SAP Release Manager (S/4HANA Public Cloud)

SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Release Manager Employment Type: 6-month freelance/B2BStart Date: October 1, 2026Duration: 6 months and extendable. We are seeking an experienced external consultant for a global leader in robotics, machine automation, and digital services. Our client runs SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud as their core ERP platform and is expanding its SAP Operations team to ensure long-term stability, quality, and smooth release cycles across their global landscape. As the Release Manager, you will bridge change governance and quality assurance, ensuring every change and release within the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud environment is delivered safely, thoroughly tested, and without disruption to business operations. In this role, you will work closely with the SAP Operations Manager, Solution Architects, BTP & Integration Leads, functional analysts, business stakeholders, and external vendors. Key ResponsibilitiesRelease & Change ManagementChange Governance: Own the change governance process from intake and impact assessment through to approval and go-live.Release Coordination: Manage the release calendar and coordinate SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud half-yearly release upgrades.CAB Leadership: Lead Change Advisory Board (CAB) meetings and drive change impact reviews.Stakeholder Alignment: Oversee go-live coordination and maintain clear change communication across technical and business stakeholders.Prioritization: Evaluate and prioritize change requests based on technical complexity and business impact.Test ManagementTest Strategy: Define and own the overall test strategy for the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud landscape.Test Execution: Plan and coordinate regression testing, integration testing, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT).Defect Management: Oversee defect tracking, prioritization, and resolution follow-up.Reporting: Produce test reports and release readiness assessments before every major deployment/upgrade.Quality Assurance: Ensure testing is completed to a high standard prior to every release. Required Qualifications & SkillsSAP Expertise: Proven track record as a Release Manager in SAP environments.Public Cloud ERP: Hands-on experience with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud (or SAP S/4HANA Cloud).Release Cycles: Direct experience managing SAP Public Cloud half-yearly release upgrades and facilitating CAB processes.ITIL Practices: Strong understanding of ITIL-based change and release management frameworks.Testing Methods: Structured approach to test planning, defect management, and UAT coordination.Communication: Outstanding communication skills with the ability to bridge technical teams and senior business leaders.Ownership: Proactive, self-driven mindset able to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Nice to HaveExperience with SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform) and cloud integrations.Familiarity with SAP Build or cloud transport management tools.Background in manufacturing, robotics, or industrial automation sectors.Experience working across global, cross-functional SAP transformation programs.