Title:  Assistant / Manager, Material Master Data

The Material Master Data Manager/Assistant Manager takes an active, hands-on role in shaping, establishing, and implementing the organization’s Material Master Data governance as part of a large-scale SAP to ECC to S4/Hana transformation.

This position operates within a dynamic, fast-changing environment where processes, governance frameworks, and standards are still being developed. It demands a strong mix of strategic thinking and practical action—translating broad governance goals into actionable standards, data dictionaries, and operating procedures, while collaborating closely with Business Units, IT, and SAP teams to drive adoption and ensure data readiness for go-live.

The successful candidate is expected to own assigned problem areas end-to-end, work effectively with ambiguity and competing priorities, and actively contribute to defining solutions.

Responsibilities:

1.      Data Governance Framework:

• Interview Business Units, define problem statements and objectives related to data governance to address existential data challenges.
• Assist SM, Material Master Data to co-develop the Data Strategy, aligning it with the organization's broad goals and objectives.
• During each interaction with stakeholders, to identify & pin down critical data elements and entities that are crucial for the organization's operations and decision-making processes, persuade, convince business stakeholders to adopt the new rules.  Establish the Data Governance structure and council to oversee and govern data-related activities.
• Proactively approach the Business Units to appoint and induct data owners, stewards for different data fields, ensuring clear accountability and responsibility, ultimately increasing stakeholder buy-in across the organisation

2.      Master & Reference Data Management:

• Implement a new Master Data Management (MDM) platform (BTP) to centralize and manage master and reference data efficiently.
• Keep abreast of latest industry innovations and provide circular feedback to revisit and update, or establish new MDM operations, processes, and workflows.
• Support SM, Material Master to drive necessary change management efforts to ensure successful adoption and integration of the MDM platform across the organization.

3.      Metadata Management:

• Define an end-to-end Metadata framework to standardize metadata management practices.
• Operationalize the Business Glossary & Data Dictionary, ensuring consistent definitions and understanding of data across the organization as required.
• Work with SAP Team to co-design the BTP platform as a solution for the best-fit metadata management tool and integrate it with the S4 HANA.
• Develop processes and guidelines for metadata capture, maintenance, and usage to facilitate data discovery and understanding.

4.      Data Quality Metrics:

• Establish a comprehensive Data Quality framework, including data quality dimensions, metrics, and thresholds.
• Define policies and procedures for Data Quality Management, outlining data validation, cleansing, and monitoring processes.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and measures to assess and track data quality improvement initiatives. Conduct data analysis for across to identify data anomalies, inconsistencies, areas for improvement, and for decision making.

5. Data Capabilities:

• Drive awareness campaigns and organize data literacy sessions to promote a data-driven culture within the organization.
• Assist the Senior Manager to establish Cross-Functional Data Forums to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among different teams and departments.
• Develop a data stewardship plan to engage and empower end-users as data stewards, ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and governance.

6. Accountability:

• Monitor data usage across teams and provide insights on best practices and trends in data utilization.
• Lead the data assessment of new digital initiatives at the solution design stage to ensure data governance requirements are considered and incorporated.
• Establish project budget dashboard to ensure at all times, that the project costs remain under control leading up to project launch.

Key Measures of Success:

• Full adoption of the data governance framework by the organization, with widespread awareness and adherence.
• Successful implementation of the new MDM platform, fully cleansed data according to master data rules, roll out of Master Data Design Specs including the establishment of a defined operating model to be updated as required
• Operationalization of the Metadata framework, with the Business Glossary and Data Dictionary effectively utilized.
• Data quality metrics in place, with KPIs consistently meeting or exceeding defined targets.
• Broad adoption of data frameworks and high-level data skills across the organization, evidenced by increased data literacy and capabilities.

Attributes & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Management, Supply Chain, Procurement, Mathematics, or a related field is required, along with at least 5 to 10 years of experience in Master Data, ERP-related work, or project management.
• Have a can-do attitude and is able to work with ambiguities and accurately prioritize work to progress the project.
• Respectful and have a flair in asking the right questions to understand and assess situations and information.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, balancing strategic alignment with technology roadmap and continuous improvement focus.
• Strong understanding of methodologies for gathering, analysing, and documenting data governance practices.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment, prioritize tasks, and handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and drive initiatives forward.

Preferred:

• 1-2 rounds of ECC to S4 HANA migration project. 
• Prior experience in assisting or leading Master Data Management (MDM) rollout projects in a brownfield environment or transformation program.
• Project management experience, including the ability to plan, execute, and monitor projects within defined timelines and budgets.
• Coaching and consulting skills to provide guidance and support to teams and stakeholders.
• Facilitation skills to lead meetings, workshops, and discussions effectively.