Head of SAP and Enterprise Applications

Associated British Ports (ABP) is both a major landlord and port operator with 21 port locations in the UK. We have 87 km of Quay and 5000 ha of port estate while handling approximately 100 mill tonnes of cargo every year across many different industries. We have around 900 ha of development land and strong growth ambitions!

It’s a story we’re proud of but it doesn’t end there. We’re transforming our business and embracing the future.

Our company provides various job opportunities across the UK. We value diversity, support talent development, promote internal growth, and prioritise safety.

Join our IT team to enhance business growth. As we modernise and digitise operations, we need a strategic leader to take command of our SAP and enterprise applications landscape.

This role isn’t about maintaining the status quo—it’s about shaping the digital and commercial backbone of the UK’s largest port operator. This role leads all aspects of the SAP ecosystem (S/4HANA, C4C, SuccessFactors, Concur) as well as other finance, HR, procurement, safety, legal, and commercial platforms.

Reporting to the group IT director you will

• Set and execute strategy for SAP and enterprise applications, aligning platforms with ABP’s business goals.
• Own the commercial model for SAP and enterprise systems—accountable for partner selection, contract performance, license optimisation, and total cost of ownership.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team, including internal staff and strategic partners, across multiple locations.
• Transform the operating model—challenging legacy ways of working, optimising partner delivery, and driving cost-effectiveness, agility, and value.
• Deliver major programmes, including CRM and pricing transformation, project pricing and cost management, analytics transformation and systems integration, and business process digitisation.
• Collaborate with senior business stakeholders, translating strategy into practical outcomes.
• Lead a team, collaborate with IT Infrastructure & Operations, Port Systems, Business Partnering, and Functional Business Units to ensure system stability and improvement.

What Success Looks Like

• Enterprise platforms aligned with strategic business priorities and delivering measurable value.
• A right-sized, cost-effective vendor ecosystem with strong commercial discipline.
• Lean, high-performing internal and external delivery teams.
• Reduced complexity, greater system adoption, and improved user experience.

About You

You are a commercially astute enterprise leader with deep SAP and business systems expertise.

You bring:

·       12+ years in enterprise IT, including 10+ in SAP and integrated platforms.

·       Direct experience with SAP S/4HANA, including at least 5 full lifecycle programmes.

·       Proven capability in contract ownership, vendor management, and budget control.

·       Expertise across Agile, Waterfall, and ITIL, delivering with structure and flexibility.

·       A track record of operating model transformation, partner restructuring, and driving cost/value improvement.

·       Strong leadership, executive stakeholder engagement, and change management skills.

·       Experience in asset-intensive, regulated, or complex environments is preferred.

Additional Information:

When joining ABP you will find an environment that is both welcoming and challenging. We reward our employees well and offer a generous remuneration package, employer pension, private health insurance and a range of other benefits.

Please note that ABP undertake random screening for substance abuse and operate a zero-tolerance policy. A medical will be required before starting this position also.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their background, which helps us to provide a diverse and inclusive working environment.

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment screening to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Please note your consent will be required and further information on this check can be found using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels