Principal Adviser Cutover & Deployment - Modern ERP
Rio Tinto
Be part of one of Rio Tinto’s largest digital transformations, helping move our ERP landscape to S/4HANA safely and confidently.
Lead high‑stakes cutover and deployment activities at enterprise scale, ensuring stability, security and business continuity.
Work across technology, business, data and partners to deliver controlled, repeatable and low‑risk go‑lives.
12-month contract with possibility to extend
About the role
The Cutover & Deployment Lead is accountable for the end‑to‑end planning, orchestration, and execution of cutover and deployment activities for the Modern ERP Program, operating within the constraints of the RISE with SAP delivery model.
This role ensures the transition from SAP ECC to S/4HANA is executed in a controlled, repeatable and low‑risk manner, coordinating across technology, business, data, integration, environments and external partners to achieve a successful go‑live with minimal disruption to operations.
You will act as the single point of accountability for cutover readiness from a Tech Platform perspective—owning sequencing, decision‑making and execution across all systems in scope, including SAP, integrations and dependent third‑party and non‑SAP platforms.
What you’ll be doing
Lead the end‑to‑end cutover strategy, planning and execution for the Modern ERP program, ensuring a controlled and low‑risk transition from SAP ECC to S/4HANA under the RISE with SAP model.
Develop and manage integrated cutover plans across SAP core, integrations, data migration, business readiness, environments and access changes.
Define clear cutover milestones, dependencies, critical paths and decision points, aligned to the program plan and release strategy.
Orchestrate all deployment and go‑live activities, including transports, integrations, data loads, reconciliations and security/access changes.
Act as the single point of accountability and decision‑maker during cutover and deployment windows, managing issues, risks, and contingencies in real time.
Coordinate closely with internal teams and delivery partners to ensure clear roles, expectations and execution readiness.
Ensure cutover activities are validated through testing and rehearsals (SIT, UAT, dress rehearsals) and that operational readiness and hypercare plans are in place.
Lead post‑go‑live stabilisation, conduct post‑implementation reviews and drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and updated runbooks.
What you’ll bring
7+ years’ experience leading cutover and deployment activities for large‑scale ERP or enterprise transformations.
Proven delivery capability in complex, multi‑system and integration‑heavy environments.
Strong understanding of SAP landscapes, deployment sequencing and environment dependencies.
Experience managing high‑risk delivery windows, coordinating across business, technology, data and external partners.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively under tight timelines with sound judgment.
Experience with SAP ECC to S/4HANA transitions, ideally within a RISE with SAP construct (highly desirable).
Exposure to cloud‑hosted ERP, large‑scale data migration and rehearsal‑driven cutovers (desirable).
A calm, structured and accountable leader with strong stakeholder influence, governance mindset and outcome focus.
What we offer
Attractive compensation that is aligned to the specialist nature and impact of the role.
Flexible working arrangements.
A safety-focused and inclusive working environment.
Career development to further your ambitions.
Ongoing individual wellbeing support.
Flexible working arrangements.
Be part of Rio Tinto’s global Modern ERP transformation, contributing directly to one of the organisation’s most significant multi‑year programs.
High‑impact contract role where your expertise helps shape the future of Planning & Reporting across a global enterprise.
Where You’ll Be Working
You’ll join the Modern ERP Program — a multi‑disciplinary team bringing together technology, process, data and change specialists to reshape how work happens across Rio Tinto. We’re modernising a 20‑year‑old ERP system and redesigning core business processes to improve safety, efficiency and ignite innovation.
This work supports our people across global operations to spend less time on transactional tasks and more time on work that really matters. By simplifying and digitising how the organisation runs, the Modern ERP Program is creating the foundation for future productivity gains, smarter decision‑making and AI‑enabled transformation.
#gts
About Rio TintoRio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and InclusionAt Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.