Alaïa SAP Upstream Manager
Alaïa — Paris: SAP Upstream Manager role managing master data, procurement and SAP integrations for the Paris couture house.
Overview
Alaïa is a Paris-based couture and ready-to-wear maison celebrated for meticulous craftsmanship and a distinct creative vision. As a compact, design-driven luxury house, Alaïa combines artisanal savoir-faire with the operational rigour required to support global wholesale and retail activity, offering a highly collaborative environment for specialists in product, production and systems.
Role & Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end management and optimisation of SAP "upstream" processes (master data, procurement, product data flows and interfaces) to support product creation and sourcing cycles.
- Translate business requirements from design, product and supply teams into SAP functional specifications and process designs; coordinate with IT and external integrators for execution.
- Define and maintain master data governance, standards and validation rules to ensure data quality across PLM, PIM and ERP landscapes.
- Lead SAP configuration, testing (unit/integration/UAT) and cutover activities for upstream modules and interfaces; manage remediation and post-go-live stabilisation.
- Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders (product, sourcing, logistics, finance) to align processes, prioritise backlog and deliver process improvements.
- Supervise change-management activities: end-user training, release notes, working procedures and support handover to operational teams.
- Manage relationships with SAP consultants, integrators and third-party vendors; monitor delivery timelines, budgets and SLAs.
Qualifications
- Proven track record managing SAP implementations or major SAP projects on upstream domains (master data, procurement, product-related processes).
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex business requirements into SAP functional specifications and test plans.
- Experience coordinating cross-functional stakeholders in a product-driven or fashion environment is strongly preferred.
- Excellent project and change-management capabilities, including experience with testing frameworks and cutover planning.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to data quality, with experience establishing governance for master data.
Skills
Experience
Typically requires 5+ years of progressive experience on SAP projects or in SAP functional roles, with at least several years leading upstream process initiatives (master data, procurement, product flows). Prior exposure to the fashion or luxury goods supply chain is a significant advantage.
Education
Bachelor's degree in information systems, supply chain, engineering, business administration or a related discipline; advanced degree or professional certifications in SAP or project management is a plus.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Paris, Île-de-France, France. 3.434 luxury roles are listed in Paris on Cerulean, 62 posted in the last 48 hours. Across the Île-de-France region, Cerulean lists 3.886 open positions — 84 listed in the past two days. Cerulean currently advertises 4.478 open roles in France, including 109 added in the last 48 hours.
Culture
Alaïa fosters a boutique, craftsmanship-focused culture where creative excellence and operational precision coexist. Teams are typically small and cross‑functional, valuing discretion, attention to detail and direct collaboration between design, production and systems specialists.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Alaïa, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «SAP Upstream Lead», «SAP Functional Manager — Upstream Processes», «SAP Master Data & Processes Manager», «SAP Business Process Manager (Upstream)», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.