technologies. 3. Stakeholder Management & Leadership Establish and maintain strong, influential relationships with senior stakeholders, particularly the Chief People Officer and their direct reports, to align technology strategy with HR/People strategy. Lead, mentor, and technically manage the internal team of highly experienced functional consultants (e.g., SAP Payroll and HR specialists), ensuring they have a knowledgeable leader who commands respect. Act as the final escalation point for significant design, architecture, or functional quality issues. Required Skills & Experience Consulting Expertise: Significant (10+ years) experience in a senior leadership or Principal/Solution Architect role, operating at a strategic level rather than purely tactical configuration. SAP HCM/S/4HANA Dual Expertise (Mandatory): Expert functional and architectural knowledge across both legacy SAP ECC 6.0 HCM and the new S/4HANA/SuccessFactors (EC/EC Payroll) environment. Proven experience in defining and executing large-scale ECC-to-S/4HANA transformations is essential. Strategic vs. Tactical: Proven track record of operating at a strategic level (setting direction, architecting, governing) for large enterprises. Executive Influence: Exceptional communication and influencing skills necessary to navigate complex political environments and present compelling arguments to the Executive team. Large Enterprise Context (Desirable): Experience working within a complex public sector or large-scale, highly regulated commercial environment is highly regarded, particularly regarding industrial relations and complex payroll. Education: Tertiary qualification in Information Technology, Business, or a related field. SAP/SuccessFactors certifications are beneficial. #J-18808-Ljbffr