The Senior Change Manager is a key driver of digital transformation within the Finance & Procurement functions of a global steel manufacturing organization. As the company modernizes its ERP landscape, procurement platforms, and finance automation solutions, this role ensures successful adoption by bridging the gap between IT and business teams.

The ideal candidate understands the cost-driven, asset-intensive nature of the steel industry, the complexities of global supply chains, fluctuating commodity markets, and the capital-intensive investment cycles that shape procurement and financial decision-making. This role will play a pivotal part in ensuring that digital investments translate into operational efficiency, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.

LHH Recruitment Solutions offers extensive HR solutions through one unique brand. We are specialised in the employment of middle and top management and highly qualified professionals in contracting temporary and permanent placement. At LHH Recruitment Solutions, we believe in talent, not labels, and embrace diversity and promote more inclusive employment to our clients and partners.

1. Change Management Strategy & Governance

• Define and implement a structured change management framework for digital transformation initiatives impacting Finance & Procurement.
• Develop a Finance & Procurement adoption roadmap, ensuring alignment with industry-specific challenges like volatile raw material pricing, supplier risk, and CAPEX-heavy procurement cycles.
• Work with the CFO, CPO, and IT leadership to ensure digital transformation efforts are business-driven and aligned with steel industry constraints.
• Establish a Change Control Board to monitor adoption risks, regulatory challenges, and global implementation consistency.

2. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Act as the primary change liaison between Finance, Procurement, Digital & IT, and Operations teams across multiple plants and geographies.
• Develop tailored communication strategies for different stakeholders, from plant-level procurement teams to executive finance leadership.
• Engage with Category Managers, Raw Material Buyers, CAPEX Procurement Heads, and Shared Services to ensure smooth adoption of new digital tools.
• Build a network of change champions across plants and regional business units to accelerate transformation.

3. Business Impact Assessment & Readiness

• Conduct detailed impact assessments on how SAP S/4HANA, eProcurement tools (Ariba, Ivalua), and Finance automation solutions will affect existing steel industry processes.
• Define end-user personas (plant procurement teams, finance controllers, treasury, supplier management teams, etc.) and develop customized adoption strategies.
• Identify key change barriers, such as legacy system dependencies, workforce resistance, regulatory compliance (SOX, IFRS), and supply chain risks.
• Develop resistance management plans to ensure minimal disruptions in procurement and finance operations.

4. Training, Enablement & User Adoption

• Design role-based training programs tailored to steel industry functions like direct materials procurement, scrap buying, logistics procurement, CAPEX investment approvals, and treasury operations.
• Leverage digital learning platforms, real-world simulations, and job-shadowing programs to improve user adoption in complex operational settings.
• Implement a "train-the-trainer" model to scale knowledge transfer across multiple production sites and regional offices.
• Ensure a hypercare support model post-go-live, with dedicated change agents available for on-site and remote assistance.

5. Process & Technology Integration Support

Ensure that change management efforts align with steel industry finance and procurement pain points, such as:

• Cost volatility in raw material procurement (iron ore, coking coal, scrap).
• Long-term contract negotiations and strategic supplier partnerships.
• CAPEX-intensive investment approvals and financial governance.
• Supply chain risk management (supplier concentration, geopolitical risks).
• Work with IT teams to ensure Finance & Procurement digital solutions comply with IFRS, SOX, EU Tax & Compliance regulations, and ESG reporting standards.
• Support data-driven decision-making by integrating spend analytics, predictive forecasting, and supplier risk monitoring into change management efforts.

6. Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

Define adoption KPIs specific to steel industry challenges, such as:

• Time-to-value for procurement digitization (e.g., eRFQ adoption for raw materials).
• Supplier adoption of digital platforms.
• Finance automation success rates (e.g., invoice processing time, working capital improvements).
• Conduct regular audits and feedback loops to refine change strategies based on plant-level and finance team insights.
• Implement continuous improvement cycles to ensure the digital transformation efforts deliver long-term efficiency gains.

Key Requirements

Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of experience in change management, digital transformation, or process optimization, preferably in steel or heavy manufacturing industries.
• Strong knowledge of Finance & Procurement functions in a steel production environment.
• Hands-on experience with SAP ERP (ECC, S/4HANA), eProcurement tools (Ariba, Coupa, Ivalua), RPA, and analytics platforms.
• Deep understanding of steel industry procurement complexities, including long-term supplier contracts, direct & indirect procurement, CAPEX procurement, and risk management.
• Experience driving change in multi-country, multi-plant environments with significant legacy system dependencies.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working at all levels, from plant procurement specialists to CFO and CPO leadership teams.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate IT transformation goals into business value for Finance & Procurement teams.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, IT, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, APMG Change Management Certification, or equivalent preferred.
• Certifications in PMP, Agile, Lean Six Sigma are an advantage.

To include yourself in this recruitment process; to find out more information about this role; or to discuss other career opportunities we have available, please contact Sabrina Mokadem as soon as possible - CONFIDENTIALITY ASSURED.

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