Next Ventures are currently executing a search for a SAP S/4HANA Defence & Security Consultant / Architect. (formally DFPS) solution.

Remote working role with on site visits .

Location & Clearance

• The position may require working onsite within secure facilities or project locations (for example, defence contractor sites or government defence agencies).
• Security clearance requirement: e.g., UK SC/UK DV, US DoD Secret/Top Secret or equivalent, depending on client.
• Travel as required (domestic/international) depending on project location.

Role Purpose

The candidate will lead or support the implementation, optimisation and ongoing support of SAP S/4HANA solutions tailored specifically for defence & security organisations (e.g., armed forces, ministries of defence, police forces). They will ensure that business processes, organisational structures, logistics, maintenance, personnel and material management are aligned to the unique requirements of the defence/security domain, leveraging SAP’s Defence & Security industry solution.

They will also ensure that security, audit, compliance and regulatory requirements (typical of a highly-regulated environment) are incorporated into the SAP solution design and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead or participate in business-blueprint workshops to capture requirements specific to defence & security organisations: force element management, authorised material/personnel, organisational flexibility, logistic support, maintenance, etc.
• Design solution architecture and configure modules of SAP S/4HANA (including the Defence & Security industry solution) to meet client requirements.
• Oversee or execute full lifecycle implementation: fit-gap analyses, configuration, testing (unit, integration, user acceptance), cut-over and go-live activities.
• Ensure integration with other functional modules (e.g., FI/CO, MM, SD, PM, EWM) and technical components (HANA database, Fiori, CDS views, APIs) as relevant to the defence domain.
• Develop and enforce role & authorisation designs, compliance (Segregation of Duties), audit controls and security (especially important in defence contexts)
• Support pre-sales activities and solution demonstration for defence & security customers, including feasibility studies and solution reviews.
• Provide post-go-live support, continuous improvement, system optimisation and adaptation to evolving defence/security business needs.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams: business users, IT, security & compliance teams, external contractors, vendors and possibly government stakeholders.
• Ensure strict adherence to security clearance, regulatory requirements and confidentiality in a defence environment.

Required Skills & Experience

• Significant experience (typically 7+ years for consultant level, 10+ years for architect) in SAP S/4HANA implementations, ideally with strong exposure to the Defence & Security industry (or other highly-regulated sectors).
• Good knowledge of the SAP Defence & Security industry solution (or willingness to specialise) built on S/4HANA.
• Deep understanding of SAP modules relevant to defence & security: organisational management (force structures), logistics (procure-to-pay, inventory, equipment), maintenance, personnel & material authorisation etc.
• Strong capability in SAP S/4HANA technology: HANA database, Fiori user experience, CDS views / APIs, integration with cloud or legacy systems.
• Proven experience of security, role design, access controls, segregation of duties, and audit/compliance in SAP environments.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and communication skills; able to engage with senior stakeholders and non-technical audiences.
• Self-starter, result-oriented, able to work in complex and demanding defence/security environments, often with tight deadlines and high confidentiality.
• (Often) Eligible for or currently holding security clearance (depending on jurisdiction) and able to meet associated requirements (e.g., UK five-year residence, US citizenship) as per defence environment

Desired / Preferred

• Experience in full-lifecycle SAP S/4HANA greenfield or migration projects (especially from ECC to S/4HANA) in the defence or aerospace/defence sector.
• Certification in SAP technologies (e.g., SAP Certified Application Associate/Professional for S/4HANA, or SAP Defence & Security solution certification)
• Familiarity with Cloud deployments (public/private/hybrid) in a defence‐compliant environment – e.g., based on SAP NS2 / DoD impact-level frameworks.
• Experience with emerging technologies in defence contexts (e.g., disconnected operations, remote logistics support, AI/ML for maintenance analytics)
• Multi-lingual skills or experience working across multiple jurisdictions (if global defence projects)
• Project management experience or ability to lead work-streams or teams.
• Opportunity to work on mission-critical defence & security programme with significant national/global impact.
• Access to cutting edge SAP S/4HANA technology stack and industry-leading practices tailored to defence & security.
• Professional development and growth in a highly specialised niche field bridging SAP ERP and defence operations.
• Working in high-performance teams in a regulated, secure, fast-moving environment.