STEP Data Migration Expert

Job Description Summary

The STEP Data Migration Expert is responsible for scoping, governing, and executing data migration activities across the Sandoz Transformation Enterprise Program (STEP), with a primary focus on SAP S/4HANA and connected STEP applications. The role ensures that master data and transactional data are extracted, cleansed, transformed, validated, reconciled, and formally signed off in a controlled, auditable, and business-aligned manner.
Working closely with the Data Migration Lead, business data owners, functional workstreams, integration teams, testing, cutover, quality, validation, architecture, and external implementation partners, the incumbent provides hands-on expertise across the end-to-end migration lifecycle, with core activities relating to extraction, cleansing and transformation phases. The overall domain includes data object scoping, mapping, transformation rules, mock load execution, defect resolution, pre-load and post-load validation, cutover migration planning, production data load support, and compliance-ready documentation.
The role is critical to ensure that STEP deployments are supported by complete, accurate, consistent, and business-ready data, enabling operational continuity, regulatory compliance, and successful adoption of the STEP target landscape.

Job Description

Major Accountabilities

• Define and support the execution of the STEP data migration approach for assigned data objects, applications, deployment waves, and business domains.
• Translate business and functional requirements into detailed data migration specifications, including source-to-target mappings, transformation rules, value mappings, data quality rules, extraction logic, load requirements, and reconciliation criteria.
• Partner with business data owners, local data owners, data stewards, SMEs, functional consultants, and technical teams to identify data scope, cleansing needs, ownership responsibilities and data readiness gaps.
• Implement business requirements in terms of ETL jobs using SAP Data Services/BODS and further approved migration tooling.
• Execute and coordinate mock data loads, washing machine cycles, dry runs, production data load rehearsals, and cutover migration activities, ensuring that defects, timing, dependencies, and readiness issues are captured, tracked, resolved, and escalated as required.
• Perform and govern pre-load and post-load validation, including record count reconciliation, field-level checks, sampling reviews, business validation, exception handling, defect retesting, evidence collection, and formal processes.
• Ensure migration deliverables are complete, accurate, traceable, and audit-readily documented, including migration object lists, functional designs, mapping documents, load files, validation reports, reconciliation evidence, defect logs, migration plans, and sign-off documentation.
• Responsible for performing all assigned activities in compliance with GxP regulations, company SOPs, and data integrity requirements.

Key Performance Indicators

• Data migration scope, object lists, mappings, and transformation rules completed and approved according to plan.
• Mock load, dry run, and production load milestones completed on time and within agreed quality thresholds.
• Data defects identified, prioritized, resolved, retested, and closed within agreed timelines.
• Pre-load and post-load reconciliation completed with documented evidence and business sign-off.
• Data readiness, cleansing, validation, and sign-off status transparently reported.
• Migration deliverables completed in line with STEP quality, validation, compliance, and audit expectations.
• Cutover migration activities executed according to plan with minimal disruption to business continuity.
• Reusable migration assets, templates, reports, and lessons learned improved across deployment waves.

Ideal Background

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Formal training or certification in SAP Data Services/BODS.
• Strong knowledge of SAP S/4HANA data migration concepts, master data and transactional data structures, data conversion methods, and enterprise transformation delivery.
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks, data quality management, data validation, and regulated system delivery practices is preferred.

Languages

• Fluent English required, both oral and written.

Experience and Skills

• 10+ years of experience in data migration, data conversion, data management, ERP implementation, or enterprise transformation within a global multinational organization, preferably including SAP S/4HANA programs.
• 7+ years hands-on experience in SAP Data Services/BODS, ETL methods, SQL, data profiling, and validation reports.
• Experience working with master data and transactional data objects across one or more business domains such as Finance, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Commercial, Asset Management, or Enterprise Foundation.
• Proven ability to define source-to-target mappings, transformation logic, value mappings, data quality rules, reconciliation methods, and migration acceptance criteria.
• Experience supporting mock loads, production data load rehearsals, cutover migration execution, hypercare, and post-load validation in business-critical environments.
• Experience in use of Jira and HP ALM for collaboration on- and planning of day-to-day project tasks as well as execution of informal and formal testing activities relating to data migration.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate data defects, resolve root causes, manage ambiguity, and drive issue closure across multiple teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with business data owners, SMEs, functional consultants, technical teams, vendors, quality, validation, and program leadership.
• Proven ability to operate in a complex, fast-paced transformation program with multiple workstreams, deployment waves, dependencies, and competing priorities.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, manufacturing, or other regulated industries is preferred.
• Strong documentation discipline and ability to produce clear, structured, compliance-ready migration deliverables, status reports, risks, decisions, and sign-off materials.

Skills Desired

Budget Management, Business Acumen, Performance Management, Planning, Risk Management, Service Delivery Management, Stakeholder Management, Waterfall Project Management