Job Overview: 

The Principal SAP Architect – SAP Global Template, Release and Applications position is responsible for the end-to-end ownership of the SAP template and application landscape, including design integrity, technical stewardship, and lifecycle management. This role ensures the SAP solution remains stable, scalable, and aligned with both business strategy and SAP’s product roadmap.  This role governs template standards, manages system upgrades and releases, and oversees the ongoing evolution of the SAP platform to support enterprise-wide transformation by combining deep functional knowledge and technical/application expertise.  

      *Location: Remote-- East Coast Preferred*

       Travel (Major): 

•       This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.

•       Travel is required up to (30)% for this position.  

What does it mean to be part of the Information Technology Team?

A role in Information Technology at UNFI involves being a part of the transformation of food for all through many innovative technology products such as myUNFI, our customer ordering platform or our warehouse management systems that optimize service. You will have an opportunity to be a part of the technology journey to transform food for all through collaboration and building solutions across teams that directly contribute to our OneUNFI strategy. Roles include network automation, infrastructure unification and modernization, data services and analytics, and digital offering. 

 Job Responsibilities: 

• Own the design, integrity, and consistency of the SAP global template across all deployments  

• Define and enforce standards across all configurations, enhancements (RICEFW) and integrations  

• Ensure alignment to fit-to-standard principles and clear core strategy through partnership and alignment Technology leadership   

• Balance global standardization with controlled flexibility for business needs   

• Lead planning and execution of SAP S/4HANA upgrades, feature pack releases and enhancements, OSS notes and patches,   

• Partner with development teams on custom code, reducing technical debt and clean core principles   

• Assess and manage impact of SAP production changes, custom developments and integrations  

• Define and oversee regression testing strategy, retrofit and transport management approach, release calendar and environment synchronization  

• Serve as a key member of the design authority and architecture review board  

• Lead the decision authority on template changes, enhancements, and technical, functional deviations  

• Drive ongoing evolution of the template and application landscape, aligning roadmap and identifying opportunities to simply process, rationalize customizations and improve performance  

• Define and govern the SAP landscape environment strategy, ensuring environments are aligned to release cycles, testing needs, and program timelines  

• Establish and maintain environment refresh strategy, including system copies, data refresh cadence, and version control across all environments  

• Oversee test data management practices, ensuring availability of representative, compliant, and fit-for-purpose data to support all phases of testing  

• Coordinate with BASIS, QA, and program teams to ensure environments are available, stable, synchronized properly and ready to support critical testing and deployment milestones  

Job Requirements: 

Education/ Certifications:   

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field 

• SAP certification (e.g., SAP Certified Technology Associate) preferred 

Experience:   

• 10+ years of SAP technical experience including SAP S/4 HANA implementation and/or transformation programs  

• Strong technical and functional experience across on or more SAP domain  

• Proven experience with SAP release/upgrade management and global template design and governance  

• Experience working with global teams and system integrators  

• Experience with implementation approaches, SAP best practices and Fit-to-Standard methodologies  

• SAP Clean Core strategy including governance, alignment and management of that strategy within BTP  

• SAP Cloud ALM and how it’s used to manage end-to-end lifecycle of SAP cloud applications   

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities  

• Strong decision making and governance mindset  

• Deep knowledge within SAP data model, key tables, custom code and enhancements, and integration architecture   

• Ability to bridge business and technical stakeholders  

• Ability to be proactive, structure and detail oriented in approach  

• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate and influence at all management levels and with both technical and non-technical individuals and successfully manage in a cross-functional environment and remote locations.   

• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.  

 Work Environment: 

Remote Role:   

This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.  

 Physical Environment/Demands: 

Office Roles:  

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.   

• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.   

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.     

• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.   

• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.