ERP Program Director - ERP Implementation

VP Human Resources

The University of Missouri System is seeking an ERP Program Director to lead the acquisition and implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning software for Finance and Human Resources. Reporting to ERP Executive Sponsors and Steering Committee, this position will serve as the leader of the implementation and have oversight of software selection, implementation partner management, and oversight of the implementation team. The ERP Program Director will oversee the full lifecycle of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementation. This includes planning, execution, monitoring, and final delivery, ensuring the system aligns with business processes and strategic goals. This role requires close collaboration with executive leadership, department heads, technical teams, and external vendors.

The University's current ERP (PeopleSoft) is 25 years old, and leadership has made the decision it is time to move forward with a more modern system to:

• Improve cybersecurity and protect sensitive information
• Increase flexibility and support for administrative systems
• Provide a more modern technology experience for students, faculty and staff
• Focus more time on core activities versus upkeep of dated software

The project envisions a four-year implementation timeframe for HR and Finance ERP systems, with a decision on a Student implementation to run concurrently. The position will be responsible for leading the implementation partner selection, overseeing the software selection process, building the implementation team, and leading the successful transition to the new ERP software. The position will have a dedicated team and manage the full implementation budget including all vendor relationships. The successful candidate will work closely with executive leadership and ensure that leaders across the different business units and functional leaders of finance and HR are deeply engaged in the implementation. The University expects that in order to implement the ERP well it will need to make necessary process changes to ensure the system functions as expected. A strong leader with demonstrated communication and engagement skills will be successful in the position.

Responsibilities include:

Project Management and Oversight:

• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans, including scope, budget, resources, and timelines.
• Lead the project team through all implementation phases, from discovery and requirements gathering to go-live and post-implementation support.
• Identify and manage potential project risks, issues, and dependencies, developing mitigation strategies to keep the project on track.
• Ensure that the implementation follows established project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) and quality standards.
• Report regularly on project status, progress, and performance to all key stakeholders, including the executive sponsor

Organizational Alignment and Business Process Development

• Select the implementation partner and build the internal team to manage the implementation. Develop the transition plan for movement from implementation to support.
• Build an implementation team and process that collaborates with business process owners and functional leaders to gather, analyze, and document various requirements.
• Conduct gap analyses to identify differences between current processes and the ERP's capabilities, designing solutions to bridge them.
• Ensure the new ERP system is properly integrated with other vital business applications and legacy systems.
• Identify key institutional changes necessary to ensure internal processes align to the ERP processes, and that those changes map into a change management and communication strategy.

Change Management and Training

• Identify important stakeholders and manage engagement throughout the project.
• Develop the project organization and communication structure necessary to be successful.
• Develop and execute a robust change management strategy to prepare the organization for the new system.
• Oversee the creation of training materials and the delivery of training programs to end-users.
• Foster strong communication to build stakeholder engagement and manage expectations throughout the project.
• Establish and manage a network of "super users" to champion the system and support user adoption post-launch.

Vendor and Resource Management

• Manage the selection process for ERP vendors and implementation partners.
• Oversee vendor contracts and service level agreements, ensuring vendor performance aligns with project goals.
• Negotiate and manage relationships with external consultants and contractors.
• Manage internal and external resources, ensuring effective allocation and utilization
  

M-F 8am to 5pm, additional hours as needed for the project

A Master's degree in a relevant area and 10 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired OR a Bachelor's degree in a relevant area and 12 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, capable of driving cross-functional collaboration and engagement with the project.
• Strong understanding of business processes in both finance and HR.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies within ERPs such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning.
  

Salary Range: $180,000 - $260,000 annually
Grade: GGS-E1B
University Title: Executive Director
Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Visa Sponsorship Information:
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.