Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands, and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, and Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups, and Celebration.
Position Overview
As a part of Ralph Lauren's Next Generation Transformation (NGT), the core operating systems of the company (SAP, Island Pacific, and Microsoft D365) will be replaced with a common Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution enabling the Ralph Lauren team to continue delivering competitive advantages in our next great chapter and beyond. Today, Ralph Lauren is forming the Program Initiation Team to begin creating the transformation plan, defining how the company will operate going forward and how the implementation of the new systems will lead to a common way of working globally across the company. This new way of working impacts almost all of the business including Planning, Sourcing and Buying, Retail and Wholesale, Logistics and Distribution, and Finance. Therefore, we are looking for the initial team to start to create the future way of working and help shape the next 20 years. The ERP Testing Automation Lead will join a small team of business function process leads, IT domain leaders, and the ERP vendor representatives known as the Program Initiation Team who will work together to take the first steps in this journey. The team will work closely together to achieve a set of common objectives ultimately leading to the initiation of the global program and the creation of all the articles needed to launch the project in 2025. This first, necessary step will ensure Ralph Lauren understands the key phases, impact, business resources, and timeline required to begin the program. This is an opportunity to join one of the largest investments that the company will be making over the next decade, and we seek talent that is excited to help shape the future, being part of the journey and eventually taking this knowledge back into the business.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Program Initiation Team objectives:
1. Creation of a detailed and documented understanding of the current RL IT AS-IS application environment across all 3 regions. This includes all objects in scope for transition on both an interim and permanent basis.
2. Creation of a detailed and documented understanding of the current RL IT AS-IS infrastructure environment across all 3 regions.
3. Creation of an interim state framework that outlines how the RL systems will need to be set up during the period of transition to the TO-BE status.
4. Agreement on the way the current systems will be maintained during this interim state identifying when investment will be reduced so that the existing platforms move into a maintenance-only status.
5. Definition of the migration package, toolset, scope, and approach that will allow for the continued rollout of the new platform over the forthcoming years facilitating a smooth transition of the company.
6. Finalization of the scope of the TO-BE ERP system, agreeing where the functionality will reside (ERP versus EDGE) within which system.
7. Finalization of the infrastructure and related security solutions to support the TO-BE ERP system.
8. Definition of the operational requirements to ensure that the new platform meets the needs of the business.
9. Definition of the integration strategy and approach along with the detailed to create a seamless transition.
10. Creation of an automated testing strategy identifying the approach and tools that RL should adopt.
11. Creation of an application documentation repository containing all information for both the AS-IS environment and the TO-BE systems going forward.
12. Creation of an overview of the approach for data migration.
13. Identification of the impact of the new NGT ERP system on the data analytics and reporting capabilities within RL.
14. Design and implementation of a clear Cyber Security framework for the Hybrid cloud design.
15. Creation and implementation of the transition to support documentation with the TO-BE ERP system.
Experience, Skills & Knowledge
1. Minimum 8+ years of experience with a proven track record in related role.
2. Experience within an SAP AFS and/or S4 environment.
3. Knowledge of the leading methodologies, tools, and practices.
4. Experience within a vertically integrated retail environment; fashion apparel experience is highly desirable.
5. Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
6. Strong analytical skills.
7. The ideal candidate is pragmatic, a problem solver, thrives under pressure, and excels at multitasking.
8. Strong strategic vision but is also comfortable taking a hands-on approach to achieve results.
9. Can be based in UK/CH/NY/NJ.
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