SAP S/4HANA PCE Basis & Authorization Technical Expert (m/w/d)

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Merck Group seeks an experienced SAP S/4HANA PCE Basis & Authorization Technical Expert to join its IT team onsite in Darmstadt. This role is the primary technical authority for SAP Basis, SAP security and authorizations in a PCE environment, demanding 10+ years of international SAP experience and 8+ years in SAP Basis and authorizations, with S/4HANA and cloud operations know-how. Expect focus on high availability, performance, transport and release management, SoD and access controls, disaster recovery, audits, and continuous improvement. Tips: tailor your CV to PCE projects, IAM and security architecture, ITIL processes, multinational experience, relevant certifications, and evidence of stakeholder collaboration; German language is a plus and readiness to work onsite in Darmstadt.

Company Description

SUSONITY, as part of the GNMI Group, is a global leader in effect pigments and active and functional solutions for the cosmetics, automotive, architecture, and plastics industries. With a legacy dating back to 1959, we have been at the forefront of innovation in beauty, protection, and surface solutions, transforming products from ordinary to extraordinary.

Through our renowned brands such as Iriodin®, Colorstream®, and Ronastar®, we deliver expert support in sustainability, regulatory affairs, and formulation across continents. Our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth drives us to continuously invest in cutting-edge technologies and global digital transformation initiatives.

Join us in shaping the future of surface solutions.

Your Role We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled SAP S/4HANA PCE Basis & Authorization Technical Expert to join our global IT organization in Darmstadt, Germany. The successful candidate will serve as the primary subject matter expert for SAP Basis Administration, SAP Authorizations, Security Governance, and technical operations within our SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition (PCE) environment. This role requires extensive international experience working in multinational organizations, supporting global SAP landscapes, collaborating with stakeholders across regions, and coordinating with SAP and other managed service partners. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in SAP Basis administration, SAP security and authorization concepts, cloud-based SAP operations, system lifecycle management, and technical governance. You will play a critical role in ensuring stability, security, compliance, and continuous improvement of our global SAP ecosystem while supporting strategic business transformation initiatives.

Who you are:

SAP S/4HANA PCE Basis Administration

• Act as the technical expert for SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition (PCE) operations and administration.
• Manage and support SAP Basis activities including system installations, upgrades, system refreshes, client copies, kernel upgrades, support package implementation, and technical maintenance.
• Ensure high availability, performance optimization, system reliability, and capacity planning across the SAP landscape.
• Coordinate transport management processes and release activities across Development, Quality Assurance, and Production environments.
• Monitor SAP systems proactively and analyze performance trends to ensure operational excellence.
• Support SAP system monitoring, background job management, interface monitoring, and technical troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with SAP, cloud providers, and managed service partners to ensure service delivery and SLA compliance.
• Support disaster recovery planning, high-availability configurations, and business continuity processes.
• Drive automation and continuous improvement initiatives across SAP operations.

SAP Authorization & Security Management

• Design, implement, and maintain SAP authorization concepts across SAP S/4HANA PCE and integrated SAP applications.
• Develop and manage roles, profiles, authorization objects, and access control frameworks aligned with business requirements and compliance standards.
• Perform user administration, access provisioning, and role maintenance activities.
• Conduct periodic user access reviews and Segregation of Duties (SoD) assessments.
• Partner with business process owners and functional teams to ensure secure and compliant role designs.
• Support SAP Fiori security, SAP GUI authorizations, and application-level access controls.
• Troubleshoot complex authorization and security issues and perform root cause analysis.
• Support emergency access management and privileged access governance processes.

Security, Compliance & Governance

• Work closely with the Information Security Manager to strengthen SAP security governance and compliance frameworks.
• Ensure SAP systems comply with corporate security policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Coordinate security patching, vulnerability remediation, and system hardening activities.
• Support internal, external, and regulatory audits by providing documentation, evidence, and remediation plans.
• Conduct risk assessments and recommend proactive mitigation strategies.
• Contribute to governance, risk, and compliance initiatives across the SAP landscape.

Technical Expertise & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Serve as the primary subject matter expert for SAP Basis and Authorization domains.
• Provide technical guidance and best-practice recommendations to internal teams and external service providers.
• Participate in SAP transformation initiatives, cloud projects, upgrades, migrations, and technical architecture discussions.
• Act as the escalation point for complex SAP technical and security-related issues.
• Support SAP roadmap planning and contribute to long-term platform optimization strategies.
• Collaborate with global business and IT teams to ensure alignment between technical solutions and business objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of international experience in SAP technology environments.
• Minimum 8 years of hands-on experience in SAP Basis Administration and SAP Security/Authorizations.
• Proven experience supporting global SAP landscapes in multinational organizations.
• Strong hands-on experience with SAP S/4HANA and SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition (PCE).
• Deep understanding of SAP architecture, administration, and technical operations.

Technical Expertise Required

• SAP S/4HANA Administration
• SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition (PCE)
• SAP Basis Administration
• SAP Security & Authorizations
• User and Role Administration
• SAP Transport Management
• SAP System Monitoring & Performance Tuning
• SAP Kernel Upgrades & Support Package Implementations
• Client Administration & System Refreshes
• SAP Security Architecture
• Segregation of Duties (SoD)
• SAP Audit & Compliance Controls
• SAP Fiori Security
• SAP Cloud Operations

Additional Requirements

• Experience working with SAP-managed services, hyperscaler environments, and managed service providers.
• Strong understanding of ITIL processes, including Incident, Problem, Change, and Release Management.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and globally distributed teams.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal.

Preferred Qualifications

• SAP Certified Technology Associate – SAP System Administration (SAP S/4HANA).
• SAP Security and Authorization certifications.
• Experience with SAP GRC Access Control.
• Knowledge of SAP Cloud Identity Services and Identity & Access Management (IAM) solutions.
• Experience with Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and enterprise authentication technologies.
• Exposure to SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP).
• Experience supporting RISE with SAP environments.
• Experience within chemical manufacturing or process industries.
• German language skills are considered an advantage.

Equal Opportunity Statement

SUSONITY is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.