Director IT Application Readiness (SAP S/4HANA)

Director IT Application Readiness (SAP S/4HANA)

Job Summary

The Director of Application Readiness / Delivery Lead is accountable for ensuring end ‑ to ‑ end application readiness and controlled go ‑ live execution for CenterPoint’s SAP S/4HANA, SAP Edge, and integrated non ‑ SAP solutions within the Velocity program. This role owns the detailed planning, coordination, and execution required to move the solution safely from build completion through cutover, go ‑ live, and stabilization.

The Director works in close partnership with the IT Transformation Lead, Business Transformation leadership, and the Director of Change Management & Business Readiness to ensure solutions are production ‑ ready, risks are surfaced early, and go ‑ live outcomes are predictable, compliant, and stable.

Purpose of the Role:

The Director of Application Readiness / Delivery Lead ensures that:

• All SAP and non ‑ SAP applications meet defined readiness criteria prior to go ‑ live.
• Cutover and deployment activities are sequenced, tested, and executed with discipline.
• Dependencies across applications, integrations, data, environments, and infrastructure are actively managed.
• Go ‑ live risks are identified, escalated, and mitigated before they impact operations.
• Post ‑ go ‑ live stabilization is controlled, transparent, and rapidly resolved.

Key Responsibilities:

Application Readiness & Go‑Live Execution

• Own end ‑ to ‑ end application readiness across SAP S/4HANA, SAP Edge, and integrated non ‑ SAP systems from build completion through stabilization.
• Define and manage objective readiness entry and exit criteria for testing, cutover, go ‑ live, and hypercare.
• Plan and execute cutover activities, including sequencing, mock runs, dress rehearsals, and go ‑ live runbooks.

Dependency, Quality & Risk Management

• Manage cross ‑ application and cross ‑ workstream dependencies spanning integrations, data, environments, security, and infrastructure.
• Drive defect triage, prioritization, and resolution with a strong bias toward production readiness.
• Identify readiness and execution risks early and escrow with clear mitigation recommendations.

Environment, Release & Configuration Discipline

• Coordinate readiness of all environments (development, test, UAT, pre ‑ production, production).
• Enforce release, transport, and configuration management discipline across partners.
• Ensure non ‑ functional readiness, including performance, availability, batch processing, and monitoring.

Partner & Workstream Coordination

• Coordinate execution across System Integrators, Business Integrators, application teams, and infrastructure teams.
• Serve as the primary execution integrator ensuring workstreams are aligned to go ‑ live sequencing.
• Drive closure on readiness gaps without ambiguity in ownership.
• Provide concise, fact ‑ based readiness status reporting to IT Transformation leadership and governance forums.
• Lead post ‑ go ‑ live stabilization, including defect management, prioritization, and operational handoff.
• Maintain calm, structured control during high ‑ pressure cutover and go ‑ live periods.

Collaboration with IT Transformation & Change Management

• Execute against solution intent, design standards, and governance defined by the IT Transformation Lead.
• Partner with Change Management & Business Readiness to align readiness milestones, training cutoffs, and adoption timing.
• Maintain clear separation of accountability, with this role owning application readiness and execution and other leaders owning design, business outcomes, and adoption.

Education Description

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or related field required.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in large ‑ scale enterprise application delivery or ERP programs.
• 6+ years in leadership roles overseeing application readiness, cutover, go ‑ live, and stabilization for SAP S/4HANA or comparable ERP implementations.
• Demonstrated experience operating within complex, multi ‑ vendor delivery environments.
• End ‑ to ‑ end application readiness and cutover leadership
• Strong dependency, defect, and release management discipline
• Deep understanding of SAP and non ‑ SAP integration landscapes
• Clear, direct communication and escalation skills
• Ability to remain calm and decisive under go ‑ live pressure

We want you to know
Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together.

What we bring to you

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on‑site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar‑for‑dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

Job Type: Full Time
Posting Start Date: 07/10/2026
Posting End Date: 07/31/2026

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60‑1.4(a), 60‑300.5(a), and 60‑741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.